Kids Festival Kids www.list.co.uk/kids www.list.co.uk/kids

www.list.co.uk/kids Kids

Arthur’s Secrets Wed 29 & 5 Aug, 1pm. Holyrood Park Education Centre, 1 Queen’s Drive, 652 8150. Take a walk up Edinburgh’s own volcanic plug. Meet at Holyrood Park Information Centre. Ages 8+. Brass Rubbing in a 15th Century Church Until Mon 31 Aug (not Sun), 10am–5pm. Free entry (rubbings from £1.50). Brass Rubbing Centre, Chalmers Close, Royal Mile, 556 4364. Make rubbings of Celtic designs, medieval knights and roaring lions at this family activity. FREE Garden Detectives Until Sun 27 Sep, times vary. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. Experience the sounds and smells of a garden, all without getting your hands dirty! Dynamic Earth Space Agency Until Sun 23 Aug, 10am–6pm. Included in admission: £9.50 (£7.50; children £5.95). Our Dynamic Earth, Holyrood Road, 550 7800. Different space-themed activities every day. Choose from the Right Stuff Challenge, Space Ball, Magic Planet Shows or Space Rocks storytelling. FREE A Slice of Life Until Fri 31 Jul (not 25 & 26), 11am–1pm & 2–4pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. Drop in to hear stories of the olden days. FREE The Magic of Plants Thu 23, Fri 24 & Sun 26 Jul, 1–4pm. Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Learn about witches and wych elms, dragon’s blood and other plants with mysterious and symbolic properties. FREE Meet the Mega-Beasts Until Fri 24 Jul, 2–4pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. Celebrate Darwin’s discoveries with activities linked to the Garden Detectives exhibition, and meet Khan the Boa Constrictor and Ziggy the Chinese Water Dragon. Mosaic Birdhouses Thu 23 Jul, 11am–3.30pm. £6 per adult/child. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Use vibrant Mexican mosaic tiles and sparkly jewels to create a striking birdhouse. Book in advance. FREE Fun Day Thu 23 Jul, 11am–4pm. Saughton Park, Balgreen Road, Try out tennis, football, golf, mountain biking, rock climbing, archery, sumo wrestling, bouncy castles or bungee running, a sample of the huge range of activities available in Edinburgh Council’s summer activity programme. Enchanted Lands Fri 24 Jul, 11am–3.30pm. £5 per adult/child. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Create a felt bag or pencil case with beautiful scenes depicted on the front. Under 8s must be accompanied. Book in advance. Pondemonium Fri 24 Jul, 2–3.30pm. Adults free (children £3). Inveresk Lodge Garden, Inveresk, near Musselburgh, 0844 493 2124. Explore the Inveresk pond at this Ranger-led children’s event. Play games and catch and identify some pond-life. Booking essential. FREE Costume Workshop: Hat- Making Sat 25 Jul, 11am–1pm. Dovecot, 10 Infirmary Street, 315 3054. Transform yourself into a pirate, princess or cat with face-paint and a hat inspired by Burningham’s books It’s a Secret, Come Away from the Water Shirley and Time to Get Out of the Bath, Shirley. FREE Traditional Games Sun 26 Jul, 12.45pm, 1.45pm, 2.45pm & 3.45pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. Put down the Sony PSP and indulge in some old-time fun. FREE The Sky’s the Limit Mon 27–Fri 31 Jul, 10am–5pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. A week of drop-in events with the Royal Observatory to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy. Fabric Fun Mon 27–Fri 31 Jul, 10.30am–12.30pm. £75 for the week. Imagination Workshop, 136 Marchmont Road, 466 0148. See what you can make with a range of different fabrics in this week of workshops. Ages 6+. Fairy Sparkle Bag Mon 27 Jul, 11am–3.30pm. £5 per adult/child. Lauriston 62 THE LIST 23 Jul–6 Aug 2009

Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Make a fantastic sparkly little bag using all sorts of materials and buttons. Book in advance. FREE Outdoor Food! Sat 1 Aug, 11am–5pm. Bridgend Allotments, 41 Old Dalkeith Road, 664 9559. Harvest fresh ingredients from the allotment then cook up and then eat them all up in the outdoor kitchen. Booking essential. Under 16s must be accompanied. Traquair Art in Action Weekend Sat 1 & Sun 2 Aug, 11am–5pm. £8 (£5; family ticket £22). Traquair House, Innerleithen, 01896 830323. A superb array of arts, crafts and workshops in which the whole family can participate. Teddy Bears’ Picnic Sat 1 & Sun 2 Aug, 11.30am–4pm. Free with admission. National Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, 247 4238. If you go down to the woods today you can join in the fun and games, or you can relax on the grass with your picnic. Bring your favourite bear! FREE El Estudio Espanol Sat 1–Mon 31 Aug, 2–4.30pm. National Gallery of Scotland: Clore Education Centre, The Mound, 624 6200. Every day in August you can explore The Discovery of Spain exhibition and then have a bash at some arty activities. Ages 5+. Under 12s must be accompanied. FREE Art-tastic: World Tree Flags Sun 2 Aug, noon–4pm. Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Discover the trees that are special to the land and people that they come from, from the Scots Pine to the Dragonsblood tree, and create a colourful silk flag. Modroc Modelling Mon 3–Fri 7 Aug, 10.30am–12.30pm. £15 per day. Imagination Workshop, 136 Marchmont Road, 466 0148. Have fun and get messy with this plaster-based modelling technique. Moonlight Gardens and Midnight Creatures Mon 3 Aug, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. £4 per adult/child. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Make a wall hanging with felt and handmade paper featuring a bright moon, twinkly stars and creatures of the night. Book in advance. FREE Super Science Shows Mon 3–Fri 7 Aug, 12.15pm, 1.15pm, 2.15pm & 3.15pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. The National Museums’ super fun science shows are back! Join Alex on her Amazing Adventures or launch a ping pong ball into space in Fantastic Forces. FREE Are Trees Our Best Friends? Mon 3–Sat 8 Aug, 1–4pm. Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Follow a tree trail through the woods, with a fact sheet and quiz, to find out how important the leafy ones are to us, their many uses and history. Ages 5+. The Circle of Life Tue 4 Aug, 10.20am–1pm. £4 per adult/child. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Learn about the food chain with Lauriston’s Ranger, and afterwards make a mobile of what you’ve learned. Book in advance. FREE Family Challenge Wed 5 Aug, 9am–5pm. Edinburgh Zoo, Corstorphine Road, 334 9171. Follow the trail to look for zoo-related clues all over the park. Cities Activities and Fun Prehistoric Frolics Until Sun 16 Aug, 10am–3pm. £5 (£3.50). Almond Valley Heritage Centre, Millfield, Livingston, 01506 414957. Activities for children and their families which allow everyone to play their part in recreating a prehistoric encampment. Special See and Do Weekend Sat 1 & Sun 2 Aug, 10am–5.30pm. Included in admission: £7.95 (£5.95; children £4.50; under 4s free). Scottish Seabird Centre, The Harbour, North Berwick, 01620 890202. A sea-themed weekend with fun for all the family. Music Farmer Jason Sat 1 Aug, 3–3.45pm. £5. Perth Theatre, 185 High Street, Perth, 01738 621031. A special children’s show from alt.country star Jason Ringenberg. Ages 2+. Part of The Southern Fried Festival.

Burglar Bill

Short of cash but determined to round off the school holidays with as many festival shows as possible? Cast your eyes over our handy guide to the best cut-price Fringe previews Alice: Through The Looking Glass Follow Alice on an adventure into the magical world beyond the mirror. C Chambers Street, 5 & 6 Aug, 2.20pm, £6.50 (£5.50). Antoine And The Paper Aeroplane Blak Wulff’s refreshing new look at a much loved tale. C Chambers Street, 5 & 6 Aug, 10.30am, £6.50, (£4.50–5.50). Baxterbear’s Tales: Story Telling For All Ages Come hear the adventures of this world travelling storytelling Scottish Bear (as told by his closest associates). The Caledonian Hilton, 5 & 6 Aug, 2pm, £5. Burglar Bill Learn that robbery is bad and crime doesn’t pay in this musical version of the much-loved Alan Ahlberg story. Pleasance Dome, 5 & 6 Aug, 2.30pm, £5. Comedy Club 4 Kids This offers a real comedy club experience but without the rude bits. The Bongo Club, 6 Aug, 6pm, £5. Crabbit! The Musical Brand new musical for the stage based on the ‘Michelle’ children’s books by Julie Hegarty. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 5 & 6 Aug, 12.15pm, £5. Dilly Dilly Seriously silly, poetic and slightly absurd dance theatre for smaller and taller folk, 4 years and up. Dance Base, 5 Aug, 10.30am, £3. Dude! Where’s My Teddy Bear The cult rock’n’roll musical for 2-7 year olds. Pleasance Dome, 5 & 6 Aug, £5. Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations Young Ernie has been worrying his Mum and Dad with his illucinations. C too, St Columba’s, 6 Aug, £6.50, (£4.50–5.50). The Fairy Queen Help Princess Peacha and Tammy Troll combat the forces of evil in their fantastic adventure. Duddingston Kirk Manse Garden, 5 & 6 Aug, 11am, £5. Frog A musical for children with puppets and actors. Pleasance Courtyard, 5 & 6 Aug, 11am, £5. FREE Garden Detectives What lurks at the bottom of your garden? National Museum of Scotland, 10am (7 hours), free. The Gigalees Crazy Circus Show Australia’s top comedy show for kids. Gilded Balloon Tevoit, 5 & 6 Aug, 11am, £5. Gingerbread Some fairytales do not always end as expected. Chambers Street, 5 & 6 Aug, 10.45am, £6.50 (£4.50–5.50). The Greatest Bubble Show on Earth People inside bubbles, square bubbles. Love and learn about the world of bubble-ology. C too, St Columba’s, 6 Aug, noon, £7.50 (£5.50–6.50). Honk! Pendulum presents this award- winning musical from the writers of Mary Poppins. George Square, 6 Aug, noon, £6 (£5).

Ice Cream Man and The Jelly Incident War in the foodiverse: can Ice Cream Man bring peace? Pleasance Dome, 5 & 6 Aug, 11.45am, £5. Jumping Mouse A totally full- throttle adventure guaranteed to get you revved up. Pleasance Courtyard, 5 & 6 Aug, 11.30, £5. Lighter Than Air Combining circus and comedy, a joyous experience loaded with surprises. Pleasance Courtyard, 5 & 6 Aug, 11.30am, £5. The Line Kings/All White Now Potty poetry, crazy cartoons and silly stand-up. Underbelly, 6 Aug, 12.05pm, £6. FREE Miss Goodiepants And Cat Get ready to rock’n’roll with funny poems, creepy stories and silly songs. Laughing Horse @ Counting House, 6 Aug, free. FREE The Packed Lunch Daily diet of highlights from across the festivals. C Soco urban garden, daily, 11am, 1pm, 3pm, free. Potted Pirates Long John Silver, Jack Sparrow and co all crammed into a one hour show. Pleasance Courtyard, 5 & 6 Aug, 12.30pm, £5. Potted Potter All seven Potter books in 70 minutes. Pleasance Courtyard, 6 Aug, 3.30pm, £5. Rapunzelstiltskin Watch two fair maids fight it out to win the heart of a prince. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 5 & 6 Aug, £6.50 (£4.50–5.50). React! Impro For Kids Unique interactive theatre for children of all ages. Chambers Street, 5 & 6 Aug, £6.50 (£4.50–5.50). Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes One hour of gloriumptious giggles for children, or the child in you. Pleasance Courtyard, 5 & 6 Aug, 12.30pm, £5. Room on the Broom Classic book brought to life by the company behind the popular Gruffalo. Pleasance Courtyard, 2.30pm, £6.50. Sketch Show 4 Kids: Because I Said So A properly funny sketch show for children over 6. Underbelly, 6 Aug, 1.40pm, £5. Sleeping Beauty and the Time Lords Professional interactive theatre: kids are invited stage throughout. Spotlites @ the Merchants’ Hall, 5 & 6 Aug, 1.30pm, £5.50 (£6.50). Three Potter Pigs Build magic houses with trainee wizard piglets. Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall, 5 & 6 Aug, 11.15am, £5.50 (£6.50) (£15F). Treasure Island Meet the original ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ in this swashbuckling family adventure. The Scottish Mining Museum, 6 Aug, 4.30pm, £6 (£4) (£17.50F). The Twits A storytelling treat for all the family with this Roald Dahl classic. St Columbia’s, 6 Aug, 10am, £6.50 (£4.50–5.50). When Wendell Was a Wasp Featuring puppetry, allegory and songs composed on the ukulele. The Space on The Mill @ The Jury’s Inn, 6 Aug, 1pm, £4 (£2–£3). The Wind in the Willows Comic adaptation of the classic with Moley, Ratty, Badger and Toad. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 5 & 6 Aug, 12.30pm, £5.