My top five picks for childrens shows at the Fringe Festival 2014…..

Every year I pick up the Fringe brochure and I am so excited, but also totally overwhelmed by the number of shows available to see and the huge amount of choice and variety….and maybe it is because I’m a libra, or it’s actually down to the fact there are sooooooooo many good things to go see and so little time to see them all, but I find it very hard to make any decisions….

So, this year I’ve had a little look and have narrowed it down to this list (give or take a few extras !)…

  • Emily Brown and the THING –   Tall Stories are the company that brought us all The Gruffalo  which I thought was fantastic, so I’m hoping this new production will also be just as fun. Based on the Cressida Cowell’s much loved book, its about Emily’s night time adventures and promises to be a magical, musical show……….From 30th July – 24th August (not 7th).

 

  •   Pirate Gran – ‘She knits, she bakes, she drinks sherry’ – all sounds good so far ! This production is brought to you by Scamp Theatre who are the team behind Stick Man and the fantastic Tiddler. Based on the Pirate Gran series of books, this looks to be a swashbuckling show !                     31st July – 25th August (not13th)

 

  •   Dinosaur Zoo – Direct from the West End, this looks like an awesome live show with fantastic puppets – perfect for any dinosaur loving little ones….                               30th July – 25th August  (not 2nd )

 

  •  Red Riding Hood – For the past two years I have been to see puppet shows during the festival at the Storytelling centre and they have been amazing and a total highlight. The venue is small and cosy and you feel fully engaged as the audience and can really appreciate the gorgeous puppets – this show looks to be just as enchanting with a retelling of this classic tale.                               31st July – 17th August (not 11th)

 

  •          Big Red Bath (and The Snow Dog) – So I am kind of cheating by having these two productions, but the are by the same theatre company – Full House- and are performing on alternate days and both look great ! Big Red Bath  are on a bubbly, barmy bath time adventure in a vibrant adaptation of the book, and The Snow Dog  looks to be a playful exploration of love and loss with a real husky on stage which sounds exciting!                        30th/31st July – 23rd/24th August

BBC at the Edinburgh Festivals…

As I write this, the grass is being laid out and the huge blue and pink tents are being erected for the BBC area at Potterow which returns this year. If you read this blog last year, you’ll know I’m a huge fan…..the BBC area is FANTASTIC !! They have lots of free events for children and its a great space to go and hang out during the day as there is a ping pong table, a huge screen showing films/performances etc, deck chairs, food stalls, ice cream and kids activities….

As before, there are a number of events which are ticketed and you can apply for free tickets here but a limited number of tickets are also available on the day for events should you not be successful in the ballot.

A few of the family events have been announced and look great, and you have until this Sunday the 27th July to apply for tickets :

Fingers crossed !

 

Playday 2014 – Wednesday 30th July

This year playday is back on the Grassmarket, which is actually pretty good as last year’s venue on the Royal Mile was all a bit hectic and too much of a squash and a squeeze !

If you’ve never been to Playday before, its great – very simply its a playday organised for free by the council to give parents and carers some ideas for play that you can do easily back at home.

This year will include all the favourites, such as waterplay, giant sand pit, magic potions, a cardboard city, junk drumming and much more….

Its totally worth checking out and is a fun packed afternoon for the kids !

Wednesday 30th July from 12.30….

I’m back !……(and carnival happenings)

So so sorry – its been one of those hectic hectic years and despite all my plans and hopes, I’ve utterly neglected this blog since, well, last summer….and there have been so many good kids festivals etc between then and now.

But I’m slowly emerging and getting all excited with festival fever again and I though ‘why not?’….I’ll resurrect the blog and see how it goes ! And my head is already filled with ideas of what to share as I absorb the goings on ahead of us – the carnivals, the Book festival, Play day back at the Grassmarket, the BBC tent, the Pleasance kidszone……..it’s all coming back this year !

So, to kick things off – the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues festival is happening this weekend with some free events that look great:

On Saturday 19th July its the Mardi Gras starting at 1pm and at the Grassmarket – there will be a few different stages with lots of musicians there to entertain you !

On Sunday 20th July its the Edinburgh Festival Carnival which promises to be lots of fun ! The parade starts at 2pm from the Mound and heads to West Princes Street. There will be dancers, music, circus performers and lots of entertainment for everyone…and its all free

From 2.30-4.30pm there is music in Princes Street Gardens and

2pm – 5pm there are music and carnival acts in the Grassmarket.

 

All we need is some sunshine to go with it !

 

Edinburgh Mela ….

The summer festival season just keeps on giving it seems with the Edinburgh Mela just around the corner!!  The Edinburgh Mela is fantastic – two days of music, dance, fashion and food – its colourful and vibrant and a great day out with the kids !! Its held at Leith Links and will be taking place on Saturday 31st August and Sunday 1st September ….

This year along with the usual music, stalls and dancing which the kids will no doubt also  enjoy there will be another dedicated kidzone, supported again by sponsors Forestry Commission Scotland and Scotland Natural Heritage. There will be four different environments: Forests, Farms, Hills and Mountains and Shore and children will be encouraged to explore all of them…

They will find interactive nature inspired activities and creative arts workshops, environmental educators and wildlife experts will also be present to help young people find out about the Scottish countryside.

Excitingly there will be a storytelling longboat, staffed by a crew of tall tale-telling Vikings, telling stories that span the seven seas!

Tickets are on sale now and are a mere £4 for a whole day !! And, under twelves get in for FREE ! You can buy them via the website here or pop into the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Box Office on the High Street and purchase them there if you want to avoid the queues buying them at the Mela on the day itself.