Gayle's Guide ✨ 14th November 24
Issue 32 - Trad Tunes for Bairns, some festive musicals (already), free tennis, great options for the cinema and much more! Plus, get free paid access by sending your festive faves!
My more seasoned subscribers might remember that in the lead up to the Festival (a lifetime ago, eh?) I reached out to my readers to help me compile a list of shows that Edinburgh families actually recommend. I had really positive feedback for the finished result so…
✨COMING SOON✨
Gayle’s Guide 🎄 TO CHRISTMAS!
A carefully curated collection of fun and festivities - for Edinburgh families, by Edinburgh families. Generic event lists are overwhelming so I’m consulting the best source out there - the locals. Let's do this together! Send me your favourite festive frolics by clicking either button below. As thanks for joining in, you’ll get a month's free paid access in January! Sound good??
🌻ASN 🐣Baby 🐤Preschool 🐔Primary
Friday 15th
🎡 Edinburgh’s Winter Festival 15th Nov - 4th Jan
📍 Prince’s St Gardens
That’s it all kicking off now so the countdown to 2025 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 funnelled 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 last year! And don’t forget your proof of address for the locals discount💸! There's a free opening event on Sunday from 14.00 with festive music, face painting and lantern parade.
🏴 Tours With Tots: William Wallace 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 brainfog over a coffee after the tour with some non-baby related (ie, actually interesting) conversations. This tour asks, “Is Wallace too woke for Scotland?” ✨ Get 10% off using the code GAYLE10 when booking! ✨ (Not an ad, this newsletter is purely reader-supported, just a nice offer from the person running the tours when I reached out for more info!)
🌊 Dynamos: Deep Dive (4-6y) 14.30 🐤🐔
📍 Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh
Dynamic Earth host weekly, interactive science sessions with different age categories and themes. This one will explore the mysteries of the ocean and introduce the kids to marine science and conservation. ✨It’s also the last couple of days of the Year Long Adventure promotion, where for an extra fiver on top of the price of a normal entry ticket to Dynamic Earth (not this session ticket) buys you an upgrade to a full year’s membership.
✂ Craft Time (4y+) 14.30-15.30 🐤🐔🆓
📍 Stockbridge Library
Sometimes there’s a puppet and storytelling session at this time instead so if your wee one’s heart is set on a crafternoon, give the library a ring to double check.
Saturday 16th
🎾 Barclays Free Park Tennis (8y+) 10.00-11.00 🐔🆓
📍 Victoria Park
A free tennis session for all ages (over 8), volunteer run and open to all abilities. Well now, isn’t that a good deal?
🍂 Nature Walk: Moss 10.00-12.00 🆓
📍 Craigmillar Castle Park
Run by the Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust, here’s a nice wee walk in the woods to learn all about moss. What a wholesome start to the weekend!
👑 Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Broadway Cinderella 14.30
📍 Church Hill Theatre, Morningside
Get your princess dresses and crowns at the ready for this musical version of the classic fairytale. Running from the 13th but this is the only matinee showing.
Sunday 17th
🎻 Family Concert: Trad Tunes for Bairns (0-11y) 10.00-11.00 🆓
📍 Pleasance Courtyard
Part of the Scots Fiddle Festival, here’s a nice wee drop in trad music and dancing session for kids and their grown-ups.
🤰 Kin PositiviTea 10.00-11.00 🆓
📍 Leaf & Bean Cafe, Morningside
This one is for expectant parents - I don’t usually include pregnancy support groups but Kin Collective is running the show here in a new venue in Morningside rather than their hub in Leith so I wanted to share as a more local option for the South Edinburgh folk expanding their families.
🧵 Buttons Galore (6y+) 10.00-12.00 🐔
📍 Lauriston Castle, Cramond
According to the event description, yesterday was National Button Day (who knew?), so if you’re looking for a way to celebrate these tiny, unsung heroes of everyday apparel application, here’s a wee craft session to make little owls.
🛍️ Unique Handmade Gifts Fair 11.00-18.00 🆓
📍 Little Plaza, Leith
Local children’s author (and mindfulness/yoga coach) Natasha Iregbu will be reading her new book, Slow Down Sammy a few times between 12.00-14.00 at this festive gift fair. Support mum-run businesses and get some Christmas shopping done while the kids take part in festive craft activities (£2-£4 a pop). There’s also face painting and if they dress up, the weans can enjoy a free hot chocolate!
🎶 Fischy Music Show 15.00
📍 The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
”Fischy Music, a charity based in Edinburgh, has over 25 years’ experience of writing songs with and for children to nurture their mental health and wellbeing. Thousands of children sing Fischy Music songs every day in primary schools and nurseries throughout Scotland.”
Monday 18th
📚 Today is the start of Book Week Scotland. The Scottish Book Trust have just launched a monthly book subscription - perfect timing for Christmas presents! but I’m struggling to find many specific kids’ events related to it so instead, here’s a list of Bookbug sessions happening today all around the city for 0-5 year olds 🐣🐤🆓 Check here for other days.
10.30 - Drumbrae Library Hub10.30 - McDonald Road Library cancelled
11.30 - McDonald Road Library (Spanish)
10.30 - Newington Library
🪄 Relaxed Magic Carpet (0-6) 10.30/14.00 🌻🐣🐤
📍 National Museum of Scotland, Chamber St
”This is a monthly, relaxed version of our Magic Carpet event, for babies, toddlers and children aged 0-6 with additional support needs or for anyone who would prefer a calmer session and a slightly more relaxed pace.”
📚 Afterschool Craft Session with Chloe Savage: The Search for Carmella (5-10y) 16.00-17.00 🐔🆓
📍 The Edinburgh Bookshop, Morningside
Here’s a creative crafting session themed around the deep sea and inspired by The Search for Carmella, “a stunning book about wonder, bravery, and the freedom to pursue your curiosity”. All ages welcome but aimed at roughly 5-10 year olds, this will be led by the author and illustrator of this book herself, Chloe Savage. Thanks to Olivia for sending this.
💤 Sleep Workshop for Dads and Mums (6m+) (Online) 19.00-20.00 🆓
Ok, not a family friendly event but you might have more energy to do stuff as a family if the baby WOULD JUST GO TO BLOODY SLEEP! We did one of these zoom workshops when my eldest was a baby and it was great to get direction and perspective and know that you’re not the only one who feels like screaming sometimes! Dads Rock is a charity so donations welcome.
Tuesday 19th
🎨 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.
🚼 Buggy Walk 13.00 🐣🐤🆓
📍 Quarter Mile, The Meadows
These hour long (ish) weekly walks a such great assets to this city and a real lifeline for new (and experienced) parents needing a reason to venture back out into the world with their little ones. Use them or lose them! Bumps, babies and toddlers are all welcome. This particular group is very keen for new members so please head along for a bit of fresh air and maybe even some new friends.
🐾 101 Dalmatians - The Musical 19th-23rd
📍 Edinburgh Playhouse, Top of Leith Walk
Look at Faye from Steps as Cruella De Vil! …Although be warned, she apparently isn’t performing on the opening night. This promises “spectacular puppetry, show-stopping choreography, witty songs and irresistible puppies!” Actual puppies on stage??
Wednesday 20th
🎻 Dance N Play (18m-5y) 10.00-10.45 🐤
📍 Dance Base, Grassmarket
My daughter and I used to go to this regularly before she started nursery and we've missed it ever since. The teacher Jo is incredible with the children and even plays her fiddle during the class to get everyone moving. It's honestly one of the nicest things we've ever done together and is just as much fun for the grown ups as it is for the kids.
📽 BABY CLUB: Paddington in Peru 12.40 🐣
📍 The Dominion, Morningside
Bring your baby to watch the latest edition of Paddington Bear’s adventures. Or maybe have a bonus impromptu nap in your comfy seat.
Thursday 21st
🍿 Watch with Baby: Gladiator II 11.00 🐣
📍 Cameo Picturehouse, Tollcross
Another film your baby is invited to! I normally wouldn’t include two in one week but I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to stick in a photo of Paul Mescal. You’re welcome.
🌟 Christmas at the Botanics (21st Nov-30th Dec)
📍 Royal Botanic Gardens, Inverleith
Ok, this does end up mega expensive if you’re bringing the whole family but there are some “off-peak” ticket options and under 3’s go free. We went as a treat during the pandemic to try feel some Christmas spirit despite not being able to see our families and it really was magical. Our daughter was 18 months at the time and was awestruck for the whole thing. Why not go with your parents/siblings/cousins/whoever instead of wasting money on stuff none of ye need or want and create some actually festive memories together? Surely we all have enough pyjamas by now.
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