Gayle's Guide ✨ 28th November 24
Issue 34 - St Andrew's Day family ceilidhs, free folk tales and trad tunes, festive family fun with Christmas fairs and much more!
Gayle’s Guide to Christmas is here! A few days later than planned but my daughter's been ill and very clingy so not much time this week. As always, my paid subscribers are having had a wee sneak preview, for the rest of ye, it’s scheduled to email out on Saturday morning. Anyway, it's not all about Christmas, it’s still only November and there's still loads on this week so get bundled up and head on out!
🌻ASN 🐣Baby 🐤Preschool 🐔Primary
Friday 29th
⛔ Sensory Disco (6-18m) 10.00 🐣
📍 Joy Tots, Ferry Road
These babies gotta party! Here’s a sweet wee sensory disco session, happening every Friday in this play cafe, promising some great tunes.
🎅 Lunch With Santa 13.00/14.00 🆓
📍 IKEA, Straiton
A bit soon maybe but IKEA is hosting a load of free lunch dates with Santa and his elves from today onwards. Obviously, the lunch itself isn’t free but all children will receive a free present and there are kids’ meals from 95p.
🍂 Woodland Wreath Making 13.00-15.00 🆓
📍 Craigmillar Castle Park
Run by the Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust, this session for all ages will allow you to make a simple wreath in the woods. There’s no further details on their Facebook page as yet so double check it before travelling as I’ve had this in draft from their Autumn schedule for quite a while!
✂ Crafternoon 14.00-15.00 🆓
📍 Corstorphine Library
For children aged 4+, this runs weekly during term time so pop into the library after lunch for a lovely wee crafting session.
Saturday 30th
🎅 Holy Corner Community Playgroup Christmas Fayre 09.00-12.00
📍 Holy Corner Community Playgroup, Morningside
This community playgroup has been on the go for over 50 years so must know a thing or two about entertaining children! Expect messy play, crafts, biscuit decorating and a chance to visit Santa. Plus lots of lovely things to eat, drink and buy. Thanks to Calum for sending this in.
❄ A World of Winter Wonder 10.15-17.00
📍 Dynamic Earth
If you’re overdue a visit to Dynamic Earth, now’s a brilliant time to go because their winter programme of events is kicking off today. On top of your usual array of nature exhibits and science-themed activities, there will be the chance to see some aurora on the planetarium screen plus Santa’s Grotto at the weekends. They’ve also got membership packs for Christmas, complete with a nicely packaged soft toy for those of you trying to buy a less commercial gift but still couldn’t bear not having a physical parcel to give.
🎻 St. Andrew’s Day Family Ceilidhs 11.00/12.45/14.00 🆓
📍 The Counting House, West Nicolson St
We’ve been to a few of these family ceilidhs and they are so much fun! The dances are highly simplified so even very young children can keep up but you can definitely still work up a sweat. Aimed at 3-9 year olds but all welcome. Free or by donation, just drop in and since it’s St. Andrew’s Day, tartan is highly encouraged.
🐳 Christmas Fayre 11.00-15.00 🆓
📍 WHALE Arts, Wester Hailes
Here's an opportunity to check out this fantastic local arts organisation. There's going to be crafts, games and even a fairy trail for 0-5s by Starcatchers from 11.00-13.00.
🎨 Christmas Market and Open Days 11.00-17.00 🆓
📍 Edinburgh Printmakers, Fountainbridge
I realise that pretty much everywhere you look from this weekend on will have some sort of Christmas fair, trying to get you to buy buy buy. But I won’t be including most of them in the newsletter. This one is making the cut though cos it has bookable Printmaking Workshops for 6y+ for a fiver. It’s also just a great space to visit, with loads of rooms for prams in their vegan cafe Holy Cow Lounge. Dog friendly cafe too.
📜 Fair Folk Tales 12.00 🆓
📍 Scottish Storytelling Centre, Royal Mile
”Suitable for all ages, two expert storytellers will welcome anyone into their fairy circle for as many stories, myths, riddles, and wondertales as they would like. This event is part of Fair Saturday, a global mobilisation that aims to create a positive social impact every last Saturday of November, the day following Black Friday, the greatest expression of consumerism.” There’s loads of other great stuff going on all over town, not family specific but check out the website for all kinds of markets, open days, storytelling sessions, singing, yoga, exhibitions, you name it! There’s even some resources like a nice Family Activity Pack to help you spread some kindness together!
🎻 Traditional Tunes for Tiny People (3-7y) 14.00-15.00 🐤🐔🆓
📍 Holy Cross Church, Davidson's Mains
Another part of Fair Saturday is this concert just for little ones with some songs in Scots and Gaelic.
🚲 Critical Mass 14.00 🆓
📍 Middle Meadow Walk, The Meadows
”Edinburgh Critical Mass are having a special ride to celebrate how more bicycles (and fewer cars) can help nature recover. The Scottish Rewilding Alliance, who will be handing their Rewilding Nation Charter to the Scottish Government on 3rd December, will be joining the event. Everyone is encouraged to wear something/decorate their bikes with a Scottish wildlife theme, or to make a placard highlighting the link between cycling and nature.”
We've been to lots of these rides as a family and they're really well run and very safe. Everyone cycles together as one large vehicle and folk are exceptionally mindful of little ones, keeping them in the centre of the pack, well away from any motorists.
❄ Davidson's Mains Christmas Market & Switch On 17.00 🆓
📍 Holy Cross Church (guess where?)
If you fancy a communal count down and the usual festive market fare, they’ll be switching on the lights at D’Mains Christmas Market at 17.00. It’ll be on from 12.00-18.00 with children’s crafts and a Santa’s grotto.
Sunday 1st
🎄 Ghillie Dhu Christmas Workshop (5y+) 10.00-12.00 🐔
📍 Johnston Terrace Garden, below the Castle
The event page says 7+ but over 5’s are fine according to the organisers. Here’s a wonderful looking nature craft workshop where kids will make a wall hanging with natural materials and hear the tale of Ghillie Dhu, a forest spirit from Scottish folklore. This is outdoors so bundle up!
😌 Relaxed Morning 10.00-12.00 🌻🆓
📍 National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street
These sessions at the museum are on the 1st Sunday of the month and are for anyone who would prefer a quieter and calmer experience. There is a quiet space on level 4 and sensory backpacks available to borrow.
🎺 Christmas at Starbank 11.00-12.30 🆓
📍 Starbank Park, Newhaven
There’s something about brass bands at Christmas time, I just can’t resist! Add in some hot drinks, crafts and fresh, salty sea air and I’m getting the festive feels already.
✂ Edinburgh Adopters Community Network Christmas Craft Session 11.00-13.00
📍 Great Michael House, Leith
A chance to meet other adoptive parents and families while the kids do some festive crafts.
🎻 Edinburgh Comhaltas Family Session 12.00 🆓
📍 Mother Superior, Leith
Part of the Winter Trad Festival in Leith, here's a gathering of the Irish music group, Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann who will be playing a slow session of tunes for all ages. Sounds like great craic!
Monday 2nd
📚 Gaelic Bookbug (0-5y) 10.30-11.00 🐣🐤🆓
📍 Edinburgh Central Library
Bookbug speaks Gaelic too! These sessions are pretty few and far between so book your spot if your phàiste loves leabhraichean. Apparently the Bookbug bags that all children in Scotland get are available in Gaelic too so have a look here for info.
🚼 Kin Weigh & Stay 14.30-16.00 🐣🆓
📍 Kin Collective, Leith
This monthly parent/baby session will help anyone looking for a bit of reassurance by checking their baby’s weight and hearing from others in the same boat. Head along early for 🍼 Wee Feeders 13.00-14.00 🐣🆓 if you’d like some advice and support from a qualified breastfeeding facilitator.
Tuesday 3rd
🖼 Sensory-Friendly Mornings 10.00 🌻🆓
📍 Talbot Rice Gallery
This session is aimed at people with additional support needs, autism or those who may usually find such a setting overwhelming. They have special resources at the ready to prioritise the needs of visitors of all ages, such as stimming equipment, visual storyboards and sensory kits.
🧸 King’s Tots (0-4y) 10.00-11.30 🐣🐤
📍 King’s Church, Viewforth
A salt of the earth kind of parent and toddler group with arts/crafts, plenty of toys and cups of tea. Only a pound per family.
🧘 Mummy Yoga & Play (5m-5y) 12.00 🐣🐤
📍 MakeBelieve Baby Play Place, New Town
Here's a wonderful way to spend some time with your little ones. You get to (attempt to) get some exercise while they play, or even join in. Just a warning, the event space at MakeBelieve is downstairs, through two very tempting play areas and I’d imagine the cost of staying to play is not included in the price of your class. So you may need a pretty iron-clad child-extraction strategy planned!
🎈 ASN Soft Play (0-10y) 16.30-18.00 🌻
📍 Royal Commonwealth Pool
This is a brand new, weekly session for children with additional support needs, starting today. Staff have had special training to support children and families, there will be dedicated sensory toys and equipment available and a virtual familiarisation tour online.
Wednesday 4th
📚 Bookbug at the Museum (0-4y) 09.30-10.00 🐣🐤🆓
📍 Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage, Leith
This is the last chance to attend Bookbug at the Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage for this year so a good excuse to head down if you’ve been meaning to visit to check out the fire engines.
📽 BABY CLUB: Wicked 12.00 🐣
📍 The Dominion, Morningside
I had this in a last week but I gather it’s a big deal for some of ye so here it is again in case you missed out.
🎄 Christmas Lights Switch On 17.00-19.30 🆓
📍 Eric Liddell Centre, Bruntsfield
Expect lots of festive feels with arts/crafts, mulled wine, live music and choir and even Santa’s grotto. Lights getting switched on at 18.00.
Thursday 5th
🧩 Stay & Play Group 09.30-11.30 🐣🐤
📍 Gorgie Memorial Hall
These drop-in parent and child sessions are run by some very lovely local childminders and take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays during term time. Suggested donation £2.
🧱 Leith Lego Group (7-11y) 16.30-18.00 🐔
📍Duncan Place Community Hub, Leith
A monthly meet up for kids who fancy building some LEGO creations while making new friends. Grown ups don’t need to stay and it’s only a pound. They also have an adult group at 19.00!
🗣️ Got a baby scientist?
One of the developmental researchers at Edinburgh Uni got in touch looking for baby volunteers (17-19 months) for a language study running until the 13th Dec. They're hoping to try figure out why children are so much better than adults at learning languages and will conduct a short (harmless) play based experiment with you and your baby. Click the link above for more info and to sign up. Oh, and you'll get a tenner Amazon voucher for your trouble!