We LOVE the Pianodrome – the up-cycled piano amphitheatre and were delighted when a new Pianodrome moved into our local area – this is the most unique, fun and beautiful structure, and the new Pianodrome in Bruntsfield is now housed within the stunning St Oswalds centre.
It is well worth a visit just to explore the unique structure and play on some of the pianos within…but this being festival fun times, they have a whole month of great events (read about them here), so you can enjoy live music, free lunchtime concerts, piano dismantling workshops, sea shanties and much much more….
There’s a whole section of family friendly events happening during August, and we are very excited to check out the piano dismantling this morning and get our creative juices flowing ! There’s a free circus skills workshop on Saturday 8th August, and the Sea Shanties for Families Fringe Special on Friday 28th August will be super fun !
We’d highly recommend taking some time out from the usual hustle and bustle of fringe central and spending a morning/afternoon at the Pianodrome…it really is unmissable.
If the later start of the Fringe means you’re waiting even longer for all the festival fun to begin in Edinburgh, then Fringe by The Sea which starts on Friday could be the perfect antidote !
With a beautiful seaside location in North Berwick, this festival has everything for an exciting day out, beach, seaside vibes, loads of events and activities and festival favourites in music, comedy, talks and circus….its well worth checking out.
The line-up is packed with great activities and shows for young people, including free Circus skills drop in workshops, and free doodle sessions, art activities including printmaking and tie dying, rockpool rambles and scavenger hunts, live science shows, DJ workshops and lots more. Check out the full programme here.
We love this festival that kicks off festival season in Edinburgh, as we love the carnival day ! Its a great parade, full of colour, vibrant costumes, great music and lots of fun…it’s well worth checking out…
Carnival is on Sunday 19th July this year and is free to attend, so check out the parade- More than 1,000 carnival performers will parade from the top of the mound to the west end of Princes Street in a breath-taking display of music, dance and carnival costumes from local, national and international artists. from the top of the mound to west princes street gardens, followed by more music and events in the gardens themselves. The parade starts at 1pm…
Alongside Carnival, another free event perfect for families is Mardi Gras : Saturday 18 July, 1-5pm in the Grassmarket -Expect non-stop entertainment and a party atmosphere as a host of bands perform on multiple stages, bringing jazz and blues to the heart of Edinburgh. This year’s line up features Shirt Tail Stompers, Burnin’ for Buhaina, Castle Rock Jazz Band, Dixie Fried, Lone Bear Blues, The Killerhorns, Dank Mango, DopeSickFly and Boom, Twang, Thwack.
So, I am well and truly beyond the little people stage, with two fully formed teenagers in my house and one leaving home in under a month (Gulp!) ! That means we’re very much up for exploring all that is on offer for older children/teens – much of the circus, magic, dance, music works for all ages and we’re keen to add some theatre into the mix too if anyone has some recommendations or a show you’re bringing up works for a teenage audience ?
See below for our top six shows for this age group, but like I say, its new territory, so always keen to hear ideas…
YUCK Circus: Naughties – We are HUGE fans of YUCK circus over here and are VERY excited to see their new show. Even more so as it features one of the greatest musical decades ever !! (in my very humble opinion that is !)…Fringe-favourites YUCK Circus are back with a totally bitchin’ brand-new show! Backstreet Boys, Britney, and BIG throwback energy. A decade not to be forgotten – with Furbies, flip phones and evERythinG TyPeD LiKe ThIs. Mix that with high-flying acrobatics, comedy and absolute bangers, iconic! Age 16 +
Fungasm: Save or Smash – I’m not sure I can even describe this show which we have come to love after seeing them at Kelburn Garden Party Festival over the years – it’s fun on a different level, chaotically ridiculous and very easy to get hooked. What’s your name, and what’s your game? Go to pieces over this crackpot quiz placing porcelain under the hammer! Decide the fate of a delicate pottery item: the crown jewel of your crockery set or total obliteration. Taskmaster meets Shooting Stars meets Antiques Roadshow. Contestants could be walking home with a snazzy teapot, commemorative plate or delicate figurine – but only one lucky soul is destined for the Bonanza Digital Experience. Expect absurd challenges, questionable judgement, and dramatic decisions from you, the audience. Participation optional. Age 12+
Suitcase Show and The Bookbinder – Again, keen readers of this blog will know we LOVE Trick of the Light Theatre and we will gobble up anything they bring to the festival, this year we get two beloved shows ! We’ve loved them all, their storytelling is compelling, the sets so unique and intricate and their imaginations ever expansive…I’ve just heard it will be the 500th performance of The Bookbinder here in Edinburgh this year – please don’t miss it..
Suitcase Show –A traveller arrives at a border with a stack of battered cases. From within them, whole worlds will emerge… Trick of the Light presents an eclectic box set of short stories. Dark, spiky and comic, it shifts from shadow play to storytelling, dancing disembodied hands to narratives crackling from a 1970s stereo suitcase. Age 12+
The Bookbinder –They say you can get lost in a good book. But it’s worse to get lost in a bad one… An old man sits down to read the tale of an erstwhile bookbinding apprentice. As he speaks the story spills from the pages and into the bindery. Marking its 500th performance, The Bookbinder returns to Assembly, weaving shadowplay, paper-art, puppetry and music into a captivating dark fairytale. Age 8+
FUCCBOIS: LIVE IN CONCERT – This looks interesting and potentially a lot of fun, I like the House of Oz programming, so am hoping this is a winner ! FUCCBOIS: LIVE IN CONCERT is a massive comedy-boyband-extravaganza: an irreverent satire of toxic dating culture and, most importantly, the music is banging Age 14+
I Made You A Mixtape -Maybe it’s because we loved All Fired up: An 80s mixtape last year so much, but this show sounds super fun and could be one of those unexpectedly joyous fun filled shows that leave you wanting more… Welcome to the party you always wished you were invited to. Step into the heart of a 90s college dorm hang, complete with live musicians and the greatest hits of the decade. Nine girls arrive for one last night together before their lives change forever. With each track played, we get a new glimpse into their world; through impromptu music videos, deep female friendships, and unfiltered emotion by the bucketload. This isn’t your typical dance show – it changes every night, with the girls’ fates being revealed to them, and you, in real time. Age 14+
The Tom Brace Magic Hour – Another favourite here; we love Tom Brace and his combination of tricks and charm is yet to be beaten ! Bringing another new show to the festival this year, we’re looking forward to being bamboozled once again ! Live from Edinburgh. It’s The Tom Brace Magic Hour. Prepare to have your minds read, your jaws dropped and potentially your hearts broken (wink) by ‘one of the most original, brilliant and wonderfully funny magicians I’ve ever seen’ (Nick Mohammed, Ted Lasso). Back for his 10th year, Tom Brace is bringing his biggest show yet. Age 12+
We also have firm favourites returning from last year that we’d love to give a special shout out to :
The number of children’s shows at Edinburgh festival seems to be ever increasing, with even more opportunities to introduce even the littlest of little ones to the joys of live theatre and interactive productions…shows catered to very young audiences can be some of the most memorable, with beautiful colourful sets, costumes, interactive moments and lots of creativity !
Here are our top five picks for this year for those under five…
Float – This is an intriguing idea from Starcatchers who make beautiful things for small people and one that could work really well for those folk with babies aged 0-12 months – a longer interactive performance which you can come and go from as you need/feel – Float invites you to relax with your baby and enjoy a gently interactive performance inspired by the healing powers of water. You and your baby are free to explore, engage with the performers or unwind in Float’s tranquil space. Float is a three-hour durational performance designed to relieve the pressure of time. Your ticket allows you to come and go during this time to suit the needs of you and your baby. Age 0-12 months
FoRT – Exploring the joy of building forts and making imaginative spaces, this looks super cute and creative for wee ones. FoRT: A multi award-winning show inspired by the timeless craft of turning living rooms upside down. Watch and be amazed as everyday objects transform into fantastical places to play and explore using ridiculous clowning, spectacular acrobatics and beautiful visual imagery. This is an inspiring and delightful new theatrical experience that you and the whole family will enjoy. Age 3 years +
Hello Beach – Our mini-reviewer enjoyed Hello Birds last year, so we’re looking forward to this production and seeing Bran and Tor again…. Following the hugely successful Hello Birds in 2025, Bran and Tor are back and joined by new friend Piper for a day out at the beach. Who will we meet on our seaside picnic? An interactive multi-sensory storytelling show for 0-2 years, featuring puppetry, singing and key-word signing. Age 0-2 years
Tweedy’s Massive Solo Show – We loved Tweedy two years ago and are very excited for this new solo show !! Following the success of Tweedy’s Massive Circus, Tweedy the Clown makes his festival debut with this joyful solo show for all ages. Tweedy finds himself battling mischievous props in a series of increasingly absurd situations, but however chaotic things become Tweedy can always find a creative way to get out…Age 0+
Splash Test Dummies – We LOVE the Dummies !!!! And are super happy this splashtastic show is back…Rub-a-dub-dub, The Dummies are back with their ‘splashingly awesome adventure’ (EdinburghFestivalsForKids.com) set to drown you in tears of laughter. Splash Test Dummies are here, ready to roll out their beach towels and spring into an hour of circus-filled hilarity for the whole family. See a brilliant array of catch-your-breath stunt work, acrobatics, juggling and the side-splitting, slapstick comedy for which the dummies are famous. Age 0+
We also have firm favourites returning from last year that we’d love to give a special shout out to :
edinburghfestivalsforkids 