Edinburgh International Book Festival 2025

I am extremely late in writing this post, as the book festival opened this past weekend. As always, the Book Festival is fantastic and offers loads of opportunities to keep the wee ones busy – all of the children’s events are listed here. There is also a dedicated kids area within the festival space and the well loved children’s bookshop..

There are some good drop-in/free events over the next couple of weeks :

Saturday 16th AugustMeet Pikachu – Pikachu, I choose YOU! Come along and meet everyone’s favourite electric-type Pokémon for a special appearance at the Book Festival. Don’t miss the opportunity to give Pikachu a wave or pose like a Pokémon trainer for a photo!

Sunday 17th AugustDesign the Future with Remode Collective – Join Remode Collective for a drop-in sustainable textile session reimagining recycled and donated fabric into bookmarks, keyholder charms, and mini fabric artworks. Explore the world of textiles, get crafty, and learn about the impact of textile waste.

Monday 18th AugustPop in and Play with Dads Rock – In the Children’s Tent today you’ll find Dads Rock with activities to keep your wee ones busy, just drop in between 13:00 and 14:00 to see what’s going on!

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Tuesday 19th August Pop in and Play with Edinburgh for Under Fives – The team from Edinburgh for Under Fives is back to entertain little ones with a story and art activity to take home. Drop in any time and all are welcome!

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Saturday 23rd AugustMeet the Gruffalo – Oh help! Oh no! It’s a Gruffalo! Meet Julia Donaldson’s most famous creation and join in with songs, dancing, and games. Don’t miss the opportunity to give the Gruffalo a cuddle, a high five or take a selfie.

Sunday 24th AugustMeet Princess with The Unicorn Experience – For one afternoon only, step into the magic with Princess the Unicorn and the Unicorn Experience, including the opportunity to leave Princess a wish in her very own Wish Jar. Princess will be greeting families between 1pm and 2.30pm so make sure you arrive on time and are prepared to queue. Please note that due to unicorn welfare, Princess may need unexpected breaks. If you arrive too late to meet Princess, we suggest leaving her a wish and heading to our special unicorn craft session.

Sunday 24th AugustLetters Fae the Locals with Refuweegee – Pop by and lend your creative brain to writing a welcoming message (or drawing!) to refugees arriving in Scotland. The team from Refuweegee will guide you in creating these heartwarming messages which will then be distributed within their community-built, personal welcome packs to help people feel more at home here.

First Week Highlights…. 2025

It’s been a busy old week already – we’ve had a few of our reviewers out there, sampling what’s on and enjoying the mix of sunshine, wind (!) and usual four seasons in a day that the Edinburgh weather has to offer ! The dumpling stall is back in Assembly Gardens so we’ve been enjoying that also, and our older mini-reviewers are loving the crepes and waffles just outside the gardens too !!

We’ve been busy seeing some incredible shows, from baby shows to magic, to acrobatics to dancing ! Check out our first reviews here ..

Some of our top picks from the last few days have been :

The Listies Make Some Noise – This was the usual chaos and brilliant nonsense from the Listies which kept four mini-reviewers absolutely engaged and giggling non-stop throughout ! Go on a musical adventure with the Listies this year…

All fired up : an 80s Mixtape Musical – This was unexpectedly fantastic, we loved this hour of neon, classic 80s songs and a heartwarming story about a mother finding her spark and joy again…

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Tom Brace Saws Himself in Half – We love Tom Brace in this household and enjoyed this hour of magic and illusions, with a rather fantastic costumed finale act ! Tom is brilliant at keeping both adults and children engaged with his quick wit and tricks..

Circa: Wolf – One for older children – this was absolutely amazing, these ten performers can do incredible things with their bodies and strength. We loved that all genders within the cast were bases too…it was astounding !

A Silent Disco Dance Tour by Silent Adventures – A few of our older mini-reviewers went along to a silent disco adventure and they had the BESTEST time..they were so excited when we met them after – they loved the singing, the runway dancing and had loads of fun! Highly recommended..

For the younger ones out there, our littlest reviewer really enjoyed both toooB and Hello Birds; both gentle shows and perfect introductions to the fringe for babies – with plenty of interaction and props to play with and nothing too overwhelming for little ones.

And please, we are keen to hear any other recommendations as we still have time to get out and enjoy what the festival has to offer, with a variety of mini-reviewers available!

Pleasance Kidzone

The fantastic Kidzone at the Pleasance is back…a perfect place to keep little ones entertained this August with a whole host of arts and crafts activities available. Buggy parking and a cafe with lots of great food and drink options make this a perfect stop off or brilliant place to combine with seeing one of the great children’s shows at the Pleasance this year !

Circus Hub at the Meadows !!

The Underbelly Circus hub at the meadows is now officially OPEN !!

We love this venue and this year it’s featuring the extra exciting addition of a sauna !! One for the adults, but could be an option if you have some spare time whilst kids are being entertained ?!

There are loads of great kids shows at the Circus Hub this year – so definitely worth checking out :

The Ugly Ducking – For littler kids- A reimagining of the classic coming-of-age tale with an acrobatic twist! Bringing together the best of circus and storytelling to produce an energetic, hilarious yet heart-warming family-friendly experience focusing on celebrating difference and finding your tribe.

Trash Test Dummies – Our much loved dummies are back ! WE love this show – full of chaos and giggles. winning, side-splitting, slapstick comedy, circus routine retakes the household wheelie bin to new heights and delivers a dump truck full of hilarity!

Flip Fabrique: Six – We LOVE Flip Fabrique so are super excited about this ! Dive into this astonishing acrobatic comedy where the ordinary becomes extraordinary and ingenuity is always at play! On this planet, we are within six degrees of separation from knowing everyone. And since there are only five on stage, it makes you wonder: could the missing connection be you?

The Flying Bubble Show – Dive into a magical world where dreams and reality blur in a breathtaking fusion of bubble magic and aerial flight. Maxwell the Bubbleologist soars above the stage, creating millions of shimmering bubbles with every leap and twirl.

The Nose Dive Assembly – We love Revel Puck Circus ! – In Nose Dive Assembly we meet Pierrot, the distracted mistress of ceremonies – but she can’t focus. The circus swirls around her, yet something’s holding her back. While the troupe take to the skies, she’s stuck on the ground. She yearns to fly.

Top Six Shows for the even bigger little ones 2025 !

So, sadly I’m moving beyond the little people stage, with two fully formed teenagers in my house ! That means we’re very much up for exploring all that is on offer for this age group – 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 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…

Murder She Didn’t Write – We LOVED this improvised whodunnit last year ! Cannot wait to go back and see the talented cast come up with more surprises this year – expertly done, very engaging and the best thing, is each night you’re getting a unique experience ! Don your deerstalker and grab your magnifying glass as this talented company use audience suggestions to create a hilarious improvised murder mystery. All you have to do… is solve it! Age 12 +

Tom Brace Saws Himself in Half – Again, we are huge fans of Tom Brace in this household, after originally being awestruck by his magic when we bumped into him flyering a few years ago ! We have seen all of his shows since then, and loved every one ! Bringing a show for older kids/adults this year, we’re very excited… Houdini. Brown. Blaine. Brace? Tom Brace is aiming to enter the Magic Hall of Fame by attempting a world first. Sawing HIMSELF in half. Join him on a journey through the best tricks and illusions from magical history as he navigates what it really takes to become a legend of magic. Age 12 +

The Ruckus – We caught the Revel Puck Circus two years ago and we loved them, we had a  loud and colourfully chaotic time ! Nancy is hosting a party in The Beauty. And you’re invited! Just try not to arrive early – she needs time to get ready! Oh you’re here already? Well she’s sending some of her absurdly talented friends out to entertain her guests while she finalises her outfit!  Age 12 +

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Police Cops: The Original – We have seen the Police Cops a few times now, and they are just incredible, very difficult to describe their shows, but they are wonderfully unique, completely madcap and you will not stop laughing from start to finish…everyone I have recommended them too has loved them, so we’re super excited for this ! Expect adrenaline-fuelled physical comedy, 80s bangers and uncompromising facial hair.  Age 12 +

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All Fired Up: an 80’s Mixtape Musical – This looks super fun and super colourful ! Tammy Tooth’s midlife crisis hits rock-bottom when an 80s mixed tape sends her back to 1987. Face to face with her teenage self, Tammy gets a second chance to ask life’s big questions, rediscover her spark and rewrite her future. Jump into the front seat of the Delorean, crank up the radio and take on a few life lessons from your favourite radio presenter, DJ Neon. Age 12+

Circa: Wolf – Circa are fantastic acrobats, and every show we’ve seen, has left us awestruck. Wolf. A gasp-inducing acrobatic thrill ride. Clad in designer Libby McDonnell’s form-hugging costumes and set to DJ Ori Lichtik’s relentless primal rhythms, the cast of ten extraordinary Circa artists grasp, tear, climb, leap and balance with fierce abandon. For Director Yaron Lifschitz, the wolf is a symbol of our untameable selves: liberating, anarchic and savage. The wolves evolve from disruptive forces of chaos into a ferocious pack whose intense choreographies overflow with raw energy and astounding physicality. Wolf is circus with fangs. Age 12+