I love the Kidzone at the Pleasance…with it’s puppet shows, toys, picnic tables, free colouring, the fantastic and very reasonable arts and crafts activities and of course, the fabulous Green cafe, keeping all us awake and enthused with hot drinks !!
It makes for a perfect day out if you combine it with checking out a show or two from the fantastic 16 children’s shows on offer at the Pleasance this year !
Some of my top picks are :
The Giant Jam Sandwich – I love reading this book with my kids and am very curious into how they’ll be adapting it for the stage !! Expect rhymes and silliness galore!
The Gruffalo’s Child – Tall Stories make great theatre for kids, and sticking to much loved Julia Donadlson books seems to be working out for them very well !! Expect the usual beautiful puppets, inventive sets and musical melodies !
Mavis Sparkle – With a magician for a Dad and a stargazer for a Mum, no wonder there’s more to Mavis than meets the eye! This looks rather magical and adventurous !
The Listies Make You LOL – Returning from their successful run last year, the Listies are hilarious, messy and decidedly insane. Featuring alien attacks, toilet paper guns and the most disgusting pair of underpants you have ever seen in your life !
The Pleasance will be returning to the EICC again this year, and bringing along this lovely looking piece for little ones :
The Polar Bears Go up – The Polar Bears are moving up in the world. They’ve lost their balloon and they need to get it back. It’s time to get up, step up, climb up, jump up. One thing’s for sure, the only way is up! These lovable Polar Bears are intrepid explorers, famous for their wild expeditions.
Bookbug sessions will be running on the 8th, 10th and 12th August, offering their usual and much loved stories and songs.
Of course 
Award winning Author Stuart Reid brings boogers, books, big bottom burps and the wacky characters in his Gorgeous George series to life. It will be yucky. There may be snot. You have been warned! All this on 10th August.
Alexander The Great returns with his magic and circus skills, suitable for ages 3 and up on the 10th and 12th August.
On Friday 11th August one of the East Lothian Rangers will lead a rock pooling walk along the beach. Numbers are limited so book early for this one if you can…
Big Fish Little Fish are bringing one of their family friendly parties to the seaside on the 11th August ! Rave legend DJ SLIPMATT will play the ‘Mermaids and Pirate’ themed party. Fancy dress optional, but encouraged. The family raves include bubble machines, club visuals and a giant parachute dance. E
To wrap up the childrens events, on Saturday 12th Alien Aerobics will offer a fun and light hearted dance workout to a retro soundrack of hits from The 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. The class is a mixture of aerobics, basic choreography, stretching, toning and relaxation. Optional dress code: space age/ sparkles (prize for the best dressed!). All levels welcome including beginners.
So, for the third year running, the Free Sisters are hosting another Fringe for Bairns located in the courtyard at the Three Sisters on the Cowgate – expect children’s shows, face painting, magicians, an outdoor cinema and the return of the very popular courtyard petting zoo.
So far it looks like the 
This family magic show features magic, balloon modelling, Barney the Puppet Bird and lots and lots of audience participation and fun. A show suitable for all the family, you will be intrigued, entertained and amazed.
Boogers, books and big bottom burps is a hilarious show from award-winning author Stuart Reid, featuring his popular brand of schoolboy humour and stupidity. Stuart will be launching his 6th book Gorgeous George and his Stupid Stinky Stories, at the festival, with readings, video clips, music with mildly amusing photographs and illustrations from the books.
Prepare to enter the magical world of science. Forget Harry Potter, Dónal is the real wizard. He will show you how to put a skewer through a balloon without popping it, mix potions to create your very own volcano, set paper on fire without burning it, turn water upside-down without spilling it, conjure an invisible force to blow out a candle, make a cola bottle explode in a fountain and more.
-You’re never too young to be introduced to Nick Cope ! If you’ve read this blog before, you’ll know we’re huge fans – we love his melodic, catchy tunes and loved his morning show last year. I’m delighted to see him return with even more of his gorgeous songs. 
Ipdip Theatre are returning after their success with Head in the Clouds to bring Calvinball back to the Botanics !! 
This is for kids aged 2-5 and looks lovely and is part of the Made in Scotland showcase which makes it extra special too ! The Polar Bears are moving up in the world. They’ve lost their balloon and they need to get it back. It’s time to get up, step up, climb up, jump up. One thing’s for sure, the only way is up! These lovable Polar Bears are intrepid explorers, famous for their wild expeditions. Of course, they’ll stop for sandwiches on the way! 10th – 27th August (not 23rd)
How To Be A Kid
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