1 SPECTRA

Aberdeen city centre, Thursday to Sunday

Dubbed Aberdeen's Festival of Light, this spectacular after-dark visual arts event returns to brighten up the streets, buildings and green spaces around Union Terrace Gardens. Family-friendly and free, SPECTRA showcases the work of 22 international artists, who between them have created host of vibrant outdoor pieces ranging from fire drawings to light sculptures. Along with AMAZE - a huge three-dimensional maze of light and shadows - centrepieces include atmospheric photographic projection Immersion: Iceland, as well as Syrinx of Fire, which mixes pulsating sound and flame. www.spectraaberdeen.com

2 Spring Quilt Festival

Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Friday to Sunday

The first of a couple of big events for hobbyists this weekend, this three-day crafting festival is a veritable one-stop shop for fans of quilting, creative stitching and textile art. As well as displays of quilts and patchwork to admire, there are stands from a range of exhibitors, and opportunities to shop for fabrics, threads, accessories, books, and patterns. The more hands-on can also learn new skills at any of a list of in-show workshops. Tickets are £5-£7 for adults and £2-£3 for children. www.royalhighlandcentre.co.uk

3 Dino Explorers

Dundee Science Centre, daily

Take a step back in time to discover Dundee's Science Centre's new prehistoric activities programme for inquisitive kids. Running until June and open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm, younger visitors can find out why skeletons are so important to scientists and how fossils are made in hands-on workshops and live dinosaur-themed science shows. Meanwhile, interactive exhibition Fossils and Funny Bones uses physical play, costumes, exploration and activities to reveal more about the exciting world of palaeontology. Tickets for kids are available from £4-£5.25, with adults costing £7.25. www.dundeesciencecentre.org.uk

4 Glasgow Film Festival

Venues across Glasgow, until March 1

With another awards season wrapping up at Sunday's Oscars, the UK's third biggest film festival arrives with a first look at some of the biggest movies of the coming year. Glasgow's annual cinematic extravaganza is rolling out the red carpet on some 174 screenings - including 11 world premiers - plus a host of workshops, special events, masterclasses and guest talks in 20 venues across the city. Along with regular crowd-pleasers such as nerve-shredding horror showcase FrightFest - look out for the new Cinema City strand, celebrating Glasgow's ongoing love affair with the movies. www.glasgowfilm.org/festival

5 What If The Paintings Came To Life?

Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh, Saturday and Sunday

This free drop-in workshop for children is inspired by Come to the Gallery with Katie, the National Gallery of Scotland's exhibition celebrating 25 years of author James Mayhew's Katie books. Taking place from 2-4pm on both days, budding artists can make, decorate and bring to life puppets based on exhibits in the gallery. Running until March 1, the free exhibition includes a range of illustrations created for the picture book series following the adventures of a little girl with a knack for falling into famous paintings. www.nationalgalleries.org

6 Fort William Mountain Festival

Various venues around Fort William, until Sunday

This annual celebration of outdoor adventure and winter sports features a bevy of entertaining options - on and off the slopes. As well as opportunities to take to the hills around Fort William for walking, climbing, and skiing, there are also talks featuring a range of top climbers and explorers, plus screenings of the best in outdoor and adventure film. Visitors can also check out the first ever Fort William Mountain Book Festival and sign up for mountain skills workshops including avalanche awareness, winter walking, and ice climbing. Festival passes are £40, with individual event tickets available from £12.50 (£3 children). www.mountainfestival.co.uk

7 Little Explorer Days: Build It

Glasgow Science Centre, Sunday

Another science-themed special for wee-ones aged 3-5 years - this time mixing junior engineering workshops, drop-ins, craft sessions and songs. Running from 10.30 to 3.30pm, activities include building a protective capsule for Humpty Dumpty, raising a castle from recycled material, constructing a bridge strong enough to cross a river, and making toy vehicles and fridge magnets to take home. Entry for one child and an accompanying adult is £8.50, also giving access to explore the rest of the Science Mall. www.glasgowsciencecentre.org

8 Rascals and Rogues

The Edinburgh Dungeron, Edinburgh, Friday

Billed as a theatrical mix of scares, special effects, and storytelling, this adults-only after-hours event marks the return of the Scottish Entertainment Award-winning Edinburgh Dungeon's Lates series. Covering 1000 years of horrifying history in the company of a gaggle of Scotland's most infamous villains, including Sawney Bean, Burke and Hare, and Captain William Kidd, the evening spices things up for an older audience with even more laughs, shocks and gory stagecraft than usual. Show times are at 7.30pm and 8pm, tickets are £22, and there's a free drink chucked in to settle the nerves. www.thedungeons.com/edinburgh

9 Model Rail Scotland

SECC, Glasgow, Friday to Sunday

More weekend hobby action - Scotland's biggest model railway show, back tomorrow with dozens of stunningly detailed miniature layouts, and three days of how-to seminars, trade stalls, and stands from model and heritage rail societies from across Scotland and the UK. Organised by the Association of Model Railway Societies in Scotland, the show is open from 11am-6pm on Friday, 10am-6pm on Saturday and 10am-5pm on Sunday, and tickets are available on the door for £10 (£6 children, under 5s free). www.modelrail-scotland.co.uk

10 Pop Lock-in

Electric Circus, Edinburgh, Sunday

The older sibling of Baby Loves Disco - a daytime dance music event aimed at tots and their grown-ups - Pop Lock-in provides a funky alternative entertainment option for primary school aged children 4-11. Taking place in a real nightclub with a proper DJ and a street dance instructor, party-goers can also have a go at karaoke and jewellery making, play video games, get nails painted, and be snapped in a photo booth. Running bi-monthly in Edinburgh and monthly at Glasgow's Hummingbird (back on March 8), the two hour event starts at 4pm, with tickets available from £8.95. www.babylovesdisco.co.uk