Gayle's Guide ✨ 5th June 25
Issue 58 - Porty Pride, Meadows Festival, a Marvel concert at Usher Hall and much more!
If you’re too busy sheltering from this unpredictable weather to see how life is going outdoors, here’s a lovely wee video from wildlife photographer Tom Kelly of Go Wild in Edinburgh, showing us all how the local creatures are faring along the Water of Leith. It features (amongst others) badgers, swans, foxes, otters, kingfishers, herons and even a brand new baby Roe Deer. Yet another gem spotted in The Edinburgh Minute.
🌻ASN 🐣Baby 🐤Preschool 🐔Primary
Friday 6th
🎪 WILDHOOD Festival 6th-8th June
📍 Tullibole Castle, Perthshire
Yes, I’m opening this week with an event in Perthshire, sorry. Prepare for some family FOMO if you decide to read on. I came across this while doing a 20-second Google for family friendly festivals in Scotland and although we have other plans this weekend, this looks very sweet. From a quick glance at the programme, there will be music, magic, bubble hats, flower crowns, yoga and pilates for kids, loose parts play and just a whole load of lovely sounding stuff to do with your family. Sigh. Next year maybe.
🏕️ Camping at the Park 6th June - 31st August
📍 Dalkeith Country Park
This is more of a mental note to myself that I’m sharing in case anyone else is wanting to try camping with the kids but are worried it could be shite. This campsite is pleasingly close to home comforts if it all gets too much and could serve as a good trial run before forking out on somewhere further afield… A further field?
Have you been to a camping festival with your family? I’d love to get some recommendations!
🍿 Toddler Club: Cars (1-5y) 09.00 🐤
📍 The Everyman Cinema, St James Quarter
A ticket for this includes a seat for yourself and your little one plus a hot drink and slice of cake. Also showing on Saturday at 09.45 and Sunday at 09.00.
🍌 If Monkeys Ate Nothing But Bananas 09.30-10.15 🆓
📍 The Edinburgh Bookshop, Bruntsfield
Here’s another of The Edinburgh Bookshop’s fantastic free author storytime sessions. This one will feature If Monkeys Ate Nothing But Bananas by Lillias Kinsman-Chauvet. ✨ There’s also A Fun-filled After School Session with Stuart Lloyd Gould at 14.00.
Saturday 7th
🌈 Porty Pride (6th-8th) 🆓
📍 Portobello
Expect lots of love and plenty of rainbows! This is very family friendly and a fantastic reason to go to the beach to feel proud while showing your kids that love is love. 💖 Here’s a few highlights:🪩 Daytime Disco 10.00-11.00 - Porty Town Hall 🆓
🔔 Pride Wand Making Workshop 10.00-14.00 🆓
🏳️🌈 DIY Pride Noise Makers Workshop 10.00/11.00/12.00/13.00 - Edinburgh Tool Library Workshop, Tribe Porty
📖 Story Time with Rachel Plummer 10.15 - The Portobello Bookshop 🆓
🐶 Porty Pride Dog Walk 11.00 - King’s Road
💐 Clay Vase Workshop 12.30-14.00 - Tribe Porty
🎪 Meadows Festival (SAT/SUN) 🆓
📍 The Meadows
The Meadows have been a regular haunt of mine for almost 20 years now and this weekend festival is always great fun and has a really nice atmosphere. There will be plenty to keep everyone entertained with live music, community stalls, shinty taster sessions, a dog show and a Family Zone featuring crafts, tattoos and Yoga with Clunie Clouds (3-7y) at 11.00/13.00 (Saturday). Phew!
🥥 Summer Fair 11.00-14.00 🆓
📍 Craiglockhart Primary, Shandon
Pop along for face painting, games, a raffle, coconut shy, a plant sale and much more!
🥳 Greater Craigmillar Festival 11.00-15.00 🆓
📍 Jack Kane Centre / Castle Brae Community Campus
Loads of good, old fashioned community fun to be had here including a gala parade, magic show, a bouncy castle, silent disco and more.
🌊 World Ocean Day Workshop (7-12y) 13.00 🐔
📍 Institut français d'Écosse, Royal Mile
”Join us for a fun and educational workshop to celebrate World Ocean Day! The participants will explore the wonders of the ocean through interactive discussions on the importance of the ocean and protecting marine biodiversity, marine-themed crafts and other fun activities.”
Sunday 8th
🎸 Sunday Playgroup (0-5y) 10.00-11.30 🐣🐤🆓
📍 Gorgie War Memorial Hall, Gorgie
Organised by the amazing team at Dads Rock, this is the only free playgroup in Edinburgh aimed at dads and male carers. Runs weekly on Saturdays and Sundays.
🎻 Fun Fiddle Porty Prom Parade 15.00-16.00 🆓
📍 Portobello Beach
More Porty Pride. This time a bunch of fiddlers of all ages taking a stroll along the Prom (prom, prom) and a wee ceilidh afterwards.
Monday 9th
🌳 Nature Play 09.30-11.30 🐤
📍 Saughtonhall Community Hall
Every Monday during term time, this weekly session for “very young children” (no age range specified) is starting back up after it’s winter break. It’ll generally take place in the nearby woodlands and will allow for some very wholesome, bonding time with your little one. Hunt for bugs, make mud pies, collect sticks and build dens. Plus the option to block book or do single sessions. Thanks to a reader for sending this in, sounds perfect! 👌🏻
📽 Toddler Time: Xavier Riddle 11.00 🐤
📍 Cameo Picturehouse, Tollcross
Great to introduce little ones to the cinema without taking the gamble on an expensive film.
Tuesday 10th
🧩 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.
🌻 Function Schmunction Play Days 10th/11th 🌻🆓
📍 North Edinburgh Arts, Muirhouse
”Creating opportunities for authentic autistic play, joy and connection for local residents.”
Wednesday 11th
📢 Dad Strike! 15.00
📍 Meet outside The Scottish Parliament
Join the fight for better paternity leave with the gang from Dads Rock on Wednesday. The UK has the worst paternity deal in Europe and two weeks off to adjust to having a child is not enough. Meet on Wed 11th June at 3pm outside the Scottish Parliament to show the decision makers this needs to change.
🐧 Zoo Tails (5+) 15.30 🐔🆓
📍 Stockbridge Library
This monthly session is on the second Wednesday and is run in partnership with Edinburgh Zoo. Learn all about their animals through stories and crafts.
🦹 Marvel Studios’ Infinity Saga Concert Experience 19.30
📍 Usher Hall
This looks cool, if you’re into Marvel, which I am not. It’s bloody expensive too but some of you might be keen. Experiential birthday present maybe?
Thursday 12th
📚 Gaelic Bookbug (0-5y) 13.00 🐣🐤🆓
📍 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.
🛝 Corstorphine Village Playgroup Stay and Play 11.30-12.30 🆓
📍 Corstorphine Old Parish Church Hall
”Find out more about the Corstorphine Village Playgroup at our free family stay-and-play on June 12th between 11.30-12.30. There's no obligation to join afterwards, just come and say hello - we'll have activities like arts and crafts, loose parts play, imaginative role-play and physical play on our climbing frame and wobble boards.”
✨ I don’t usually research Midlothian for my newsletter since there’s already so much within Edinburgh to cover but I thought I’d share this wee poster one of my readers put together of some term-time playgroups in that neck of the woods. Thanks Hannah!
✨ Here’s a sneak peek at next week for those of you paying to keep this newsletter alive!