The Book festival is opening this weekend and it’s in a brand new venue – the Edinburgh Futures Institute, which is fantastic, as its close to the other main festival venues so it is easy to include a visit of you’re out and about.
You can look at the list of all the children’s events here– . There’s also a whole section of the website dedicated to getting creative, with information on all the different interactive and arty events they are hosting – here. And, if that wasn’t already enough – this year, they are giving you the opportunity to come and meet some of your favourite characters, including the Gruffalo and Pikachu – more about that here.
There’s lots of information about visiting the Book Festival on the website itself, and if you’ve missed out on tickets, don’t worry it’s still worth visiting; there’s free events every day, areas for kids to play, guest appearances from costume characters and a fantastic bookshop to browse for the wee ones….a link to all the free events for children is here, there’s story time, hip hop, gruffalo trails, zine making, yoga and much much more…
Wow ..it’s been a busy week, and actually feels like so much longer than a week of the festival already ! That’s good though as it means there’s still loads of time to get out there and catch some shows. We have also been enjoying sampling some of the food delights, the dumplings stall is back, this time with yummy popcorn chicken !
We’ve been super busy as usual getting out and about and enjoying a huge variety of shows and loving all the festival vibes! Check out our first reviews here.
We have seen some incredible acrobatics, amazing magic, fantastic puppetry, silly comedy, bubbly bubbles and much more. Some of our top picks from the past few days are :
The Listies ROFL – This time its bedtime with the Listies – expect the usual silliness and mayhem as Rich attempts to get Matt into bed – Matt has a whole list of things to do before sleeping though !
.
Breathe – Beautiful puppetry, music , set design and poetry. We learnt all about how a woodland changes through the season. Highly recommended for younger children.
.
.
Tom Brace : The Ride 4D – Take a trip to Tomland and be amazed by the rides, tricks and 4d features !!
.
Ten Thousand Hours – Absolutely mesmerising acrobatics. The eight performers are highly skilled and will keep anyone of any age completely engaged. Jaw dropping stuff.
.
As always, I’m keen to hear of any other great shows or things we should try and check out. If any adults reading this are lucky enough to get a night out, I’ve enjoyed David O’ Doherty, Shane Daniel Byrne, Josh Glanc, Laser Kiwi and Sophie’s Surprise 29th !
Fringe by the Sea is returning to it’s beautiful seaside location in North Berwick very soon and has a brilliantly jam packed programme this year – loads of great events for families and children – check it out here .
There’s a fantastic mix of shows, interactive art/craft activities like slime making and seaside/nature activities too like rockpool rambles and seaside science, so something for everyone…
Some of our top picks are :
Trash Test Dummies Circus – Friday 2nd August 2024 12.30pm – 1.30pm The Trash Test Dummies are as full of laughs as their bins are full of surprises. This family adventure takes the humble household wheelie bin to new heights. With side-splitting slapstick comedy, daring acrobatics and dexterous juggling these Dummies are off on an imaginative adventure that is anything but garbage. With ballet and balloons thrown in for good measure, this fast-paced hour delivers a dump truck full of hilarity!
Tinderbox Orchestra – Saturday 3rd August 20242.20pm-3.20pm – Bringing together rappers and singers with soaring strings, heavy brass, woodwind and thundering bass and drums, Tinderbox Orchestra combines original music and movement to transform preconceptions of what an orchestra can be. With a set packed with original music, movement and unexpected collaborations.
Marcel Lucont: Les Enfants Terribles – A Gameshow For Awful Children – Saturday 3rd August 1pm-2pm – We LOVED this show at the fringe last year – read our review here. The UK’s favourite Frenchman channels his acerbic humour and quickfire wit into a family gameshow, pitting children against adults and each other to try and find the most awful child.
Surfskate Sessions – Sunday 4th August 2024 & Wednesday 7th AugustSkate Park, North Berwick 10am, 11am, 12.15pm – Book directly at http://www.surfskateacademy.com Build your surf and skate skills! North Berwick Community Skatepark Project and Surfskate Academy are staging special training sessions as part of FBTS – an ideal way to get to grips with the biomechanics of the sports. Suitable for absolute beginners or for those aiming to hone their skills. Surfskate included. Ages 7+.
The Musical Mill – Matilda – Monday 5th August 2024 4pm – 5.15pm -Rebellion is nigh in Matilda JR, a gleefully witty ode to the anarchy of childhood and the power of imagination! This story of a girl who dreams of a better life and the children she inspires will have audiences rooting for the “revolting children” who are out to teach the grown-ups a lesson. Packed with high-energy dance numbers and catchy songs, Matilda JR. is a joyous girl power romp. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.
Sadly we have been away the last few years – and will be away again and miss this year’s event also. I have so enjoyed it in previous years and the uplifting emotions from all the colour and costumes and music…it’s a brilliant afternoon.
If you’re free Saturday 13th July, definitely make your way along to the carnival and parade…from 12.00 in Princes Street Gardens..
Join us for a breath-taking celebration of costumes, dance and music as we transform the city centre into a kaleidoscope of vibrancy, sound and movement – the perfect free day out for all ages.
Throughout the afternoon, 750 local and international artists will parade and perform throughout West Princes Street Gardens, with performances from KalentuRa Drums (the Netherlands), The Sprite of Monserrate (the Caribbean) and the Edinburgh Chinese Art & Culture Community. The Ross Bandstand opens with the sounds of soca, (Tropical Storm) and samba (Ilê Aiyê), culminates with a Latin American salsa showcase by The Latina Turners.
As this blog has grown, so too have my own littlies, and they are not so little anymore – infact one is taller than me and the other not far off ! This means, as we are firmly in teenager territory, that I am now interested in exploring shows for this older age group also. I know that some shows appeal for all ages, with circus, magic, dance, music, but I am keen to find things that will engage the teenage mind and perhaps bridge the gap…
We’ve picked a few from this year’s offerings which look good for those slightly older children in your lives :
Suitcase Show – For age 12 + – We are big fans of Trick of the light theatre and have loved all of their shows we’ve been lucky enough to see. Sadly it looks like The Bookbinder is now sold out – but if you have older children, then this is definitely worth checking out and sounds like it will have their usually sprinkle of magic. A traveller arrives at a border with a stack of battered cases. From within them, whole worlds will emerge… Suitcase Show is an eclectic boxset of short stories. Dark, spiky, and comic, each one is told out of a suitcase. The staging is inventive, from lo-fi shadowplay to wireless projection, from dancing disembodied hands to narratives that crackle from a 70s stereo suitcase. – 1st – 25th August (not 12th/19th )
Ben Hart: HeX – Age 12 + – Performing in a beautiful venue, this should be a fantastic magic show for older children, we caught Ben performing at one of the press launches last year and were suitably amazed ! Internationally acclaimed magician Ben’s shows are a unique kind of alchemy. Funny, dark and baffling, Hart’s an altogether new species of conjurer… HeX is a curated collection of Ben’s favourite and most exciting material from the last decade alongside new ideas fresh from his laboratory, guaranteed to put a spell on you. Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Palais Du Variete and full to the brim with magic, don’t miss this chance to catch the star of stage and screen up-close and in real life. – 1st – 25th August (not 12th)
YUCK Circus – Age 14 + We loved, loved loved this last year. Seriously awesome and seriously funny and offering an opinion on some of society’s more toxic traits. Full of lots of body positivity and is totally inspirational… Read our review here. YUCK are back with their sell-out show. High-flying acrobatics, absurd confessions, and groovy dancing – all smashed together with their trademark ripper comedy. Get ready to witness a powerhouse of female circus performers kick art in the face. – 1st – 25th August (not 7th/12th/19th)
The Dreamer – Live – Age 12 + – Another magic show that looks worth checking out. Touching on his parents’ 12 year struggle with IVF, The Dreamer is a celebration of the impossible becoming possible. With magic unparalleled elsewhere at Fringe, this show will leave you aching with laughter and dizzy in disbelief. – 3rd – 24th August (not 12th/19th)
.
Every Brilliant Thing – Age 14 + – I was so sad to miss this when it came up before and its in one of my favourite venues of the fringe – the roundabout at Summerhall. I am determined not to miss it this year, so will get booked early – covering important themes, this looks like a good one for the teens. You’re seven years old. Mum’s in hospital. Dad says she’s ‘done something stupid’. She finds it hard to be happy. So you make a list of everything that’s brilliant about the world. Everything worth living for. Ice cream. Water fights. Staying up past your bedtime and being allowed to watch TV. The colour yellow. Rollercoasters. People falling over. A play about depression and the lengths we go to for those we love. – 1st – 24th August (not 6th. 13th, 20th)
Circolombia: Corazón – Age 12 + – We thought these guys were spectacular when we last saw them, so we’re very excited for this performance and again in a fantastic venue ! – With nerves of steel, music from the soul and tons of Colombian spirit, Circolombia welcomes you into their house, their home, their heart! All the way from South America, created especially for the Spiegeltent! In this world premiere, Circolombia invites you to experience Corazón (Heart). A fun-fuelled circus concert, packed with breathless feats, gravity-defying performance and infectious music where you, the audience, are taken right into their beating Latin hearts. Colombia is the land of a thousand rhythms. Vibrant, passionate and pulsating with energy. – 1st – 25th August (not 7th, 12th, 19th )
edinburghfestivalsforkids 