Gayle's Guide ✨ 6th August 26

As ye might have guessed at this stage, despite my best intentions I’ll have to admit defeat and accept that doing a separate festival guide is just not achievable this year. But I’ll continue to showcase all the tireless organisations holding the fort for our families throughout the absolute whirlwind of a month we’re venturing into.

Fire in show recommendations though if you see anything decent!

Festival recommendations?

🎭 Here’s a link to LAST YEAR’S festival guide - I’ve not looked at this since Aug 25 so obviously not anything other than a reference point if you’re interested in case some of the same shows are on this year. Almost certainly totally useless for 2026 but maybe not??

🍿 Toddler Club: Shrek 2 (1-5y) 09.30 🐤
📍 The Everyman Cinema, St James Quarter

🎹 Anatomy of the Piano (for beginners) 11.00
📍 Pianodrome Bruntsfield
The new Pianodrome is getting in on the action for the festival and have a few kids’ shows scheduled. This one is running today and the next 3 Sundays.
”A boy asks for a spaceship but gets a piano. The award-winning show of playful piano dissection, virtuosity and storytelling, featuring Bach’s wig, Beethoven’s moods and jamming with Fats Waller.”

🍿 The Muppets 11.00
📍 Filmhouse, Lothian Road

🎤 MASSAOKE: Sing the Movies 15.15-16.15
📍 North Berwick - yes, that far away
Waaaaaaaaaah I wanna go!!! Stupid busy Sunday.

🎭 Madame Chandelier’s Grand Theft Opera (5y+) 12.15-13.15
📍 The Green at Pleasance Courtyard
Recommended by a reader who saw it with her 5 and 8 year olds and they all thought it was great! “Lots of fun audience participation and a wee bit of operatic exposure for the kids amidst all the computer game based adventure.”

🌋 Children’s Art and Stories Day (5y+) 13.00-16.00 🐔🆓
📍 Holyrood Park
”Join us for an afternoon of child-friendly stories and craft activities with local artists and storytellers. Get hands on to make some props for the stories that you can then take home!”

There’s a partial solar eclipse this evening by the way which I only knew about because of an email from Camera Obscura (thanks!)
Approximate timings for Edinburgh are:

• Eclipse begins: 6.08pm

• Maximum eclipse: 7.05pm

• Eclipse ends: 8.00pm

💕 Kin Perinatal Wellbeing Group 10.30 🆓
📍 Kin Collective, Leith
Having a baby is bloody hard. The sleep deprivation and total chaos they bring to your life in those early weeks/months (years!!) can be really relentless, scary and overwhelming, so it’s no wonder so many new parents experience mental health difficulties. This small group is facilitated by a Perinatal Counsellor and Psychotherapist and is for parents with babies aged 0-12 months who are experiencing low mood, anxiety, overwhelm or isolation. I know even getting out to something like this can feel impossible but if you do manage it, you’ll find connection and understanding that’s really difficult to imagine when you’re in that thick cloud of early parenthood struggles.
✨ Here’s a list of organisations that can help if you need it.
PS, you’re doing great, I promise xx

📚 Gaelic Bookbug (0-5y) 10.30-11.00 🐣🐤🆓
📍 Edinburgh Central Library
These sessions are pretty few and far between so book your spot if your phàiste loves leabhraichean. The Bookbug bags that all children in Scotland get are available in Gaelic too so have a look here for info.