Gayle's Guide ✨ 18th June 26
Issue 103 - Edinburgh Canal Festival, Family Table Tennis, Picnic in the Park and much more!
Friday 19th
🍿 Toddler Club: Arco (1-5y) 09.45 🐤
📍 The Everyman Cinema, St James Quarter
Also on Saturday/Sunday at 09.30.
✨ I know I mentioned this a few weeks ago but Solas is this weekend so it’s your last chance to join in for a super chilled and wholesome camping experience only an hour or so from home! Plus ticket prices are going up at 10am on Friday apparently so get in quick!
⛔️ SOLD OUT!
Organ building workshop with Orgelkids!14.30-15.15 🆓
📍 Pianodrome, Bruntsfield
”Come and build an organ! In collaboration with Sowne of Organe we invite children and 'big' children to come and help construct a working pipe organ!”
Saturday 20th
⛑️ Pop Up Toy Hospital SAT/SUN 10.00-16.00 🆓
📍 Omni Centre
”If you have a well-worn teddy, a cherished doll or a soft toy in need of a little TLC, families can drop in for free consultations and light ‘first aid’ style repairs from expert toy surgeons. From re-stitching seams and reattaching limbs to general freshening up, the team will work their magic to help breathe new life into your favourite companions.” Too cute!
🛶 Edinburgh Canal Festival 12.00-17.00 🆓
📍 Union Canal (between Lochrin Basin and Harrison Park)
We’ve gone to this for years and there’s always such a lovely atmosphere with lots to see and do along the stretch of the Union Canal between Lochrin Basin and Harrison Park. The programmes on the website are broken into individual areas but there’s one for all the musical performances here. The annual Raft Race has broken off into a standalone event though, scheduled for the 22nd August instead so you won’t see any more folk falling off dodgy dingies into the drink.
🎨 Play Doh & Print 11.30/13.30/15.30
📍 Edinburgh Printmakers Stall by Leamington Lift Bridge
”To celebrate the Union Canal as part of the Edinburgh Canal Festival 2026, Edinburgh Printmakers will lead a group of open-minded folks around the Union Canal, Leamington Bridge and Gilmore Park area to create putty stamps from objects and exposed surfaces. We will then take relief prints and repeat patterns from the stamps.” It says suitable for all abilities but I’m just assuming kids are allowed cos it involves play-doh but not entirely sure so double check before travelling!
Sunday 21st - Father’s Day!
✨ Happy Father’s Day to all the dads reading this, but in particular to my fantastic husband and my own daddy dearest back in Ireland. Mam, can you pass that message onto Dad? I didn’t send a card but don’t worry folks, he genuinely doesn’t want one. 😇
🪞 Father’s Day Local Discount
📍 Camera Obscura, Royal Mile
Local dads are getting in free today apparently!
🍔 Edinburgh Father’s Day Takeover 11.00-13.00
📍 Gorgie Mem
”Join us for our Father’s Day family party and BBQ in Edinburgh! We’ll play games, have some fun and have a BBQ feast together! This event is for regular Dads Rock families.”
🧺 Midsummer Picnic 14.00-17.00 🆓
📍 Granton Castle Walled Garden
”There will be music from Nigel’s All Stars and refreshments by donation. Midsummer crown wearing is encouraged!”
👸 Enchanted - The Ultimate Princess Concert 14.30-16.05
📍 Assembly Rooms
”Performed by a cast of talented live singers from the world of Musical Theatre, this concert features beautifully arranged music from timeless classics such as Frozen, Tangled, Moana, Wicked, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Lion King, and many more.”
Monday 22nd
Tuesday 23rd
🥋 Karate Kid - The Musical 23rd-27th June
📍 Festival Theatre
🎶 Wax on! Wax off! 🎵
📚 The 2026 Kids & Teen Summer Book Club Launch 16.00-17.00 🆓
📍 Portobello Bookshop
”Join us at 4pm on Tuesday 23rd June at the bookshop to celebrate the start of the challenge with some snacks! You'll be the first to collect your challenge booklet plus some fun book related merch. We'll also be joined by fantastic authors Alastair Chisholm, Nadine Aisha Jassat, Edward Ross and Sibéal Pounder who'll be helping us launch the challenge.”
✨ The cooncil has put together their list of free and low cost activities for families again. I’ve not looked at it yet but if you’re wanting more options than I can fit in this little newsletter, take a nosey at the link above.
✨ Here’s a sneak peek at next week for my paying subs. Thanks a million for your support, I really couldn’t manage to keep this going without it!
🔮 Friday 26th - last day of school… aaargh!!!
Seriously though, what do we do?? (Can you tell it’s my first summer break?!) 😩 Just remember to check that your usual classes/groups are running next week just in case you show up and the venues have been taken over by big kids.