Film in the City – 16th-18th June

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Image result for film in the city edinburgh 2017With the Edinburgh International Film Festival hitting the city from the 21st June, this weekend is a little outdoor warm up party in St Andrews Square ! Film in the City features free outdoor film screenings all weekend starting Friday afternoon.

An eclectic mix of action blockbusters, cult choices and family favourites gives the whole family the opportunity to experience films in the beautiful setting of St Andrew Square in the heart of the city centre.

Family favourites include a singalong Trolls, Beauty and The Beast, The Jungle Book, Cars and Kubo and The Two Strings…

FRIDAY 16 JUNE

4.30pm – 6.05pm  WHAT’S UP DOC? (Cert U, 1 hr 34 mins, 1972)

6.20pm – 8pm  LABYRINTH (Cert U, 1hr 38mins, 1986)

8.15pm – 10.45pm  AVENGERS ASSEMBLE (Cert 15, 2hr 23mins, 2012)

 

SATURDAY 17 JUNE

10.30am – 12pm  TROLLS (sing-a-long) (Cert U, 1hr 30mins, 2016)

12.20pm – 1.50pm  BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (dress up party) (Cert U, 1hr 28mins, 1991)

2.15pm – 4pm  THE JUNGLE BOOK (Cert PG, 1hr 44mins, 2016)

4.25pm – 6.15pm  MAMMA MIA (dance along) (Cert PG, 1hr 46mins, 2008)

6.40pm – 8.20pm  CLUELESS (Cert PG, 1hr 37mins, 1995)

8.45pm – 10.25pm  DIRTY DANCING (dance along) (Cert 12, 1hr 38mins, 1987)

 

SUNDAY 18 JUNE

10.30am – 12.30pm  CARS (Cert PG, 1hr 52mins, 2006)

12.45pm –2.30pm  KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS (Cert PG, 1hr 42mins, 2016)

2.45pm – 4.35pm  SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER (Cert U, 1hr 48mins, 1977)

4.45pm – 6.30pm  SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (Cert U, 1hr 43mins, 1952)

6.40pm – 8.20pm  HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE (Cert 12A, 1hr 37mins, 2016)

8.30pm – 10.45pm  ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY (Cert 12A, 2hrs 14mins, 2016)

 

Let’s all hope for some super sunshine so we can get the picnic rugs out and enjoy !

 

Edinburgh International Children’s Festival 27th May – 4th June

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Children's Festival

Previously known as the Imaginate festival, the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival looks fantastic and a great way to lead us into summer festival season !!!

Next weekend is the festival opening weekend, and like last year they are planning to open the Festival with a weekend of free pop-up performances and drop-in arts activities at the National Museum of Scotland, from 10am until 4.45pm each day. No need to book, just come on the day! Check out the full programme for the weekend here…

The festival itself has shows, performances and film screening for children ages 18months up to teenagers, for a full festival programme and search by age category and days look here ..highlights include MamaBabaMe dance and interactive show for very young children, brought to the festival by Starcatchers and Curious Seed companies and Bambert’s Book of Lost Stories for 8 -12 year olds, based on the popular book brought to life through puppetry and storytelling….well worth a look.

 

It’s Spring……!!!

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So, the weather ‘was’ getting warmer and the flowers have bloomed and the Meadows is awash with blossom which can only mean its Spring…and this means more lovely family events and festivals !! I’m a bit slow off the mark and the brilliant Science festival has been and gone – I hope you managed to enjoy some of it like I did. This weekend has a few offerings that look great for getting out and about and enjoying both the wonders of Spring and the wonders of Edinburgh !!

Spring FestivalFirst up is the Spring Festival at the Botanics….on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th April between 1 and 4pm..Come and join in with the Edible Gardening Project as they get started in the vegetable patch for another year. Be inspired by nature and learn all about gardening in an environmentally friendly way. With information for budding gardeners, fun family friendly activities and fresh garden tasters.  This looks like a lovely way to spend an afternoon !

The Narrative of Beltane – in PhotosAnd this Sunday is of course the rather spectacular and fantastic Beltane Fire Festival – and this year marks their 30th Festival so is sure to be something special. Having taken part as a performer for many years, Beltane has a huge place in my heart and I’ll be braving it and bringing the family up the hill on Sunday night for some drumming, fire performance and magic…it all starts around 9.20pm as the sun goes down and the May Queen comes over the Acropolis.

For something more family friendly, the Beltane community are holding a Beltane Community Open Day on Saturday 29th on Calton Hill from 1pm – 4pm

It doesn’t matter if you’ve never been to festival before or you’re a long-time Beltaner, or even one of our performers; this day is for everyone. Drop in at any point or stay for the duration!

It’s a chance to celebrate the birth of Summer and find out more about the famous Beltane Fire Festival, which takes place the following day. Explore the changing seasons and the meaning of the festival, with storytelling from key Beltane characters and walking tours of Calton Hill to help you make the most of the big night. There will be music, a chance to try out traditional skills (from fire-making to crafts), and Beltane fun for children (5+, accompanied by their adults) too.

What to bring: your wishes for the year ahead, donations for our buckets, wood for the following night’s Beltane bonfire (if you like), a picnic, and a flask of tea to keep you toasty!

* Storytelling
* Kids Activity Zone
* Drumming Workshops
* Kids Parade
* Live Music
* History of Beltane talk
* Neid Fire workshop
* Walking tours
* Woodland Trust
* Wishing Tree

 

Hope you enjoy the weekend and fingers crossed it warms up a little between now and then !!

A Bit of Christmas Magic….

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Image result for morgan and west christmasWe were lucky enough to go and see Morgan and West: A (sort of ) Christmas Carol Magic Show ! last week and we LOVED it ! Readers of this blog will know that we are big fans of Morgan and West and have enjoyed their fringe shows….so this new Christmassy show was a real treat for us all. Featuring lots of little tricks and illusions for the younger ones, the lovable and quirky duo mix these really well into the well loved tale of a Christmas Carol. West may try and say he does not want to perform this tale, and Morgan’s enthusiasm for it overbears him but what results is a perfect mix of storytelling and sleight of hand tricks and illusions that can visibly astound.

Giant Christmas presents on stage reveal plenty of surprises and kept the audience guessing what was inside whilst Morgan and West looking their usual dapper selves,  managed to squeeze in some illusions, escapology, levitation, audience participation and of course some Christmas decorations into this fun packed hour ! There were plenty of giggles along the way too of course….

Highly recommended for a unique and alternative family show and to add more than a little magic into your Christmas !

My mini reviewer says : ”I liked the banana bit- banana, carrot, banana…(then he burst into fits of giggles and ran off !!!)….”

Theatre fun for Christmas…

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So it looks like we are getting spoilt for choice with lots of exciting theatre to choose from this Christmas Season here in Edinburgh, there is something for everyone with some ballet, magic and of course the panto :

  • morgan_and_west_christmas_for_web_750x490 A (sort of ) Christmas Carol Magic Show – The delightful Morgan and West are back in Edinburgh to amaze us with their trickery and sprinkle a little chistmassy magic with this show-as a huge fan of their fringe show I’m very excited about this one ! The only problem is, they’re baffled by the story. Well not just one problem, there are also only two of them to play all the parts. Oh, and Mr West is rather insistent on doing a magic show at the same time. How hard could it possibly be?There’s fun in store for everyone in this utterly splendid (and totally silly) Christmas magic show!    1st December – 7th January  Festival Square Theatre

 

  • alice_for_web_750x490 Alice’s Adventures In wonderland – When Alice sees a snappily dressed white rabbit holding a pocket watch, she knows today is not going to be like any other – an adventure is beginning! Follow Alice down the rabbit hole and tumble into Wonderland – a place where everyone and everything seems to be stark raving mad and things keep getting ‘curiouser and curiouser’.  Saturday 26th November – Saturday 31st December  Royal Lyceum Theatre

 

  • hansel%20and%20gretel%20header%20image_f97c49Scottish Ballet: Hansel and Gretel – Unwrap a tasty Christmas treat with Christopher Hampson’s magical Hansel & Gretel.
    In a small, 1950s town, all the children have disappeared. Plucky Hansel and Gretel embark on an exciting adventure, traveling deep into the enchanted forest to find their friends.
     Hansel & Gretel takes creative twists and turns inspired by the Grimm Brother’s famous fairy tale. A carousel of delicious treats from start to finish, this is a ballet full to the brim with magic; from toys that come to life to a beautiful ballerina who is not at all what she seems. .Saturday 10th December – Saturday 31st December Festival Theatre

 

  • penguin11416Too Many Penguins – How many penguins are too many penguins? Mr Polaro thinks that one is more than enough, thank you very much.
    How many penguins can we get in one space? Squeeze into this fun theatrical experience, created especially for 1 – 4 year olds, to find out. It might get crowded, but we promise the arrival of the penguins, however many, will entertain and delight.  Wednesday 14th December – Saturday 24th D ecember The Studio at Festival Theatre

 

  • jackmast201115Jack and The Beanstalk – Jack is back, and you can follow him climbng a beanstalk of gigantic proportions in this brilliant family pantomime. Expect laughs, music, dazzling special effects, magic beans and lots of audience participation. Saturday 26th November – Sunday 15th January King’s Theatre