Around Scotland
Festival Of Ireland, various venues, Edinburgh, March 13-28. A celebration of the city’s Irish community, with pageants, comedy shows, music and dance. www. edinburghsfestivalofireland.org
Write By The Sea, Tighnabruaich, Cowal, March 14-15. A new community-themed book festival centred round the topics of nature and places, with talks, workshops, a pub quiz and various other events. Weekend ticket £70. www.writebythesea.co.uk
Arran Vegfest, Lamlash, March 14-15. Inspiring talks, stalls with vegan food and drink and other vegan products, and great children’s entertainment. A fun and informative weekend suitable for all the family. www.arranvegfest.com
British Basketball Trophy Finals, Emirates Arena, Glasgow, March 15. The biggest event in the basketball calendar, featuring the biggest names and the biggest teams. Entertainment from the British Basketball League Dancers. Phone 0141 287 7000.
Paris, Dundee Rep, March 18. Christine Bovill returns with her own blend of the songs of Edith Piaff, Jacques Brel, Juliet Greco and others. Box office 01382 223530.
Short Film Festival, Glasgow Film Theatre, March 18-22. The largest competitive short film festival in Scotland and includes international and Scottish competitions, networking events, panel discussions, workshops and parties. www.glasgowshort.org
Aberdeen’s Woodlands Talk, University of Aberdeen, March 19. Learn how the city’s new woodlands and the managing of existing woodlands has benefited both biodiversity and the community. Phone 01224 274545.
Fascinating Aida, King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, March 19. The satirical cabaret trio – Dillie Keane, Adèle Anderson and Liza Pulman – take their new show on tour. Lots of laughs are guaranteed.
Phone 0800 912 6971.
Dumfries Jazz Weekend, Cairndale Hotel, March 20. Music by Savannah Jazz, Mike Daly’s Dixieland Rhythm Kings, Baby Jools and the Jazzaholics, Havana Swing and more.
The Niel Gow Festival, various venues, Dunkeld & Birnam, March 20-22. Established in 2004 to celebrate the life of the Perthshire fiddle legend (1727-1807), this festival is now a breeding ground for traditional music talent. www.niel-gow.co.uk
The Greatest Show Choir, Aberdeen Arts Centre, March 20. Aberdeen University Show Choir’s performance features up-beat pop songs, songs from musicals, ballads and everything in between. Phone 01224 641122.
Anton And Erin, various venues, March 20-21. Strictly Come Dancing stars Anton du Beke and Erin Boag present their brand new show Dance Those Magical Movies. www.antonanderinlive.co.uk
Come And Sing Verdi, Glasgow Concert Hall, March 21. Join hundreds of other amateur singers with the RSNO’S Gregory Batsleer in a performance of the composer’s famous Requiem. www.rsno.org.uk
Rebels And Redcoats, Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, March 23-26. Come along and learn what role the castle played in the 1745 Jacobite rebellion and get to know some characters from that period. www.edinburghcastle.scot
Foraged Spring Feast, The Barn, Burn O’bennie, Banchory, March 23. Join medical herbalist and forager Natasha Lloyd to create a special wild pot-luck-style feast from young spring-time elements found in the wild garden. Phone 01330 825431.
The Totally Scottish Football Show, The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen, March 25. Andrew Slaven, JJ Bull and friends discuss all things ranging from the fifth best league in Europe and beyond. Look out for puns and punditry, stats and sarcasm!
Phone 01224 641122.
Banjo Mandolin Guitar Federation Festival, Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh, March 27-29. Anew music festival featuring concerts, workshops, informal playing and competitions.
Inverurie Beer Festival, Oldmeldrum, March 27-28. Not just beer but also cider, gin and Scotland's very first rum, with tasty street food and live music.
Fife, 6, 7, 8, Lochgelly Centre, March 27. Schools from across Leven, Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy, Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly showcase their dance styles. Phone 01592 583367.
Day At Night: The Doris Day Songbook, Adam Smith Centre, Kirkcaldy, March 27. A celebration of the life of this screen icon with hits and stories about her life. Email boxoffice.adamsmith@onfife.com
Dundee Symphony Orchestra, Caird Hall, March 28. Robert Dick conducts music by Brahms, Schumann and von Suppe.
Box office 01382 434940.
Seven Last Words, V&A, Dundee, March 29. The Scottish Ensemble plays composer James Macmillan’s distinctive setting of the dying words of Jesus. www.vam.ac.uk
The Story Of Our Coast And Waters, Inverewe Garden, Poolewe, starts April 1. Exhibition that explores the biodiversity of Inverewe Garden and the marine life that lives in Loch Ewe.
Macbeth, Perth Theatre, March 31- April 4. Shakespeare’s darkest thriller, brought to Perth in a joint production by Queens Theatre, Hornchurch, and Derby Theatre.
Rowaround Scotland, various venues, starts April 4. More than 60 community coastal rowing clubs pass a commemorative baton round the coast of Scotland to celebrate 10 years of coastal rowing in Scotland. www.rowaroundscotland.scot
Glenfarg Folk Fest, Green Hotel, April 3-5. An initiative of Glenfarg Village Folk Club, which is open to music of an acoustic variety as well as storytelling and poetry.
On The Rocks Festival, various venues, St Andrews, April 3-12. The largest student-run arts festival in the UK, featuring shows, concerts and exhibitions for all the family. www.ontherocksfestival.com
Edinburgh International Harp Festival, Merchiston Castle School, April 3-8. This annual festival welcomes world-class harpists and up-and-coming talents playing styles from folk to jazz in concerts, courses, workshops. It also includes the UK’S largest harp-makers exhibition.
The Granite City Classic, Aberdeen Arts Centre, April 5. Scotland’s premier body-building show, featuring the best in the UK.
Phone 01224 641122.
Scottish National Surfing Championships, Thurso, April 10-13. Scottish surfers will be competing for national titles as well as for qualifying for places on the national team, which will compete the following weekend at the British Surfing Championships & British Cup. www.thessf.com
Go Wild At Easter, RSPB Loch Lomond, April 11-12, 10.30am. Bring the whole family along for springtime adventures, nature crafts and an Easter egg hunt at the loch’s RSPB centre at Gartocharn.
A Celtic Spring, Scottish Crannog Centre, Loch Tay, April 12-13. Celebrate spring and explore how people prepared for the season 2500 years ago, with the chance to plough fields, plant crops and ready boats. Phone 01887 830583.
Abbey Food Market, Fort Augustus, April 12. Visit the abbey’s grounds to sample the goodies that are available from Scotland’s natural larder, with produce from farmers, fishmongers and bakers.