Gayle's Guide ✨ 12th December 24
Issue 36 - Family friendly theatre, parties, concerts and much more!
Welcome back! Next week is my last newsletter before taking some time off to spend with my family so ye’ll be needing to fend for yourselves. Again, apologies if you don't celebrate Christmas, I’d love this newsletter to be more inclusive but it’s really pretty much impossible to avoid when it comes to kids’ stuff to do in December. If you know of any non-Santa related activities, please do let me know. I’m also very aware of how expensive lots of these events are so here’s a list of free and low cost Family Holiday Activities from Edinburgh Council. Fair play to them! 👏🏻
🌻ASN 🐣Baby 🐤Preschool 🐔Primary
Friday 13th
💃🏻 Pre-school Creative Moves Class (2-4y) 10.15-11.00 🐤
📍 Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Leith
Last class before Christmas. The teacher of this class, Jo Jeffries, runs Dance n Play on Wednesdays at Dance Base which my daughter and I have sorely missed since she started nursery. So I was ecstatic to have stumbled across another of Jo’s preschool classes and am glad to say, it was just as fantastic as the one we pine after. Jo encourages lots of dance and imaginative movement from the kids and even plays her fiddle during it. I can’t recommend her highly enough! Plus there’s a nice wee cafe with plenty of space in the Drill Hall so a very easy stop off for a snack after.
🎪 Craigentinny Primary Winter Fayre 12.00-14.00
📍 Craigentinny Primary School
Expect toy, gift, food and craft stalls as well as a sweetie tombola, £5 nearly new bikes, scooters and roll on toys and a raffle with some actually incredible sounding prizes like weekends away, tvs, hampers, vouchers, memberships… all sorts, for only £1 a strip. Thanks to a subscriber for sending this in.
👣 Tours With Tots: How John Knox Stole Christmas 14.00-15.30 🐣
📍 Meet at Edinburgh Castle
I went along to one of these Tours With Tots and it was such a fantastic thing to do as an alternative to a run-of-the-mill baby group. Yes, bring your baby, but they’re not the main focus. Expect to clear away some of that sleep deprivation brain fog over a coffee after the tour with some non-baby related (ie, actually interesting) conversations. This tour will enlighten you as to why Scotland cancelled Christmas for 500 years. ✨Use promo code GAYLE10 for 10% off - not an ad, just a nice offer.
❄️ Dreaming of a White Christmas Playdate 16.30-18.30 🐣🐤
📍 MakeBelieve, New Town
Book in for some rare, late afternoon baby/preschooler entertainment in this “snowy twinkly twilight celebration for everyone dreaming of snow this Christmas”. Attendees are encouraged to wear white… a brave move for a party full of grubby children!
🎭 The Sleeping Beauty 19.00
📍 Church Hill Theatre, Morningside
Running until the 22nd here’s a traditional pantomime for a comparatively low price. Matinees at the weekends with 7pm shows too.
Saturday 14th
🎁 The Gift (18m-5y) 14th-31st Dec
📍 The Studio at Festival Theatre, Potterow
Starting its run today, this show is all about the creativity of children and how much fun can be had with only their imaginations and some discarded gift-wrapping materials. Specifically for a very young audience, so ideal if you’re not wanting to risk having to abandon ship at one of the bigger, more expensive shows.
🎅 Santa at the Museum SAT/SUN 10.00-16.00
📍 Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage, Leith
They’re down to their last few tickets for this classic meet and greet photo op with the main man himself. Bonus fire engines! There’s slightly better availability on Sunday.
📚 Tell Me a Story for Christmas 11.00
📍 Scottish Storytelling Centre, Royal Mile
If you’re looking for some Christmas stories, trust the professionals at the Scottish Storytelling Centre where you can expect an hour of seasonal tales and songs accompanied by live harp music. (Plus, an obligatory present to take home)
🎶 Simmerdim @ Music on the Mezzanine 13.00 🆓
📍 Edinburgh Central Library, George IV Bridge
Not specifically aimed at families but suitable for all ages, this Edinburgh-based a cappella trio will be singing Christmas songs from around the world. Don’t forget to bring your overdue library books!
🌟 Nativity! The Musical 14.00
📍 Assembly Roxy, Southside
”Join a cast of hilarious characters including kids with a whole lot of sparkle and shine as they go on wild adventure to make everyone’s Christmas wishes come true.” There’s another matinee on Sunday and also showing in the evenings from the 10th-15th at 20.00.
Sunday 15th
✨ Loads of organisations are obviously focusing on their festive stuff which often take place over the course of several dates, so check out my Christmas Guide to see if there’s anything else you fancy.
🎸 Dads Rock Christmas Party 10.00-12.00 🆓
📍 Gorgie Memorial Hall
A Christmas bash led by the wonderful dads at Dads Rock.
🎭 Wish Upon Wish (8y+) 11.30 🐔
📍 Scottish Storytelling Centre, Royal Mile
Here’s a production from Strange Town, featuring its 8-11 year olds, telling the story of Berth, a stubborn child who wishes for an avalanche of presents.
💡 Gorgie/Dalry Light Switch On 18.30 🆓
Better late than never! I don’t have a specific location for this I’m afraid since I can only see it mentioned on the list in the link but if you’re around the Gorgie/Dalry area, keep an eye out for posters maybe… or un-switched-on lights, I suppose.
Monday 16th
💝 BABY CLUB: Love Actually 10.00 🐣
📍 The Everyman, St James Quarter
Love Actually came out TWENTY ONE years ago… digest that one. I took this still from a Google image search where the title for the review article was “I Still Hate Love Actually.” Well, to me, it is the perfect Christmas film and I’m sure all your babies will agree.
📽 Toddler Time: The Gruffalo + The Gruffalo’s Child 11.00 🐤
📍 Cameo Picturehouse, Tollcross
Here’s both Gruffalos, back to back. Great to introduce little ones to the cinema without taking the gamble on an expensive film.
Tuesday 17th
🎨 Make Mess Matter 11.00-12.00 🐤🆓
📍 IKEA, Straiton
Come for the messy play, stay for Fika and let someone else clean up! Bonus points if you manage to leave without any unnecessary homewares.
☕ Morningside Parent and Baby Group 14.00-15.30 🐣🆓
📍 Leaf & Bean Cafe, Morningside
This weekly group is facilitated by the NCT and allows new (and experienced) parents to bond over a cup of proper coffee.
🐧 Penguin Party 15.45-17.30 🐔🆓
📍 Craigmillar Library
This annual party is for primary aged kids and will have some folk from Edinburgh Zoo to give some fun facts about their resident penguins. Oh, and there will also be lots of dancing, games, crafts and party food!
🎶 Sufjan Stevens’ Songs for Christmas 19.00
📍 The Queen’s Hall, Southside
Ok, I admit this is niche even for me, but if you love Sufjan Stevens, this is a showcase of his many Christmas albums which he has made freely available for anyone to perform. This is a family show with eclectic band and community choir and special guests, complete with festive surprises. 0-5’s only cost £1 so bedtime be damned! Extra seats have been released due to demand so get your tickets quick if you’re interested.
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🎁 Would your loved one prefer less clutter and more craic in their lives?
Wednesday 18th
🎉 Family FATOWL Christmas Party (0-5y) 10.30-12.00 🐣🐤
📍 Fairmilehead Parish Church
Also in South Queensferry on the 19th, and looks like an extra one added for Stockbridge on the 16th, these family parties will be a mix of FATOWL’s yoga, music and signalong classes and will include parachute games, bubbles, festive treats and fizz. A big selling point for these parties is the opportunity to pop in to visit Santa without a specific time slot so you have a better chance of avoiding the dreaded stranger-danger meltdown and might even manage to get a photo!
👑 Panto 2024: Cinderella 14.00
📍 Festival Theatre
Ok, I can only ignore the obvious for so long. We went to see this a couple of weeks ago and it was my very first panto. It was actually hilarious and we all thoroughly enjoyed it! It is eye-wateringly expensive and not many tickets left but this matinee showing still has a few of the ever-so-slightly cheaper seats left. Babes in arms (under 1) go for free if you phone to book and under 25’s can get tickets on the day for a tenner so maybe, if you’re planning a Christmas treat, you could book your grown-up seats, leaving a space in between them in the hopes that it’s still available to book last minute. Oh and a warning, it’s very, very loud and flashy for the first few minutes so bring ear defenders if your child might be upset by this (or arrive 5 minutes late!)
🎻 Children’s Messiah 16.00 🌻
📍 The Queen’s Hall
”Specially crafted with little ears in mind and guided by Mr Handel himself, they’ll be whizzing through some of his greatest hits, with plenty of fun and games along the way.” With BSL interpretation.
Thursday 19th
⛸ Chilled Session (Ice Skating) 10.00 🌻
📍 Uniclo Ice Rink, George St
”The relaxed sessions will be a lower capacity and therefore quieter, we will have ambient lighting and sound with no flashing or moving lights. We will have additional Ice Marshals to assist anyone who needs a little extra help to feel confident with skating.” ✨ Don’t forget your EH discount for 20% off.
⛔ SOLD OUT! Royal Ballet and Opera: The Nutcracker 13.00
📍 Everyman Cinema, St James Quarter
Expensive for a trip to the cinema but comparatively very cheap to see the ballet! Also showing on the 17th and 23rd at 19.00.
🐾 Dog Friendly Libraries 🆓
📍 Various libraries across town
Did you know some libraries allow dogs in on Thursdays? Useful to know for those of us that begrudge having to haul the dog and children out first thing before doubling back home only to head straight out again to entertain the kids. Save their limited leg mileage and take your fur baby (and human babies) to the library and take a moment of calm away from all the festive hype.
📚 Christmas Book Giving Campaign
The lovely folk at The Edinburgh Bookshop have been partners with Craigmillar Literacy Trust for the last 14 years and are running a campaign for donations towards the great work of this charity. Their Christmas Book Giving Campaign aims to build a life long love of books and reading for children by gifting books to those who might otherwise not receive any this Christmas. When you donate, you can even specify which book you’d like to give if you have any particular favourites.👏🏻
✨Here’s another week for my paid subscribers for being so sound!✨