Gayle's Guide ✨ 13th Nov 25
Issue 80 - Christmas lights switch-ons, a healthy kids workshop, Storytelling in Solidarity and much more...
I have zero craic this week cos my brain is beyond fried. To illustrate my point, I managed to have our full Tesco big shop delivered to our pals in Canterbury. Just reached a new low in managing life logistics! 👏🏻
🌻ASN 🐣Baby 🐤Preschool 🐔Primary
Friday 14th
🎭 Una Imagines (4-8y) 13th-15th Nov at various times 🆓
📍 North Edinburgh Arts, Muirhouse
A new winter production from Tortoise in a Nutshell: “A fantastical journey about the anticipation, excitement and trepidation of the unknown.”
🪼 Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns 14th Nov - 22nd Feb
That’s the lanterns up and running now lads. They looked unreal when I saw them in the day time getting set up a few weeks ago so I’m sure it’ll be a great experience. I’m a big advocate for experiential presents for Christmas rather than buying more and more physical stuff so this would be a great option for the grandparents/aunties/uncles to spend their hard earned cash on your little ones.
🌻 Shh… There’s a Quiet Evening on the 17th Dec.
Saturday 15th
🎡 Edinburgh’s Winter Festival 15th Nov - 4th Jan
📍 Prince’s St Gardens
That’s it all kicking off now so the countdown to 2026 has officially begun, despite the odd droopy pumpkin still stubbornly stationed on a few front steps. There’s no denying the festive vibes here but it can also feel like you’ve been forced into flock of sauntering sheep, getting funneled past the stalls full of glittering trinkets and woolly hats. So pick your time to visit wisely or it might not just be the kids throwing tantrums. I’d also advise bringing a thermos of hot chocolate (maybe another with mulled wine) and some snacks. I saw a takeaway cup full of marshmallows selling for £6 a couple of years ago so who knows what it’ll be at this rate! And don’t forget your proof of address for the locals’ discount (details buried in the FAQs).
🦔 Nina and the Hedgehog’s Secret (PG) 11.00
📍 Institut Français d’Écosse, West End
”An exquisite and enchanting new animated feature, featuring the voice talents of beloved French cinema icons Audrey Tautou and Guillaume Canet.” Part of the French Film Festival UK.
🧚 Storytime with Pauline Tait: Fairy in the Kettle 14.00-15.00 🆓
📍 Waterstones, Princes St
”A fun afternoon of storytelling, crafts and activities, as we celebrate Book Week Scotland”
⛔ SOLD OUT! Sea Ceilidh 17.00-22.00
📍 Bellfield, Portobello
Sunday 16th
🎻 Family Concert: Trad Tunes for Bairns (0-7y) 10.00-11.00 🆓
📍 Quaker Room, The Pleasance
Part of the Scots Fiddle Festival. We had a fantastic time at this family concert last year so maybe see ye there for a bit or craig agus ceol!
🧜♀️ Dora Magic Mermaid Adventures 11.00
📍 Filmhouse, Lothian Road
🧵 Sea Story Quilting Sessions 14.00 🆓
📍 Scottish Storytelling Centre, Royal Mile
Love the event description for this. Read it!
I’m working on my carefully curated Christmas event list. Generic lists are overwhelming so if you have any personal recommendations, send them in and I’ll take a look!
Monday 17th
📚 It’s Book Week Scotland! I found last year that library events didn’t pop up until the last minute so here are the links to your local library’s Facebook pages so you can check closer to the time:
Balerno - Balgreen - Blackhall - Central - Colinton - Corstorphine - Craigmillar - Currie - Drumbrae - Fountainbridge - Gilmerton - Granton - Kirkliston - Leith - McDonald Road - Moredun - Morningside - Muirhouse - Newington - Oxgangs - Piershill - Portobello - Ratho - Sighthill - South Queensferry - Stockbridge - Wester Hailes
🍞 Maths on Toast 13.30-14.30 🆓
📍 Oxgangs Library
A wee workshop for parents/carers (as in, not the kids) to have fun with maths so they can better support their kids’ learning. Fair play! 👏🏻
Tuesday 18th
🛁 Little Bath Baby’s Pop Up (1-7m) 10.00-11.00 🐣
📍 Joy Tots, Ferry Road
This is too adorable. A load of tiny babies getting their own wee baths and massages in a cosy room together. These are usually run as block bookings but this one is a taster session with time for a cuppa afterwards. Think I could sneak in a rowdy 2 year old?
🎄 Norwegian Christmas Tree Light-Up & Service 18.00 🆓
📍 The Mound
Head to the mound to see the massive tree get lit up. Carols after at 19.00 in St Giles. Details of more festive light switch-ons here.
🏳️⚧️ Scottish Network of Parents and Carers for Trans Kids 18.30-20.30
”A monthly group in Edinburgh for parents and carers of trans youth giving parents, family members and carers a safe space to discuss how they are doing, away from their offspring. Topics can range from how to navigate the NHS Gender Clinic to how to obtain supportive education in their local school.”
💊 Healthy Kids Workshop: Spot, Treat and Prevent Illness 19.00-21.00
📍 Gorgie Mem
The dads have played a blinder again! Here’s a 2 hour workshop led by University of Edinburgh Medical students all about how to spot, treat and prevent illness in little ones. Just what it says on the tin, really. 👏🏻
Wednesday 19th
Thursday 20th
🎄 Christmas at the Botanics (20th Nov - 30th Dec)
If you manage to go when it’s dry, it’s pretty magical. It’s bloody expensive though so a good contender for non-physical presents from those well meaning aunts/uncles/grandparents who want to fill your house with endless toys. Bring a flask of hot chocolate to save yourself queuing and there was no non-dairy milk last year.
🌻 Some displays can be a bit noisy for some children who are sensitive to sounds. There’s one Quiet Access date left on the 30th Nov.
Here’s a sneak peek at next week for those of you kind enough to financially support this newsletter. Can’t pay? No bother, maybe you could share it instead?