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 Big Beach Busk

Edinburgh Big Beach Busk - Portobello, United Kingdom

If the Mela is not enough excitement for you this weekend, there is also something very fun happening down on Portobello beach -the big beach busk.

From noon on Saturday 31st August, Portobello Prom will be hosting buskers of all varieties in this fun family friendly free event !

‘A mile of promenade, a mile of buskers. Simple.’

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.