KIDS

We welcome submissions for this section, but cannot guarantee inclusion. Please send details to our offices at least ten days before publication. Kids listings compiled by Helen Monaghan.

Activities And Fun

Christmas 8: New Year Carnival Fri 18 Dec—Sun 17 Jan. I—10prn; Fri I8 Dec. 6—10pm. £6—£ 14.50. SECC. Finniestott Quay. 287 7777. The largest indoor festive fttrt fair iii the UK. featuring traditional rides. stalls and amusements. Santa's Sleigh Rides Sat l9 & Sun 20 Dec. times vary. £1.50. Pollok Country Park. Pollokshaws Road. 632 9299. Join Santa on a sleiglt ride around tlte

ark.

obby Roberts Super Circus Fri 18 Dec—Sun 17 Jan (not Fri 25 Dec). 2.30pm & 7.30pm; Fri Dec 18. 7.30pm. £7—£l2 (£5—£8); fantin ticket £24. SECC. Firtrtiestott Quay. 287 7777. Thrills attd spills ttrtder the big top at otte of the few remaining traditional cir'ctises.

Film

The Singing Ringing Tree (U ) Thu 17 Dec. 1.15pm; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (U) Sat 19—.\Iort 21 Dec. 2pm. £2. Glasgow Film Theatre. 12 Rose Street. 332 8128. See Film irtdes.

Music

RSNO Family Christmas Concert Sat 19 Dec. 7.30pm. £8—£2 1. Royal Concert Hall. 2 Sauchiehall Street. 287 551 1. The orchestra are joined by their junior chorus irt art evenittg of seasonal favourites including a performance of William Blake's The Strait-titan.

Theatre

Tales Of The Arabian Nights Until Sat 19 Dec. 7.15pm; Sat 10am. £5 (£3). RSAMI). I00 Rettfrew Street. 332 5057. Classic tales brought to yott frortt the deserts of Arabia Including the story of the Hunchback. Sltokrait the angry Gertie artd Sinbad the Wanderer. Performed by final year drama students.

The Happy Gang’s Castle 0f Adventure Until Tue 22 Dec. Mort—Fri 10.30am & 1.30pm; Sat Iprtt: Sttit 1pm& 4pm. £5 (£3.50); family ticket £18. SFCC. Finnieston Qtray. 287 7777. Up to age 9. Join the Happy Gartg as they look after Professor Nirtcorttpoop's Castle of Adventure. See review. page 82.

The Singing Kettle Santa's Musical Toyshop Fri 18—Moit 28 Dec (itot Mon 21 and Fri 2.5 Dec). Fri 18. 2pm & 6pm; Sat 19. I Iattt 6; 2pm; Suit 20. noon; Tue 22. 2pm & 6pm; Wed 23. 11am. 2pm & 6pm; Tltti 24. I Iattt & 2pm; Sat 26-«Mort 28 Dec noon (2 3pm. £6— £8 (£5 £7); family ticket £22»—£25. Royal Concert Hall. 2 Saucltteltall Street. 287 5511.

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Ages 3-10. The Kettlers help Santa during his busy time of year. with lots of singalong fun and audience participation. See review. page 82.

Tales From Guignol Sat 19 Dec. 2pm. £3 (£2). Scottish Mask & Puppet Theatre Centre. 8—10 Balcarres Avenue. Kelvindale. 339 6185. Ages 5—1 1. The SMP theatre company present two popular French hand puppet plays: The Vaults ()fDmtan Castle and The Stolen Sili'enr'are.

Exhibition

Insights Until Sun 3 Ian. Scotland Street School Museum. 225 Scotland Street. 429 I202. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm; Suit 2—5pm. An interactive exhibition for children aimed at giving them art insight irtto the geography. history and culture of Germany. Among the exhibits is a football stadium featuring the flags of the leading German teams and a castle made of glass to house characters front Grimms' fairytales.

Books

Children’s Christmas Party Sat 19 Dec. 11am. Borders Books. Music Arid Cafe. 283 Buchanan Street. 222 7700. Stories. colouring-in. pressies artd a special appearance front Elaine C. Smith at Borders' Yuletide bash for kids.

Activities And Fun

Quickies For Kids Royal Museum of Scotland. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. Free ten-minute talks for children held every Saturday at 2.15pm and every Sunday at 3.15pm. Topics include ('rmm/i/es And Tart/ex on Sat 19 Dec; The Biggest Creature liver on Strtt 20 Dec; The Camel on Sat 2 Jan attd The Pvt/um on Sun 3 Jan.

Santa's Forest Grotto Until Thu 24 Dec. 10artt-—4pm. £2.50. Edinburgh Zoo.

Corstorphine Road. 334 917 I. Cortte arid

meet Santa iit his magical forest grotto and receive a wee pressie (only if you've been good. mind). There's also badge- making arid an animal qurz,

Winter Wonderland Lintil Sun 3 Jan (closed Fri 25 Dec). Sun—Wed 10am—8pm; Thu—Sat 10am— 10pm; (Tlttt 31 Dec & Fri I Jart 10am—5pm). £4.50 (£3.50); family ticket £12.50. Princes Street Gardens. Princes Street. 473 1999. A classic Christmas experience at this open-air ice rink. As well as skating. there's a craft and gift fair. mulled wine artd roast chestnuts.

Festive Fun Art Workshops Sat 19 Dec. Ages 5—8. 10attt-~rtoort: ages 9~ I 2. 2—4pm. £9 per worksltop. ()ltl St Paul's Church Hall. 63 Jeffrey Street. 554 1999.

: .lenrty Smith leads tltrs fun art worksltop on a festive theme covering a variety of - art arid craft rttetltuitts. ~

Theatre

A Christmas Carol Wed 23 & Thu 24 Dec. I Iattt & 2pm. £4 (£3). Netherbow Arts Centre. 43—45 High Street. 556 9579. Ages 4+. Wee Stories Theatre retell this classic story of grumpy old Scrooge‘s discovery of the true meaning of Christmas.

Bring Back Christmas! Until Tue 22 Dec. Thu I7—Sat 19. 10.30am. 2.30pm & 7.30pm; Sun 20. 7.30pm; Mon 21 & Tue 22 Dec. 2.30pm & 7.30pm. £5 (£3.50). Netherbow Arts Centre. 43—45 High Street. 556 9579. Ages 6+. .loin Holly on her fabulous journey to discover the true rtteaning ofChi‘istmas in this show for families from the Scottish Actors Initiative.

OUTSIDE THE CITIES

Activities And Fun

Santa At Mill Farm Until Sun 20 Dec (weekends only). 10am—5pm. £2.20 (£1.10). Almond Valley Heritage Centre. Livingston. 01506 4 I4957. Christmas fun at the farm. with illuminated sleigh rides. nativity scene arid Santa in his farmyard cottage.

Santa Cruises Until Sun 20 Dec (weekertds only); Mon 21—Thu 24 Dec (daily). Times vary. £5.50. The Edinburgh Canal Centre. 27 Baird Road. Ratho. 333 1320. A one hour fairytale cruise along the Urtion Canal to Santa‘s secret grotto on ‘Duck Islattd' with a gift for every child attd refreshittents for adults.

Santa Steam Trains Until Sun 20 Dec (weekends only). Trains run every Sat 8; Strtt at 10.30am. itoort. 1.30pm 8: 3pm. £5. Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway. Bo'ness Station. Union Street. Bo'ness. 0I506 825855. Join Santa on a steam train ride. with gifts for all the children arid seasonal refreshments for adults. Magical World Of Christmas Until Thu 24 Dec. Mort—Fri 11am. 2pm & 6.30pm; Sat & Sun nooit. 2pm. 4pm 8t 6pm (Mon 21—Tltu 24 Dec. same as Sat & Suit opening hours). £5.95; farttily ticket £20. Scotland‘s Theme Park. Strathclyde Courttry Park. Motherwell. ()1698 333999. Festive ftrrt at the theme park with a full-size circus big top. unlimited rides on Santa's furtfair. life-sized animated scenes arid a personal visit to Santa.

The Spirit Of Christmas Until Mort 4 Ian (closed 25 Dec. I & 2 Jan). Daily 11am—5pm. £3.75 (£2.50). New lattark Visitor Cetttre. New 1.aitark. 01555 661345. This award-winning. interactive ride is adapted front the year-round ‘Annie McLeod Experience'. which looks at the origins of Christmas artd its changing traditions. Also at the centre for

2 just £5. you cart go oit the ride. see New - 1.artark's mini pantomittte T/re Jitrele : Bunk (daily urttil 22 1)ec.titttes vary) and

visit Santa itt his grotto.

The Witches Wood l‘tttil Fri 15 Jan (closed 25 & 26 Dec artd I 8; 2 Jan). Daily 10attt--4pm. Free Sumrtter'lee Heritage Park. Ironworks Gallery.

PIPS AND PANDA IN SANTA’S WORKSHOP See listings above for performance times. International Purves Puppets' new seasonal adventure features glow-in-the-dark puppets, songs and audience participation. One of I

six Pips and Panda's stories, we find the twosome en-route to post a letter to Santa, but a robin

ies away with

it. Searching high and low for the letter, they soon arrive at the bearded fella's magical, toy-making workshop.

110 THE LIST 17 Dec 1998—] Jan 1999

Heritage Way. Coatbridge. 01236 431261. This interactive. Christmas exhibition takes the form of an enchanted wonderland with lots of fun things to explore. There‘s a witch’s cottage. a silver quiz tree. wibey-wobbly magical mirrors plus storytelling. shadow puppetry and much more. Enter at your own peril!

Christmas Trees And Wood-Tuming Demonstration Sat 19 & Sun 20 Dec. 10am—4pm. Muirshiel Centre. Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park. Lochwinnoch. OI 505 842803. Pick out the perfect tree for Christmas. and watch a wood-tumer at his ancient craft.

Santa Visits Palacerigg Sat I9 & Sun 20 Dec. 11am—4pm. Palacerigg Country Park. Palacerigg Road. Cumbernauld. 01236 720047. A flying visit from Father Christmas.

Santa Visits Calderglen Sat 19 & Sun 20 Dec. 1—3pm. Free. Calderglen Country Park. Strathaven Road. East Kilbride. 01355 236644. Santa takes up residence in his Christmas Corner. with music. sweeties and festive fun.

Santa In His Grotto Sat 19 & Sun 20 Dec. 2pm. £2. Canal Basin. Manse Road. Linlithgow. 01506 842123. Take a trip along the canal to visit Santa in his grotto. where every child receives a present.

Animal Magic Sun 27 Dec. 2—3pm. Free. Calderglen Country Park. Strathaven Road. East Kilbride. 01335 236644. A chance for younger children to meet Flopsy Bunny. Scruffy the Guinea Pig and more.

Film

Dr Dolittle (PG) on Sun 27 Dec. 2.30pm. £1.50. MacRobert Arts Centre. University Of Stirling. 01786 461081. See Film Index.

Theatre

Jack And The Beanstalk Sat 19 Dec.

I Iarn & 2.30pm. £4 (£2.50); fatnin ticket £12 (£7.50). Howden Park Centre. Livingston. 01506 433634. Ages 6—11. Hopscotch Theatre Company with a lively ada tation of the fat tale. Nessie - he Loch Ness onster Mon 21 Dec. 11am& 5pm. £4 (£3). Barrfrelds Theatre. Greenock Road. Largs. 01475 689777. The International Purves Puppets present Nessie‘s story.

The Happy Gang's Castle Of Adventure Strn 27 Dec. 11am & 2pm. £4.50 (£3.50); family ticket £15. Falkirk Towrt Hall. West Bridge Street. Falkirk. ()1324 506850. See Glasgow Theatre. The International Purves Puppets Biggar Little Theatre. Broughton Road. 01899 220631. £4.40 adults; £3.30 children (reductions for parties of over 10). Shows on offer over the coming weeks are as follows:

The Nutcracker Sat 19. 2.30pm; Thu 24. Sat 26. Mon 28 & Wed 30 cc. 2pm. Ait innovative puppet production based on Hoffmann‘s famous story of fantasy and

Pips And Panda In Santa's Workshop Fri 18 & Mon 21. 10.30am; Wed 23. 11am & 2pm; Thu 24 Dec. I 1am. See photo captiort.

Pips And Panda Meet The Tooth-Fairy Sun 27. Tue 29 & Thu 31 Dec. 2pm; Sun 3 84 Tue 5 Ian. 2pm. Follow the adventures of Pips arid Panda as they search for the tooth-fairy.

Aladdin And His Wonderful Lamp Sat 2 & Mon 4 Jan. 2pm. The familiar story of Aladdin gets a puppet makeover iit Purves Puppets‘ unique adaptation.

For details of children's events at Edinburgh's Hogmanay, see our special Hogmanay supplement.