When visiting St Giles Cathedral yesterday with out of town guests, we stumbled across their free Wednesday concert.

Starting at 12.15pm every Wednesday lunchtime, pianist Will Pickvance curates short concerts of whatever he and his music colleagues are working on that week.

Great classical works are interspersed with original items, influenced by jazz, folk and music hall.  We thoroughly enjoyed listening to the variety of pieces, including a special version of I’d Rather Go Blind by Etta James.

Regular contributors are concert violinist Feargus Hetherington and Hungarian double bassist Balazs Hermann.

There was a mixture of residents attending solely for the concert and happy tourists who had stumbled across the musical hour in one of Edinburgh’s most beautiful buildings.

These concerts are scheduled to take place every Wednesday at 12.15pm until further notice and last approximately one hour.

Concert in St Giles Cathedral

Edinburgh Castle turns pink during previous Moonwalk

Moonwalk 2012

The 7th Edinburgh Moonwalk takes place on Saturday 9th June 2012 and will be another special night where 10,00 women and men will come together to raise money that stays in Scotland.

You can enter online here or pick up an application from these Edinburgh shops.

In the last few years, the Scottish Moonwalks have raised over £10 million for breast cancer causes in Scotland.  Why not take part yourself in 2012?  If you are not able to do the full 26 mile walk, there is the 13 mile option or you can volunteer.

Edinburgh Spotlight fully supports the Edinburgh 2012 Moonwalk and will be volunteering again and supporting many of our friends who will be taking part in this excellent event.

Walk the Walk are on facebook and twitter.

Read our previous interview with Nina here.

Edinburgh Moonwalk 2012

Toddler Play Group

From the people behind Edinburgh’s excellent Knot Stressed comes a brand new Toddler Play Group from 10th January 2012.

All parents with children from toddling age (around 1.5 years) to 3 years old are welcome.

This new and exciting group will take place every Tuesday from 11.15am-12.15pm at the Calton Centre, 121 Montgomery Street, Edinburgh EH7 5EP.

The group is primarily a social group for parents and toddlers. However, each week we will include activities such as toddler yoga, action singalong, musical instruments story time and soft football.

There will also be a selection of small toys out for free play time, including a pop up tent, musical steps, a floor puzzle and a crawl-through tunnel.

The groups will be small and friendly (group size between 5-15 parents and children).

Plenty of tea, coffee and biscuits are provided for the grown ups and the little ones are welcome to bring a snack/packed lunch with them.

The cost to drop in is £3, which helps to cover the cost of the room and snack.

The group will be facilitated by either Onie (with the help of her nearly 3 year old, Mairin) or Frances each week.  Occasionally, there will be extra help from willing, friendly parents!

Where possible, there will also be fun guest activities and speakers.

The Toddler Play Group will run every Tuesday until 18th December 2012. For further information, contact Knot Stressed.

Edinburgh Spotlight loves living in ‘Festival City’ and already has all these dates in its calendar – here’s the rundown of 2012′s festivals.

Mary King’s Ghost Fest TBC for 2012

Paranormal investigations, celebrity ghost hunts and other spooky goings on at The Real Mary King’s Close.

Ceilidh Culture 16 March – 25 April

Edinburgh’s traditional arts festival, featuring music, dance, storytelling and more.

International Science Festival 31 March- 13 April 2012
The International Science Festival features a host of fun and educational events, lectures and attractions celebrating all things scientific.

Beltane Fire Festival 30 April 2012
Beltane is an ancient Celtic festival and Edinburgh plays host to some colourful and exciting celebrations to mark the date.

Imaginate Festival 7 – 14 May 2012
The Imaginate Festival is Edinburgh’s children’s festival and has loads of plays, activities and fun things to do for youngsters of all ages.

Leith Festival 8 -17 June 2012
Come and celebrate all things Leith at this festival, featuring music, dance, art and other exciting events.

Edinburgh International Film Festival 20 June – 1 July
The Edinburgh Film Festival is an internationally-renowned event on the movie festival circuit and attracts premieres and stars from all over the world.

Edinburgh International Magic Festival 29 June – 6 July 2012

2012 will see Edinburgh host the third International Magic Festival with a range of performers show-casing their magical talents.

Edinburgh Art Festival August 2 – September 2
Edinburgh Art Festival celebrates the visual arts in all its diversity, from world-class exhibitions to strikingly original installations.

Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival 28 July – 6 August 2012
Get your gladrags on and party to the sounds of the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, a popular event which attracts international talent.

Edinburgh Fringe Festival 3 - 27 August 2012
Getting bigger, better and – some may say – weirder every year, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the highlight of many a festival-goer’s calendar.

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 3 – 25 August 2012
Selling out months in advance, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a spectacular event taking place on the Castle Esplanade.

The Edge Music Festival TBC 2012
Adding alternative music to the August festival mix, The Edge Music Festival attracts A-list bands as part of its programme.

Festival of Spirituality and Peace TBC 2012

The Festival of Spirituality and Peace features music, dance, talks and other events highlighting humanitarian issues and causes.

Edinburgh International Festival 10 August – 2 September 2012
The one that started it all, the Edinburgh International Festival is a feast of world-class music, dance and theatrical performances.

Edinburgh International Book Festival 11 - 27 August 2012
This literary event attracts major names in the writing, publishing and political fields to the serene Charlotte Square Gardens setting.

Edinburgh Mela Festival 31 August  - 2nd September 2012

Celebrating the cultural diversity of the city, the Mela Festival brings colour and exotic flair to Edinburgh in August.

Scottish Story Telling Festival 19-28 October
Celebrating the great Scottish oral tradition, the Story Telling Festival showcases the talents of national bards, poets and tale-spinners.

Edinburgh’s Christmas TBC – late November – End Dec 2011
Edinburgh sparkles at Christmas and features events, attractions and shows for all the family to enjoy during the festival season.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 30 December 2012 – 2 January 2013
End the year with the biggest street party in the world!

Broughton High School is hosting Septemberfest on Saturday 24th September 2011. Theevent suitable for all the family, and runs from 11am to 4pm. Admission is FREE and there will be football, sports, drumming, therapies, dance, music, crafts and more. There is a Facebook page for the event.

Septemberfest

2011 events

One of our chosen charities to support is It’s Good 2 Give run by the amazing Lynne McNicoll. There’s some amazing Autumn (and beyond) events coming up that are always lots of fun as well as raising lots of money for the charity.

Starting off with some literary events:

Afternoon tea with Lin Anderson

On Sunday 2nd October 2011, at the beautiful Hilton Caledonian Hotel on Princes Street – author, screenwriter, and crime-writing creator of forensic scientist Dr Rhona MacLeod, Lin Anderson will host the first event.

Her Rhona MacLeod series has been optioned for television and ‘Final Cut’ is currently being developed as a three part drama. Lin is also a screenwriter: her first film ‘Small Love’ was shortlisted for a TAPS writer of the year award. Her second film won a Scottish BAFTA for best fiction and also the Celtic Film Festival’s Best Drama award.

Other short stories have been published in anthologies such as the MacAllan Ten Year Collection and dramatised on BBC Radio 4.

Our events always feature superb raffles and this one is no different! First prize will be a set of Lin’s book, signed by the author.

How do I get a ticket? Call Lynne on 07901 555 352 or email info@itsgood2give.co.uk.    £25 per person includes full afternoon tea and a glass or two of sparkling wine.

Afternoon tea with Sara Sheridan

On Sunday 30th October 2011, also at the Hilton Caledonian Hotel – bestselling author Sara Sheridan will be leading a chat about The Book That Changed your Life. Sara’s books are very popular, so we’re anticipating tickets tfor this event will go really fast.  Sara was born in Edinburgh and studied at Trinity College, Dublin. She has written historical fiction, modern fiction, children’s books and short stories, among others. She has also received a Scottish Library Award and was shortlisted for the Saltire Book Prize.

Sara blogs on the Guardian site about her writing life and puts her hand up to being a ‘twitter evangelist’, and a self-confessed ‘word nerd’. Her favourite book is ‘Water Music’ by TC Boyle.

Afternoon tea

This event will also have a set of amazing raffle prizes including all Sara’s books – signed by her

How do I get a ticket? Call Lynne on 07901 555 352 or email info@itsgood2give.co.uk.    £25 per person includes full afternoon tea and a glass or two of sparkling wine.

The Annual It’s Good 2 Give Fashion Show

Sunday 6th November 2011 4-6pm at the Tom Fleming Centre for the Performing Arts, Edinburgh.

The annual Fashion Show returns to the Tom Fleming Centre for the Performing Arts later this year.   Tickets are priced at an astonishing £5 ( and Lynne wants every one of the 550 seats filled). Additionally, if you book ten tickets you will only pay for nine. The models all have a reason to model for It’s Good 2 Give – from young cancer patients, their siblings, parents to the professional staff who take care of them. They’re expertly trained by top model Anna Freemantle, who leads catwalk skills workshops for our models in the months leading up to the event!.  The wonderful Charlie Miller team of hairdressers will be doing all the hair, so it’s a fun and fabulous evening.

Clothes from: Tea at Aunties,  Fifi Wilson, Kakao by K, Sam Brown, Joyce Paton, 21st Century Kilts and Merry go Round. Hamilton & Inches will be loaning some jewellery too.

Radio presenter and favourite pantomime baddie (oh yes he is)  Grant Stott will co-host the event alongside two young cancer patients – Laura Gibson and Shannon Mackenzie.

Tickets can be booked by emailing info@itsgood2give.co.uk or calling 07901555352

The formiddable Lynne McNicoll (pic courtesy of photonbrush)

Afternoon tea with Maggie O’ Farrell

Sunday 20th November 2011 at the Hilton Caledonian Hotel. Maggie O’Farrell is the author of five novels, After You’d Gone, My Lover’s Lover, The Distance Between Us, which won a Somerset Maugham Award, The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox and, mostly recently The Hand That First Held Mine, which won the Costa. Born in Northern Ireland, Maggie grew up in Wales and Scotland. This event will sell fast! Maggie is a critically acclaimed author who is also extremely popular.

Our events always feature superb raffle prizes – this event will have a set of all Maggie’s books – signed by her.

How do I get a ticket? Call Lynne on 07901 555 352 or email info@itsgood2give.co.uk. £25 per person includes full afternoon tea and a glass or two of sparkling wine.

2011 Christmas Afternoon Tea

Sunday 4 December 2011 1-4pm. Another Christmas afternoon tea at the Caledonian with carol singers, flower displays, gift wrapping advice and so much more – tickets sold so fast last December we are putting them on sale now.  Don’t miss out. Book now: it’s  £20 per person, which is a bargain.

We will have a shopping experience before the afternoon tea starts. From 1 till 2pm you can shop for the man/men in your life: they’re always so hard to buy for, so we’ve got some great present ideas for you. Adrienne Kerr, owner of the wonderful stationer, Magenta Ink, will be on hand to give you wrapping tips to make your gifts extra special. Tea will feature scrumptious sandwiches, cake, and drinks, including a glass of bubbly.

For your ticket call Lynne on 07901 555 352 or email info@itsgood2give.co.uk.

Further information

If you can offer Lynne any help at all with events, admin work, contacts or donations – please drop her an email , she would love to hear from you.

Keep up to date with forthcoming events.  You can donate to the cause and follow Lynne’s blog.  The charity is also on twitter and facebook.

A huge crowd gathered outside the National Museum of Scotland this morning, eager to get inside and see all that this fabulous museum has to offer after having been closed for refurbishment for three years.

The National Museum of Scotland - open once again

Dinosaurs, strange sea creatures, firecrackers, drummers – the spectacle was almost as impressive as what lay behind the doors, which 11 year-old Bryony Hare officially opened as Grant Stott looked on.

The entertainment continued on the street outside as the crowds filed inside the Museum’s new street-level entrance, packing the new galleries and proving that the National Museum of Scotland is one of the city’s best-loved attractions.

Have a look at our gallery and video for a taste of the fun which took place outside.

12th - 14th August 2011

Foodies Festival returning to Holyrood Park for 2011

The excellent Foodies Festival is returning to Edinburgh in 2011 on Friday 12th, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th August in the beautiful grounds of Holyrood Park again. The festival is suitable for all the family and makes a great day out.

The event is open at the following times:

You follow the Edinburgh Foodies Festival on twitter and be kept up to date with the latest information.

Visitors will enjoy new features for 2011, as well as established favourites including:

• Chefs Theatre: The regions Michelin star and top chefs will cook their favourite signature dishes live, passing on hints and tips.

• Fringe stars including Tim Vine, The Hamiltons and Four Poofs and a Piano will join top chefs on stage to mix cooking with comedy.

• Fringe Highlights: Acts from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival will perform live, giving visitors a taster of the best music, dance and comedy.

• Pop-up Cook School: Visitors will enjoy hands-on cooking and tasting sessions, with guidance from top chefs and food experts.

• Cooking with Kids: Masterclasses for budding young chefs and their families.

• Drinks Masterclass Theatre: Mixing and shaking, nosing and tasting sessions where visitors are led through the complexities of gin, rum, speciality beer, wine and cocktails.

• Speciality and local exhibitors: Visitors can sample and buy exclusive ingredients from over 100 food and drink producers.

• Great Taste Market: Featuring stallholders whose products have won a prestigious Great Taste Award in the last three years (new for 2011)

• Restaurant Village: Visitors can indulge in dishes from around the world

• Bar Pagoda Tents: Visitors can enjoy a glass of bubbly or seasonal cocktail made by expert mixologists.

You can buy tickets in advance with a 3 day ticket costing £18 and a day ticket £10. Concessions are available.

Competition

We have 5 pairs of 3-day tickets to give away in our easy competition worth £36 per pair!

You can enter in 3 different ways:

1. On our facebook page ‘like’ the relevant post by 6pm on Sunday 24th July 2011.

2. On twitter, RT the relevant tweet by 6pm on Sunday 24th July 2011.

3. Email competitions@edinburghspotlight.com with ‘FOODIES’ in the subject line.

Winners will be picked at random on Sunday evening and will be notified by email on where to collect the winning tickets.  Good luck!

We loved Foodies in 2010

* sun cannot be guaranteed of course!

Back for 2011

The Portobello Big Beach Busk is back for 2011

After the success of the Portobello Big Beach Busk last year, the event is back for 2011.

Last year the sun was out and over 100 performers lined a mile of Portobello Promenade to entertain over a thousand people.

Aiming for another mile of uninterrupted music, the organisers welcome musicians, jugglers, statues or robots, to sign up and come down to the beach at 12 noon on 27th August.

All kinds of performers are welcome throughout the event and it’s suitable for all the family.

Let’s hope the sun is shining once more.

You can like the Big Beach Busk on facebook and be kept up to date with the event.

Portobello Beach

Pic courtesy of London 2012

Scotland’s first ever Beach Tennis event to be held at Portobello beach

Tennis players of all ages are welcome to play in Scotland’s first beach tennis event at Portobello, on Saturday 23rd July.

Beach Tennis began as a ‘just for fun’ sport in Italy and is now being recognised as an official sport seeking Olympic status. It is similar to beach volleyball and uses a higher net and soft balls as it’s volleys only.

Courts will be created on the sand to provide players of all levels with the opportunity to play and enjoy games of beach tennis. Playing with soft balls (volleys, no bounce) and small racquets will ensure that everyone is able to control the ball so that rallies happen and fun is had.

The courts will be created on the sands near the Beach House Cafe on the Promenade. The event is free and there will be games for children and adults, making this an event suitable for all.

Here’s a YouTube clip of beach tennis in full swing.

Link to Edinburgh’s Beach Tennis on the London 2012 website.

Portobello Beach, Edinburgh

Chambers Street

The newly re-developed National Museum opens on 29th July 2011

We are absolutely itching to see inside the newly re-developed National Museum on Chambers Street.

On Friday 29th July 2011, there will be an opening ceremony to celebrate, with the entertainment starting at 9.15am.

Marvel at the sea creatures on stilts from and an animatronic T-rex dinosaur whilst enjoying the beats of the Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers. Just before the museum opens to the public, Grant Stott will invite the competition winner to open the doors, prompting a fanfare and the unfurling of banners. There will also be an abseil from the roof of the building.

The museum opens at 10am sharp – be one of the first to discover the amazing displays with new objects like the T.rex and familiar favourites like the Totem Pole.

Grant Stott will be hosting the festivities and continue with his 10am – 2pm radio show live from Chambers Street.

A world of discovery will awaits with 16 new galleries to explore, showing a dramatic range of treasures from dinosaurs to designer chairs, and mummies to motor cars. Music and activities will feature throughout the day.

Getting around the museum will be even easier with new entrances, glass lifts and escalators and a complete new floor at street level.

Other activites on at the museum over the summer are:

• Drop-in Days. Mon 1 – Sun 21 August 1030 – 1630 (drop in) Free
  Visit our fantastic new Learning Centre and meet the team. Take part in daily taster activities to mark the opening of our new galleries.
• Explore Time. Daily during August and September  1030 – 1630 (drop in) Free
  Get the most out of our new family galleries. Enablers in Imagine and Adventure Planet help you and your family discover even more about the stories these galleries tell.
• Free Fringe Music. Sat 6 – Fri 26 August. 1245 – 1330 (drop in) Free
  Each lunchtime, take time out in the transformed National Museum of Scotland to enjoy a musical celebration of our new World Cultures and Discoveries galleries with music from around the world

The best thing of all that the National Museum is free to enter and is suitable for all weathers.

Harry Potter ‘Movie Week’ at the private Scotsman Hotel cinema

Ahead of the last Harry Potter film coming out on the 15th July, the Scotsman Hotel Cinema are holding a week of Harry Potter movies. From the 8^th – 14^th July, there will be a different Harry Potter movie on every night to get fans in the mood for the release of the Deathly Hallows (part two) on the 15th.

The cost is £15 per person per film (or £30 including a buffet dinner). This includes mini treats in cauldrons, a wand and decorations as well as popcorn, ice cream and butter beer.

Booking: Via reception, telephone on 0131 556 5565 or email lhandley@thescotsmanhotel.co.uk

Scotsman Hotel

© 2011 Disney

Lion King 3D has its UK premiere in Edinburgh on Saturday 25th June 2011

Disney is celebrating the UK premiere of its epic masterpiece, The Lion King, in dazzling Disney Digital 3D, at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on 25th June by staging a very special performance of ‘The Circle of Life’ from London’s award winning stage production The Lion King.  There will also be some Disney fun to kick off the day as the lion cubs will be treated to face painting, Disney’s Streetmosphere performers, competitions and more!

This not to be missed event for the whole family will culminate with the first screening of the Pride of Disney, The Lion King, at the  Edinburgh Festival Theatre on Saturday 25 June at 1.15pm; tickets for this spectacular event are on sale now at www.edfilmfest.org.uk or via the box office on 0131 228 2688.

Around the world The Lion King stage production has been seen by over 55 million people, has performed in 14 countries and been translated into 7 different languages.  Now in its 12th year at London’s Lyceum’s theatre, the show remains one of the West End’s most popular musicals.  Actress Browne Lindiwe Mkhize, who plays baboon ‘Rafiki’, will give a very special solo performance of ‘Circle of Life’, the song that, as well as being the first song in the film and show, embodies the central themes of enduring family and friendship.

For the first time, the jewel in Disney’s animated crown has been brought to life like never before and will debut to a new generation of fans, in dazzling 3D, at Edinburgh’s beautiful Festival Theatre, allowing the audience to enjoy this critically acclaimed and universally beloved classic like never before, ahead of its general release on 14th October.

An unforgettable story, breathtaking animation, beloved characters and award-winning music set the stage for the adventures of Simba, the feisty lion cub who “just can’t wait to be king.” But his envious Uncle Scar has plans for his own ascent to the throne, and he forces Simba’s exile from the kingdom. Alone and adrift, Simba soon joins the escapades of a hilarious meerkat named Timon and his warm-hearted warthog pal, Pumbaa. Adopting their carefree lifestyle of “Hakuna Matata,” Simba ignores his real responsibilities until he realises his destiny and returns to the Pride Lands to claim his place in the “Circle of Life.”

© 2011 Disney

Competition

We have 3 pairs of tickets to give away to Saturday’s premiere by answering an easy question:

What date is the Lion King 3D generally released in the UK?

This competition closes at 12 noon on Thursday 23rd June 2011.

Email your answer to competitions@edinburghspotlight.com and we will notify you soon after the closing date via email if you win tickets. Entries via our facebook page or twitter stream will not be accepted.

Terms & Conditions

This promotion is open to UK residents. Employees of the Walt Disney Company (WDC) DDA PR, the EIFF & their families, agents or anyone connected with this promotion are excluded.

There is no cash or other alternative to the prize stated and the prize is not transferable and no part or parts of the prize may be substituted for other benefits, items or additions.

The prize is a pair of tickets

The screening takes place at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh on Saturday 25th June 2011. Winners will be picked at random and contacted by Edinburgh Spotlight.

The Editor’s decision is final and binding on the entrants. No correspondence will be entered into.

What’s on in Edinburgh 20th – 26th June 2011

Tuesday 21st June:

Celebrate Midsummer at the Royal Botanical Gardens.  Open until 10.30pm.

Wednesday 22nd June:

Bon Jovi play Murrayfield Stadium.  Tickets still available. Gates open 4pm.

Thursday 23rd June:

There’s a Spokes Bike Breakfast on between 8 and 10am at the City Chamber Quadrangle

The Royal Highland Show starts today at Ingliston.  Remember kids under 16 go free, on until Sunday.

Touch World Cup starts at Peffermill.  On until Sunday.

Friday 24th June:

Armed Forces Day celebrations begin with tours of HMS Portland and Red Arrow displays (also Saturday and Sunday)

Catch Aerials Up at the Rutland’s One Below Venue.  Tickets on the door, 9pm start.

Saturday 25th June:

Juniper Green Farmer’s Market, Kinleith Arms. 9am – 1pm

Edinburgh Zoo open up their brand new front entrance.  Bouncy castle and face painting etc

The Armed Forces Day parade will take place through the Old Town and end with acitivities in West Princes Street Gardens.

Swamp Soccer at Hunter’s Hall Park. 50 teams getting dirty in the mud whilst playing football!  Also Sunday.

Sunday 26th June:

Last day of the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston.

Kings of Leon play Murrayfield.  Tickets still available.

Armed Forces Day

Additional ideas

Don’t forget you can also browse our reviews about Edinburgh:

Things to do

Edinburgh for free

Edinburgh for kids

Suggestions for daytrips out of town

Places to eat and drink

Want to include your event?

If you have an event that you would like mentioned here  (or added during the week) then please contact us with a link and/or basic information. Requests via twitter and facebook will not be accepted. The events article will be published every Monday and tweeted out to over 6000 followers and linked on our facebook fan page.

Edinburgh's Armed Forces Day

Armed Forces Day celebrations in Edinburgh

In 2011 the National Event will be held in Edinburgh, but there are many more events up and down the country being held in support of the Armed Forces.

Up to 80,000 people expected to watch a series of spectacular Red Arrows displays, parades, concerts and military events over the three days.

Friday 24th June:

Events will kick off in Leith including tours of HMS Portland, various water-based displays in Leith Docks and marching pipe bands culminating in a full display by the Red Arrows over the Firth of Forth (1900 hrs). Members of the public will also have the opportunity to try out Red Arrow and Tornado Jet flight simulators at the Ocean Terminal shopping centre.

Added: Look at our Red Arrows pictures here.

Saturday 25th June:

Edinburgh will celebrate Armed Forces Day with a Parade through the Old town followed by activities in Holyrood Park. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

Some events include:

1115 Parade depart Castle Esplanade and proceed down the High Street and past the City Chambers and down to Holyrood Park.

1200  Fly past by the Red Arrows

1215  Battle of Britain Memorial Flight – A Lancaster Spitfire and Hurricane

1255  Drum Head Service at HolyRood Park to commemorate those who have fallen in battle

1715  Red Hot Chilli Pipers

1830 Typhoon and Tornado Fly Past

It’s expected that a parade of up to 2,000 serving personnel, veterans and cadets will march down the Royal Mile from the Castle Esplanade to Holyrood Park. The parade will end with a short ceremony of thanks and a fly past by the Red Arrows. This will be followed by a packed afternoon of events and entertainment for all the family in Holyrood Park, including parachute displays, a display of Armed Forces vehicles,  concert by the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, music and a Veterans’ Village.

Sunday 26th June:

Sunday’s events are being organised by the charity DecAid. The day kicks off with a Military Fitness Session in Holyrood Park (1100)  followed by a massed Pipes and Drums parade from the Castle Esplanade to Holyrood Park, and then by an afternoon of music and a Battle of the Bands.

1100  Military Fitness Session at Holyrood Park

1145  Pipes and Drums Parade from the Castle Esplanade to Holyrood Park

1300 Battle of the Bands, Commando Challenge and more……..

More information can be found on the Armed Forces Day website and details of the running order can be found on the council website. You can download a copy of the programme here.  PDF, opens in new window.

St Andrew Square

Free movies in St Andrew Square as part of the Film Festival

The Edinburgh International Film Festival has teamed up with Essential Edinburgh and will  St Andrew Square to bring you ‘Under the Stars’, a free outdoor cinema with hand-picked films.  The screenings run from Thursday 16th June until Sunday 19th June 2011.

You can read all of our 2011 Film Festival coverage here and in more detail over on End Titles.

There’s a film suitable for all the family in the programme which is as follows:

Thursday 16th June

1800 – 2030  The Da Vinci Code

2050 – 2245  Raiders of the Lost Ark

Friday 17th June

1230 – 1400  Robots

1420 – 1600  Babe

1630 – 1800  Shrek

1825 – 2015  Grease

2040 – 2230  School of Rock

Saturday 18th June

1230 – 1400  Babe

1415 – 1635  Mary Poppins

1655 – 1825  Shrek

1845 – 2035  Mamma Mia

2100 – 2250  Grease

Sunday 19th June

1230 – 1400  Shrek

1420 – 1620  Some Like It Hot

1640 – 1810  Robots

1830 – 2020  School of Rock

2045 – 2240  Raiders of the Lost Ark

Grab a picnic, pray for dry weather and enjoy these free screenings of some classic films.  Under 16′s must be accompanied by an adult and alcohol is not allowed into the event area as you can buy alcohol on-site.

St Andrew Square

Duddingston garden

Charity Afternoon at Dr Neil’s Garden in Duddingtson

One of our favourite green spaces in Edinburgh – Dr Neil’s Garden is hosting a Midsummer Afternoon Dream on Sunday 19th June 2011. The afternoon will be full of music, dance and romance  in one of Edinburgh’s most magical and least well known spots.

Mairi Campbell will be performing from her new album, plus Sangstream,  Iona Bain and her band , African womens’choir Zawadi Alba, dancer Laurin Campbell and more.
There will be strawberry teas and wine and stuff to amuse the children.

Tickets

The charity tickets are  £8  (£5 concession, kids free) via MFEdinburgh@hotmail.com or can be bought at the gate.  Bring a picnic and enjoy a magical afternoon. All proceeds are going to Freedom from Torture.

Car park entrance on Duddingston Road West. No Sunday access through Holyrood Park.

Dr Neil's Garden

Forth Road Bridge

A week of celebrating the Forth Road Bridge

Tomorrow sees the start of the Forth Road Bridge’s open week. We’re super excited that we managed to get a place on the special tours that are running that will give a close up view of the Forth Road Bridge.

Places are booked up, but a stand-by system will operate on Saturday 18 June for any spaces that become available. Tours will run every 15 minutes throughout the day.

Exhibition

A special exhibition is being staged in the bridge office on the history of the Forth Road Bridge and its maintenance challenges. This features a combination of photography, text, videos and artefacts contributed by FETA and its contractors and consultants.

The exhibition will be open to the public from 12:00 until 20:00 from Monday 13 to Thursday 16 June, and from 09:00 until 16:30 on Saturday 18 June. Admission is free.

Saturday 18th June events:

• A 1964 vintage bus will run trips across the bridge every half hour.
• Two miniature buses and a miniature fire engine will provide rides in the car park for children.
• George McPhie & Sons, from Linlithgow, will provide live demonstrations every hour of the recovery of an overturned tanker.
• Mines Rescue, from Crossgates, Fife, will provide live demonstrations of rescuing an individual from a confined space.
• A range of the Authority’s vehicles will be on display and members of the public will be able to view the bridges from height on the – Authority’s Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP).
• Fishers Tours will provide a free shuttle service to North Queensferry to allow visitors to take advantage of discounted boat trips on the Forth Belle.
• A bouncy castle and face-painting will be available for kids.
• The drum band Resonate, from Kirkcaldy, will perform at the event.

Admission to the all the fun activites on Saturday 18th June are free, but members of the public will be invited to make a donation to charity.

Charity

Forth Road Bridge staff were asked to nominate charities to support during the open week. Most nominations went to the Mary Leishman Foundation, which aims to encourage potential and ease distress by donating funds to a range of local good causes.  The Mary Leishman Foundation will therefore be the official charity of the 2011 Forth Road Bridge Open Week and will receive all money raised during the open week itself.

Forth Road Bridge 12th June 2011

What’s on in Edinburgh 13th – 19th June 2011

It’s hard to keep up with everything that’s going on in Edinburgh at the best of times, but in the summer there seems too many events to choose from.

In a new feature (beta), we bring you a list of interesting events on this coming week (Monday 13th June – Sunday 19th June inclusive).  The event will either be linked to an information page, or where we have previewed it in more detail. There will also be links to new places opening in town and other snippets of news.

Monday 13th June:

The free outdoor films continue at Festival Square (also Tuesday).

The Forth Road Bridge Open Week starts today.

Tuesday 14th June:

Blogtogther at Sofi’s Bar.  Starting at 6pm, all Edinburgh bloggers are welcome for a chat and inspiration.

Wednesday 15th June:

The Edinburgh International Film Festival launches today. Our film reviewers will be bringing daily reports of what’s going on around town as well as film reviews.

Anthropologie opens at 39 George Street.

Thursday 16th June:

The Edinburgh Internationl Book Festival launch their 2011 programme today.

Scottish Real Ale Festival starts at Adam House, Chambers Street today.  On until Saturday.

The free outdoor film screenings start today at St Andrew Square. Also Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Friday 17th June:

Jamie Primrose launches his latest exhibtion Evolving Moods at Dundas Street Gallery (on until 25th June)

Fancy a trip out of town?  Head up to Crail for their inaugural Crail Food Festival.  Fun for all the family in a delightful part of Scotland. (Also Saturday and Sunday).

Saturday 18th June:

Edinburgh’s Farmer’s Market

Edinburgh 10s Rugby Festival, Raeburn Place, Stockbridge.

Tracy Griffen’s Balfour Street Bazaar 10am – 6pm as part of the Leith Festival.

Davidson’s Mains Children’s Gala

Edinburgh first Solidarity ‘Slutwalk’.  1.30pm – 3.30pm West Parliament Square to the Scottish Parliament

Lots happening as part of the Forth Road Bridge Open Week.

Greener Leith are holding a ceilidh.  Everyone welcome from 8pm.

Sunday 19th June:

Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association hosting a book fair at Radisson Blue Hotel, 80 High Street. 10am – 5pm

International Haggis eating championships at the Art Roch Hostel in the Grassmarket.  Starts 11am, £1 entry goes to Help for Heroes.

Charity Vintage Tea Dance in aid of Children of Songea. 2pm at the newly refurbished Lauriston Hall

Charity Zumba class in aid of It’s Good 2 Give.  All welcome to keep fit whilst raising money. 2pm start.

Joseph Pearce’s are having a barbeque.  2pm start.

A Midsummer Afternoon Dream, Dr Neil’s Garden, Duddingston.

Film Festival starts this week

Additional ideas

Don’t forget you can also browse our reviews about Edinburgh:

Things to do

Edinburgh for free

Edinburgh for kids

Suggestions for daytrips out of town

Places to eat and drink

Want to include your event?

If you have an event that you would like mentioned here  (or added during the week) then please contact us with a link and/or basic information. Requests via twitter and facebook will not be accepted. The events article will be published every Monday and tweeted out to over 6000 followers and linked on our facebook fan page.

Celebrate Midsummer

Edinburgh’s Botanical Gardens open until 10.30pm for Midsummer celebrations

We absolutely love the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh and visit at all times of the year.  In celebration of the longest day of the year, the gardens will remain open until 10.30pm. The wonderful glasshouses that we recently reviewed will be free after 5.30pm and there will be numerous other activites to celebrate the Midsummer.

Make sure you make the most of this opportunity to see the gardens in a different light.

From the RGBE website:

Glasshouses free after 5.30pm