10 Things to do across Scotland this weekend
Whether you are looking for a fun-filled family day out, a tasty beer to drink, or a book to read while you relax, Checklist has it covered with our 10 things to do, beers to drink and books of the moment.
1 Piping Live!
Across Glasgow, until Sun
Glasgow’s annual bagpiping festival, has brought 200 events and 8,000 performers to the city. As well as a host of concerts showcasing the traditional music scene’s most talented, look out for daily parades, a Scottish market and an open air stage in George Square, and free performances at the National Piping Centre’s pop-up Street Cafe. The World Pipe Band Championships, international piping’s biggest event, returns to Glasgow Green on Friday and Saturday, featuring 220 bands from around the globe, highland dancing, traditional games, a food village, and a kids’ zone. www.pipinglive.co.uk
2 Dare Protoplay
Caird Hall, Dundee, until Sun
The prestigious Dare To Be Digital competition for up-andcoming game design teams in the UK’s biggest independent video games festival returns to Dundee for a 16th year. Along with game music concerts, workshops and expert talks, highlights include the Cardboard Challenge, inviting festival-goers to build an arcade game cabinet out of household junk, and Killer Queen, an arcade game brought to life as an action-packed team sports contest. All events free. www.daretobedigital.com
3 Edinburgh Book Festival
Edinburgh, from Fri
Eighteen days of talks, book launches, author panels and interviews with a stellar line-up of writing talent, an extensive children’s programme and a compact New Town location, is the perfect setting and atmosphere for relaxing and soaking up the literary vibe. With more than 900 participants from 55 countries, there’s a marked international theme to this year’s Festival, with writers, performers, politicians and personalities involved including civil rights campaigner Rev Jesse Jackson, playwright David Hare, and Leith’s own Irvine Welsh - plus appearances from 9 of the 13 authors nominated for this year’s Man Booker Prize. www.edbookfest. co.uk
4 Kirkcaldy Beach Highland Games
Kirkcaldy, Fife, Sat
A busy weekend for the highland games season, with notable meetings in Tain, Ballater, Stirling, Helmsdale, and Crieff over the next few days. There’s also room for the newest addition to the calendar, taking place along Kirkcaldy’s bracing waterfront on Saturday and notable as Scotland’s first ever traditional games event to be held on a beach. Featuring heavy events, running, and pipe bands, the action is viewable free of charge from the town’s recently upgraded promenade from 10am to 1pm. www.kirkcaldy4all.co.uk/news-4-all
5 Film in the Old College Quad
University of Edinburgh, until Sun
A long weekend of cult classics for film fans in the atmospheric Old College Quad off South Bridge. Screening today are comedies This Is Spinal Tap and Withnail & I, with Friday including Thelma and Louise and Fight Club. Saturday has a horrortinged double of The Lost Boys and An American Werewolf in London, while Sunday’s bill has Singing In The Rain, Heathers, The Theory of Everything and Cinema Paradiso. Family audiences can also catch Bugsy Malone and The Goonies, with all tickets £6.50. www.ed.ac.uk/ news/events/festivals
6 Off The Beatson Track
Glasgow, Sun
Stretch your legs, see the sights, and raise money for the Beatson Cancer Charity by signing up for this six-and-a-half mile sponsored walk. Starting out from the Riverside Museum at 11am, the route takes in the Clyde, the West End and many of Glasgow’s finest landmarks, with live music and street performers to enjoy along the way. Fancy dress is encouraged - especially if you can find something in the charity’s signature yellow. Entry is £10 (under 16s free). www. beatsoncancercharity.org
7 Friends of Duthie Park Open Day
Duthie Park, Aberdeen, Sun
A free afternoon of family events at one of the Granite City’s favourite attractions. Hosted by Friends of Duthie Park and Aberdeen Sports Council, there’s plenty of focus on outdoor activities, with sporting fun from the Paul Lawrie Golf Foundation and Aberdeen FC Community Trust, plus fitness classes, a military obstacle course and a special version of It’s A Knockout. Elsewhere, there’s horse and cart rides, vintage vehicles, and face painting, along with entertainment from Wrestlezone Scotland, Bon Accord Silver Band, and the Sharon Gill School of Dancing.
www.friendsofduthiepark.co.uk
8 Friday Fringe Takeover National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Fri
A great chance for grown-ups to explore the many splendours at Edinburgh’s top museum after closing time, including free access to Photography: A Victorian
Sensation an exhibition tracing the origins of the art-form and its links to Scotland. Visitors can also hang out in pop-up bars, hear music from vintage DJ Lord Holyrude, and sample entertainment from a range of acts direct from the Fringe. Running from 7.30pm to 10.30pm, tickets are £16 (£14 concessions), with the event also returning on 21 and 28 August.
www.nms.ac.uk/afterhours
9 Fun By The Sea
North Berwick, until Sun
An eclectic week of music, comedy, theatre and kid’s events offering a more laid-back antidote to the manic scramble of the Festival City. Still to come are gigs from Scottish favourites Elaine C Smith, and Bombskare, while Friday’s comedy showcase has Alan Davies headlining a bill featuring veteran funnyman Barry Cryer. Meanwhile, visitors can soak up all the seaside atmosphere of a Spiegeltented festival village and food zone, and enjoy donkey rides on the beach.
www.fringebythesea.co.uk
10 Festival of Politics The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, Fri-Sun
Gain an extra-topical foothold in the shifting perspectives of modern life with three days of lively debate, music, film and photography at Holyrood. With guests such as historian Sir Tom Devine and actor Brian Cox, themes include Scotland’s links to slavery, the international politics of food, the upcoming US presidential election and the future of the Commonwealth. A series of free events in the Festival’s pop-up Youth Cafe aimed at the voters of tomorrow include creative workshops on filmmaking, performance poetry, music creation and more. www.
festivalofpolitics.org.uk