Days out

Meadows Festival

Edinburgh's festival season kicks off with the Meadows Festival, which offers the best local bands, dance groups, quirky performers and workshops amidst lots of family-friendly activities.

A whole festival dedicated to Scotland’s internationally acclaimed poet Robert Burns. To celebrate the 2013 Year of Natural Scotland, the festival heads outdoors to Belleisle Park for a programme of live music, and visual and performing arts.

Belleisle Park, Ayr

Fri 24 May

Times & prices vary / 01292 616143

12:00 – 17:30

Sat 25 May

Times & prices vary / 01292 616143

Sun 26 May

Times & prices vary / 01292 616143

…and 14 more dates until 30 Aug

Southside Fringe

A 16-day festival incorporating music, theatre and activities for all the family.

Southside, Glasgow

Wed 22 May

Times & prices vary

Thu 23 May

Times & prices vary

Fri 24 May

Times & prices vary

…and 2 more dates until 26 May

The Scottish Game Fair

This fair entertains all the family with a variety of displays including falconry and terrier racing in the main ring, clay pigeon shooting and gundog and fishing competitions on the banks of the River Tay.

Scone Palace, Perth

Fri 5 Jul

£18 (Children £5; Family £38) / 01738 554826

09:30 – 18:00

Sat 6 Jul

£18 (Children £5; Family £38) / 01738 554826

09:30 – 18:00

Sun 7 Jul

£18 (Children £5; Family £38) / 01738 554826

09:30 – 18:00

Out of the Blue Flea Market

Bargain buys including furniture, clothes, music and more.

Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Edinburgh

Sat 25 May

Free / 0131 555 7100

10:00 – 15:00

Sat 29 Jun

Free / 0131 555 7100

10:00 – 15:00

Sat 27 Jul

Free / 0131 555 7100

10:00 – 15:00

…and 5 more dates until 28 Dec back to top

West End Festival

Taking over the West End of Glasgow each year, the festival treats the ears to a great musical line-up, tantalises all the senses with a carnival and delves into the creative depths of local studios and exhibitions with the Hidden Lane Festival.

West End, Glasgow

Fri 31 May

Times & prices vary

Sat 1 Jun

Times & prices vary

Sun 2 Jun

Times & prices vary

…and 28 more dates until 30 Jun

Haddington Festival

A local festival with a range of activities and musical concerts, exhibitions, craft fairs and a daily café and sporting competitions.

Haddington

Thu 23 May

Times & prices vary / 01620 824816

Fri 24 May

Times & prices vary / 01620 824816

Sat 25 May

Times & prices vary / 01620 824816

…and 8 more dates until 2 Jun

The RoadBlock Run

RoadBlock Run (formerly Urbanathlon) returns with another race filled with obstacles for runners to negotiate in aid of Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland. Prizes for fastest males, females and teams, as well as a special prize for runners in fancy dress.

Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh

Sun 22 Sep

£14 / 0845 450 2000

11:30 – 16:00

Edinburgh Zoo Nights

There is no one among us who hasn't wanted to visit the zoo after hours. Just what do all those critters do after dark, anyway? Now's there's a way to find out! The zoo opens its gates for an adults-only extravaganza featuring dancing, music, a champagne and a Pimm's bar, tapas, sushi, BBQ (take a breath) facepainting…

Edinburgh Zoo

Fri 24 May

£20 (Members £17) / 0131 314 0340

18:00 – 22:00

Fri 28 Jun

£20 (Members £17) / 0131 314 0340

18:00 – 22:00

Volksfling

Volkswagen aficionados unite! These weekend events bring together lovers of the German automobiles with quality traders, along with a roster of entertainment for grown-ups and children, from a beer garden to live music. Camping facilities available.

Biggar Showfield

Fri 24 May

£20–£25 for weekend pass

14:00 – 00:00

Sat 25 May

£20–£25 for weekend pass

14:00 – 00:00

Sun 26 May

£20–£25 for weekend pass

14:00 – 00:00

…and 3 more dates until 1 Sep back to top

Our Autonomous Nature II

More than 30 artists from variety of genres present works on the themes of man, nature and new landscape.

Testbed1, London SW11

Wed 22 May

Free

09:00 – 20:00

Thu 23 May

Free

09:00 – 20:00

Fri 24 May

Free

09:00 – 20:00

Jack and Jill Market

An opportunity for mums and dads to buy and sell nearly-new baby and kids' (ages 0–9) items of good quality. Book a stall to sell or turn up on the day to grab a bargain.

Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility, Motherwell

Sat 25 May

£1 / 07794 240065

10:30 – 13:30
10:30 – 13:30

West Lothian College, Livingston

Sun 26 May

£1 / 07794 240065

10:30 – 13:30
10:30 – 13:30

Munch Street Food

The Scoop At More London, SE1

Sat 25 May

Free / 020 7403 4866

10:00 – 22:00

Aberdeen & North East CAMRA Beer Festival

CAMRA's (The Campaign for Real Ale) most northerly annual festival is now in its 27th year and offers the chance to sample from over 100 cask ales selected from throughout the UK, real ciders and perries and a selection of continental bottled beers.

Richard Donald Suite, Aberdeen

Thu 30 May

Times vary / £5 for three days / 01224 575940

Fri 31 May

Times vary / £5 for three days / 01224 575940

Sat 1 Jun

Times vary / £5 for three days / 01224 575940

Summer(beer)hall

All things beery, yeasty and delicious are packed into Summerhall for one ale-filled weekend. A pop-up bottle shop, live music, brewery tours and talks run alongside a smorgasboard of Barney's Beer (which is brewed onsite), a number of guest beers and, of course, some obligatory bratwurst and pretzels. Prost!

Summerhall, Edinburgh

Fri 24 May

£5–£8 / 0845 874 3000

18:30 – 23:00

Sat 25 May

£5–£8 / 0845 874 3000

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Rock-a-Buy Baby & Kids Market