DAYS OU'I' LISTINGS

least, the tasty Traquair Fair Ale.

I TRAOUAIR FAIR Sat S/Sun 6, 11am—6pm. Traquair House, Innerleithen Peebleshire. 29/25 (£7.SO/£4 in advance). 01896 830785. OK it’s a bit more sedate than T in the Park and Talitha McKenzie is on the bill, but there’s stacks of entertainments and the beer is certainly a lot better. Among the acts are Henry Normal, Fanshen (a cross between Peking Opera and western circus arts using fire and live music), Eezy Trapeezy and a two-person adaptation of Dickens. On the music front the Tartan Amoebas, the Wrigley Sisters, the Blues Cruisers and Albert Ssempeke strike out in the Walled Garden, while members of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra perfonn in the Rose Garden. There is a bundle of Mr Boom-type entertainment for the kids, inflatable Sumo wrestling, 80 craft stalls, an artists trail and last, but by no means

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I lIVlNG HISTORY IN STIRLING Daily (not Mon), various times and venues, Stirling.

Free. Further details from the Stirling Visitors Centre on 01786 479901. Every summer the Stirling District Council put on a wealth of activities to illustrate the history of their city. This includes four plays by the Sair Feet Theatre Co. These take place daily, except Monday, at different venues around the city. They start off at 11.303m with Curse of The Stewarts at the Visitors Centre Theatre. At 2pm The Guidman takes place on the Castle Esplanade. In the Guildhall, the Divine Rite takes place at 3pm with The Devil and the Deep at 4pm. On Sat 29 July and Sun 3 Sept the history boat is pushed out even further with a 16th century medieval market set out on the Castle Esplanade (11am-4pm) where iugglers, music groups, and stall holders re-create the sights, if not the smells, of Stirling’s street life in the Middle Ages.

30 with poems and pints at the Aberdour Hotel. the latter on Tue I reading from his next novel at Aberdour Castle from 8pm. I AT THE ROYAL COURT OF MARY Sun () Aug and weekly. 2.30pm. Linlithgow Palace. l.inlithgow. £2 (£1.25/75p). 01506 842896. Two dramas presented at the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, which was home to all the Stuart Kings and later housed Cromwell. Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Duke of Cumberland. The first. ‘At the Royal Court of Mary‘ depicts the return of Mary from France and her confrontation with John Knox. The second. 'I.inlithgow Jacobites welcome Bonnie Prince Charlie' depicts (‘harlie‘s return from the exiled Stuart court in Rome. Admission is included in the price of admission to the palace which is open daily 9.30am—6pm (Sunday: 2--()pm).

I BAWSINCH SCOTTISH WILDLIFE RESERVE OPEN DAY Sun 30 July. 11am—5pm. South shore of Duddingston Loch. Duddingston Road West.

Edinburgh. (Enter by wicket gate. 200 yards south of Church l.ane junction). Free. A rare chance to walk round this thriving wildlife haven in the "cart of the city. which is usually closed to the public. Originally a rubbish tip. the area has been transformed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust into a mixed environment of woodland. wild-flower meadow and scrub. Together with the reed beds. islands and ponds around the loch these provide habitats for a wide range of birds and plants. Experts from the Scottish Wildlife Trust will be on hand to lead guided walks throughout the day.

I FRIENDS OF THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE WEEKEND Sat l2/Sun 13 Aug. 11am—5pm (last train 5pm). Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway. Bo'ness Station. Union Street. Bo'ness. £4 (£3). 01506 822298. The Fat Controller will be trying to control the troublesome trucks. the engines will have faces. there will be a marquee at the outer station with Thomas model railway. face

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admission to Thirlestane Castle.

“cu. “yew and wt“ OTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP HORSE TRIALS Sat 19/Sun 20 Aug. 9am—5pm. Thirlestane Castle, by lauder. Entry Sat: £4, Sun: £6, children and cars free. Olympic and World class riders from thirteen nations are expected to take part in this, Scotland’s premier equestrian event. It should attract a wealth of UK talent as it is the final trial for the Senior European Chamionships. Thirlestane is a spectacular venue for the trials, with dressage and show jumping taking place in the main arena in front of the castle. Cross country events take place in the surrounding parkland and all the obstacles are within easy walking distance. There is full Days Out support from the usual assortment of trade stands, bars and food stalls. Créche facilities are available on both days and there is a dog agility competition open to all. Entry price includes

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painting and entertainments. Arrive early or late in order to beat the crowds. The railway is open daily through to 20 August with steam trains at 11.30am. lpm. 2.15pm and 3.30pm. A diesel pulls the last train at 4.30pm.

I LAMMAS FAIR AND MARKET Fri 4-Tue 8 Aug (not Sun). 1 lam-11pm. Market Street. St Andrews. Fife. This major fair and market has survived since the sixteen hundreds when it was granted a charter by King James. Then. it was a ‘feeing' market where workers would go to change their employers. Now it is a major excuse for the best showpeople to descend on Fife with their fairground equipment. The market is on Monday and Tuesday when all sorts of traders turn tip to tout their

I RECORD AND CO FAIR Fri Iii—Sun 20 Aug. noon—7pm (Fri). 10am—7pm (Sat). 10am—5pm (Sun). Roxburghe Hotel. Charlotte Square. Edinburgh. £1. Buy that rare Freddy and The Dreamers 7in that you always coveted. Sell those Take That promos you've had stashed in the cupboard until you‘re old enough to buy your own Technics. Orjust browse through the thousands of albums. 7in. 12in. cassettes and CDs on offer. Serious vinyl junkies should make sure they leave their credit cards at home!

I THE SECRETS OF MARY KING’S CLOSE Sat 29 July-Sun 10 Sept. on the hour: 2pm—6pm. Meet at City Chambers. Royal Mile. Edinburgh. £3.50. Booking on 013] 220 2056. For the really sick-minded. this is a chance to look round the notorious close which the City Fathers closed off to confine the plague. Thus consigning everyone inside. whether healthy or otherwise. to death. This tour is not suitable for children under the age of 10. I TRUCK FEST SCOTLAND Sat 5/Sun 6 Aug. 9.30am—6pm. Royal Highland Showground. Ingliston. Edinburgh. £6.50 (£3.50). See photo caption.

I DEECHGROVE GARDEN OPEN DAYS Sat 29/Sun 30 July. 11am—3pm. Beechgrove Garden. Beechgrove Terrace. Aberdeen. £1 (50p). A must for the greenfingered. as this offers a chance to see BBC Scotland's own garden in all its glory with the gardeners in attendance. And you cart even buy plants from their plant stall and

watch the tool demonstrations. There will be a bouncy castle. face painting and nosh for the kids. ()n Sunday. the Beec/rgmvc Putting Slicrl. a new radio programme. will be broadcast live at noon.

I CLYDESDALE HORSE SHOW Sat 26 Aug. 10am-4pm. Duthie l’ark. Aberdeen. Free. Britain‘s biggest show of these. the biggest of horses.

I MECHANICAL MUSICAL FAIR Sun 13 Aug. 11am—5pm. (jrampian Transport Museum. Alford. Aberdeenshirc. £3

(£2/£ l ). 019755 62292. Amongst the vehicular attractions at Alford is the 1923 Mortier Dance ()rgan. This mighty beast gets a whirl every day. but at the mechanical musical fair it receives support frotn a host of visiting mechanical instruments. The museum is always worth a visit for the mechanically minded with lots of working exhibits and a decent playground for the kids to let off their own steam.

I AYR FLOWER FESTIVAL Thurs 24—Sat 26 Aug. l—9pm (Thurs). 9.30am—9pm (Fri). 9.30am-4pm (Sat). Rozelle Park. Ayr. £5 (£3.50). reductions after 5pm. £10 all three days. ()ne of the highlights of the Scottish gardening year. the Ayr Flower Show is now in its 36th year and features 700 classes ranging frotn flower arrangements to cacti and succulents. ln among all the honeysuckle and roses. chrysanthetmuns. ferns and vegetables. there will be a Cookery Theatre with the likes ofJohn Webber. Willie Deans and Anthony Worral-'l‘hompson.

I DIRD DAY AT DRUMPELLIER Sun 13 Aug. 1—5pm. Drumpellier Country Park. Townhead Road. Coatbridge. Free. 01236

Dan Eanzon appears at Truck Fest Scotland

74 The List 28 Jul— 10 Aug 1995