1 Street Velodrome

County Square, Paisley, Sat

The world's only pop-up track race cycling event returns to Paisley for a second year, bringing the fast-paced excitement, crashes and photo-finishes of the sport to Scottish fans. In the first of a UK-wide series of events, an accessible street circuit will give amateur riders the chance to compete alongside professionals a series of head-to-head sprint pursuit races. Away from the track, events and activities include bubble football, a unicycle stunt team, and street athletics. Entirely free and open from 9am to 6pm, there will be a limited number of competitive entries available on the day. www.streetvelodrome.co.uk

2 Gardening Scotland

Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh, Fri-Sun

Billed as Scotland's Gardening Festival, this huge horticulture and outdoor living show boasts more than 400 exhibitors, the biggest plant fair in the country, and an endless variety of tools, garden furniture and accessories. Visitors can enjoy dazzling floral displays and show gardens, plus a craft marquee, culinary theatre and local food market. While tickets start at £13, children go free - and there's plenty for younger show-goers to see and do in the Big Back Garden area, which has play equipment, birds of prey, face painting and a story tent. gardeningscotland.com

3 May Festival

Aberdeen University, Fri-Sun

A great chance to explore Old Aberdeen and take part in a range of cultural events, drop-in workshops and tours organised by the University of Aberdeen. Now in its third year, the Festival programme spans music, film, science, food, exhibitions, talks and tours, and much of it is free. Special guests include adventurer Matt Dickinson, broadcaster Gavin Esler, swimming coach Patrick Miley, and acclaimed authors Michel Faber and David Mitchell. There's are also a dedicated strand for children, which includes Saturday's Family Sports Day and Ugly Animal Roadshow, and Sunday's Hall of Mayhem and Science Showcase events. abdn.ac.uk/mayfestival

4 Gibson Street Gala

Glasgow West End, Sun

A semi-official curtain raiser for Glasgow's West End Festival, this vibrant community-run event turns the streets around the northern fringes of Kelvingrove Park into a summer carnival for the day. Themed around Earth, Wind, Fire and Water, there's a huge amount of free music and entertainment catch along the main festival strip, with children's activity zones at Hillhead Primary and Eldon Street, stalls on the Gibson Street bridge, and art displays along the West Bank Quadrant. You'll also find loads of deals at local bars, cafes and restaurants. www.gibsonstgala.co.uk

5 Zoo Nights

Edinburgh Zoo, Fri

Ditch the kids and take a walk on the wild side exploring one of the capital's top attractions at this adults-only after-hours event. Running from 6pm to 10pm, most of the Zoo's animal enclosures will be open, along with the life-sized animatronic exhibits of the Dinosaurs Return exhibition. Along with the chance for some eating and sensible imbibing, entertainment includes a range of music and comedy acts, plus dancers, DJs, talks, and a silent disco.

Tickets are £17-£20; if you can't make it, there are three further events taking place on Friday nights in June. www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/zoonights

6 Edinburgh Marathon Festival

Holyrood Park, Sat-Sun

If you're not among the 30,000 runners to have secured a place across seven races taking place in Edinburgh over the weekend, entries have now closed. However, the UK's second biggest marathon is still well worth a mention as a great free event for spectators. On Saturday, cheer on those taking part in the 5K, 10K and junior races in Holyrood Park; on Sunday morning the half, full and relay marathon events start nearby in London Road and Regent Road. If suitably inspired, registration is already open for next year. www.edinburgh-marathon.com

7 Subway Helping Hearts Family 5K

Strathclyde Country Park, Sat

At the gentler end of the scale is this family fun run, one of 12 taking place around the UK this summer to raise funds for Heart Research UK. Open to all ages and abilities, there are also a range of activities for participants including a bouncy castle and face painting, plus free lunch from sponsors Subway. Online entries close at 9am tomorrow (£6.99, kids under 12 free), with a limited places available on the day (£8.99). Edinburgh hosts a second Scottish event in July. www.heartresearch.org.uk/events/subwayfamily5k

8 Lighthouse Late

The Lighthouse, Glasgow, Fri

Once home to this newspaper, the Charles Rennie Mackintosh-designed Lighthouse building in central Glasgow is now a national hub for architecture and design. This evening event turns its five floors into a hive of creativity and culture for the night. As well as live music from acts including Prides, Man of Moon, KLOE, and Honeyblood, there will be an independent Scottish art and design makers fair, hands-on T-shirt upcycling workshops, screenings from Glasgow Short Film Festival, and bars sponsored by Innes and Gunn, and Brugal Rum. Tickets are £15. www.thelighthouse.co.uk/late

9 3 Harbours Arts Festival

East Lothian, from Sat

One of East Lothian's largest festivals celebrates its 10th year with nine days of art, architecture, workshop events, music and performances. Underway from Saturday in Prestonpans, Cockenzie and Port Seton, there will be work on show in more than 30 studios, galleries, public buildings and private houses from a range of amateur and professional artists, including the late John Bellany and Great Tapestry of Scotland designer Andrew Crummy. Further ahead, there are also appearances from acclaimed classical violinist Tasmin Little (June 4) and Scottish Opera's Pop-Up Roadshow (June 6-7). www.3harbours.co.uk

10 Bathgate 2015

Balbardie Park, Bathgate, Sat

A day of traditional Scottish music and entertainment combining the British Pipe Band Championships and the Calor Scotland West Lothian Highland Games. A major date in the piping and traditional games calendars, Bathgate 2015 will feature 150 bands from around the UK, along with a trusty mix of highland dancing, heavy events and athletics. With family attractions such as cookery and photographic workshops and historical re-enactments, children's entertainment also includes face painting, animal handling and live magic performances. Tickets on the gate cost £12 (£5 for children, under 5s free). http://bathgate2015.co.uk