Gayle's Guide ✨ 10th May 24
Issue 5 - North Edinburgh Community Festival, Collective Play Weekend, Bookbug Week and much more!
Lots of great stuff coming up including loads of special Bookbug Week sessions in libraries all over town. As always, get in touch if you see any interesting events and I'd love to hear what you think of Gayle’s Guide so far. Take a look at what I’ve found this week…
Saturday 11th
🌼 Spring Fair and Plant Sale 10.30 onwards 🆓
📍 Eric Liddell Community, Morningside
Promising arts and craft stalls and fun activities for children as well as cakes and plants for sale. Folk quite often need cash for this kind of thing so be prepared just in case.
🎪 North Edinburgh Community Festival 12.00-17.30 🆓
📍 West Pilton Park
Live music, entertainment, food and stalls from over 100 organisations and of course, some fantastic North Edinburgh community vibes. Check out their Facebook page if you want to get involved as they may need extra helpers.
🎭 A Jaunt Roond Auld Reekie 14.00-14.45
📍 Scottish Storytelling Centre, Royal Mile
Part of Edinburgh Tradfest this will be performed in a mixture of Scots and English and without actually leaving the Storytelling Centre, so no need to dress for the weather. Expect puppets, songs and silliness galore!
📚 Reading and Craft 10.15-11.15 🆓
📍 The Portobello Bookshop, Portobello
Join local children’s author and illustrator, Emily MacKenzie in celebrating the publication of her new book HELP! Ralfy Rabbit and the Great Library Rescue with this crafty, interactive storytelling session. I highly recommend popping into Greek Artisan Pastries a few doors down for a tahini and chocolate pastry. Mouth actually watering as I typed that.
Sunday 12th
🚲 Family Cycle 10.00 🆓
📍 Ravelston Park, Blackhall
This annual cycle organised by the Blackhall Children’s Sports Committee will start in Ravelston Park and head along to the cycle path to Victoria Park for some refreshments before heading back again. Suitable for all ages but everyone must wear a helmet.
🎨Play Weekend Sat/Sun 11.00-16.00 🆓
📍 City Observatory, Calton Hill
Free but ticketed (£3 donation recommended), this event by Collective is running over Saturday and Sunday and will include lots of creative and outdoor play for children aged 5-12 years.
Monday 13th
🧸 Polwarth Baby and Toddler Group 09.30-11.00
📍 Polwarth Parish Church
This weekly group costs £1 per family and hot drinks and biscuits are available for the grown ups. Loads of toys, sing songs and nice people.
🍿 Circle Square: I Love You 11.00
📍 Cameo Picturehouse, Tollcross
Head along to the Cameo’s fortnightly Toddler Time screenings where this week they will be showing 30mins of Circle Square. Tickets are pretty cheap and adults go free.
Tuesday 14th
🤱🏻 The Bonnie Sling Library 10.45-12.15 🆓
📍 IKEA, Straiton
This is a monthly meetup in the restaurant at IKEA (sorry for shouting) where you can try out and hire various slings and baby carriers while enjoying a well deserved fika with some other parents. Bonus points to anyone able to walk directly up to the restaurant and back without buying any candles, houseplants or cushions.
Wednesday 15th
**CANCELLED**
💕 Parental Wellbeing Meetup 11.30-13.00 🆓
📍 National Museum of Scotland, Chamber St
Part of the museum’s Wellbeing Week and facilitated by Kin Collective, this informal meetup for new parents will allow you to chat and connect with others while your baby checks out the sensory play space. I always feel awkward during the “break” at baby classes since it’s never immediately obvious if anyone can actually be bothered speaking to each other, so this looks ideal since everyone will presumably be up for a chat.
🧘🏽♀️ Kids Yoga 15.30
📍 Little Plaza, Leith
I had no idea this place existed but it looks like there’s loads here for babies and kids. This weekly 45 minute class is for 4-7 year olds and mixes yoga type movements with storytelling and imaginative play.
Thursday 16th
💖 ASN Community Play Club 10.00-12.00
📍 Bright Sparks Centre, Bonnyrigg
Just a bit out of town but I thought I’d add in this open playgroup for 0-5 year old children with additional support needs (ASN) and their carers. Bright Sparks runs lots of different playgroups and activities throughout the week and also have a membership option so that families can make connections and the kids can make wee pals.
🎬 Baby Club: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes 13.30
📍 Dominion Cinema, Morningside
If 2hrs and 25mins of massive primates on the big screen with your baby (and a load of others) floats your boat, consider your Thursday sorted!
Friday 17th
🧱 Lego Club 15.00-16.00 🆓
📍 Fountainbridge Library
Running weekly during term time, this club will be sure to appeal to all your little budding architects, engineers and builders.
📚 Bookbug Week 13th - 19th May 🆓
Details have just been released about all the special Bookbug Week sessions in Edinburgh libraries so click the link above to take a look. Since the theme “Bookbug says hello” intends to celebrate the many languages spoken in Scotland, I thought I’d also do a wee round-up of the libraries that have regular sessions in languages other than English.
Gaelic
- First Wednesday of the month 13.00-13.30, Central Children’s Library
- Fortnightly on Wednesdays 11.00-11.30, McDonald Road Library
Polish
- Fortnightly on Wednesdays 14.00-14.30, Moredun Library
- Fortnightly on Saturdays 11.00-11.30, McDonald Road Library
Spanish
- Mondays 11.30-12.00, McDonald Road Library
- Fortnightly on Wednesdays, 15.30-16.00, Sighthill Library
- Fortnightly on Fridays 10.30-11.00, Moredun Library
Gayle, I am loving this weekly guide 🙏🏻 thank you so much for creating it! X