1 Clyde Stride
Riverside Museum, Glasgow, Saturday
The first of two big charity events in Glasgow city centre over the weekend, the Clyde Stride consists of a family focused 5K or 10K evening walk along the River Clyde and across several of its famous bridges. Organised as a fundraiser for the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice's Brick By Brick Appeal, fancy dress is optional, and there are lots of games, music, warm-up activities for participants before the event gets underway - including a live show based on Disney's Frozen at 7.30pm. Registration is £20 for adults, and £10 for children. www.ppwh.org.uk
2 WalkFest
Newton Stewart, from Friday
Taking place in the unspoilt wilds of the Galloway Hills, the biggest walking festival in the south of Scotland crams 29 different guided routes for all levels of ability into just seven days, along with a complimentary programme of social events. Named the best regional nature-based attraction at the 2013 Scottish Thistle Awards, transport to and from the start of each walk is included, with many events specially themed to explore the turbulent history and varied wildlife of the hills around Newton Stewart and along the Solway Coast. www.newtonstewartwalkfest.co.uk
3 Wild Science Family Mayhem Day
Rutherford McCowan Building, Dumfries, Saturday
Dumfries and Galloway's Science Festival concludes on Saturday with a free day of activities for families at the University of Glasgow's Crichton Campus in Dumfries. Running from 10am to 3.30pm, this year's event celebrates the legacy of Scottish mathematical physicist James Clerk Maxwell. Among workshops, demonstrations and activities are rocket designing, robot building and slime making - while there's also the chance to meet the RSPB, handle animals, learn about zombie science, discover the microscopic anatomy of bees, and track the cosmos in an inflatable Planetarium. www.dgsciencefestival.org.uk
4 Wartime Experience
National Museum of Flight, East Lothian, Sunday
Get a flavour of life during war at this day of living history, music, fashion and food. Along with flyovers from classic military aircraft, expect to come face to face with a host of First and Second World War battle re-enactors at a special encampment zone. Elsewhere there's swing dancing, gramophone DJ sets, and performances from 1940s-style harmony trio The Ragtime Dolls, plus a vintage hair and beauty salon, cookery demonstrations, and activities for little ones. Entry is £9-£11 (£6 kids), which also gets you into the museum itself. www.nms.ac.uk/flight
5 Holyrood Kitchen
Holyrood Education Centre, Edinburgh, Friday and Saturday
Created in partnership between Historic Scotland and the Edinburgh School of Food and Wine, this pop-up restaurant in Edinburgh's Holyrood Park offers the opportunity to sit down to an exclusive three course tasting menu created by some of the country's best up-and-coming trainee chefs while enjoying views of Arthur's Seat. With the emphasis on ingredients from Scottish suppliers, there's room for up to 44 diners per sitting, on Friday at 7pm, and 12.30pm and 7pm on Saturday. A limited number of tickets are available at £45-£50, advanced booking essential. www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
6 Boswell Book Festival
Dumfries House, Ayrshire, Friday to Sunday
Billed as the world's only festival of biography and memoir, this compact and eclectic literary festival brings together a clutch of authors, performers and musicians for three days of events in Ayrshire inspired by legendary man of letters James Boswell. Among guests this year - the festival's fifth - is campaigner and TV veteran Joanna Lumley, Tartan Noir king kingpin Ian Rankin, Booker nominee Andrew O'Hagan, and composer James MacMillan. All tickets are £6-£8. Boswell Community Centre in Auchinleck also hosts a family fun day for younger readers on Saturday. www.boswellbookfestival.co.uk
7 Gourock Highland Games
Gourock Park, Inverclyde, Sunday
First held in 1956, Gourock Highland Games has long been established as the first meeting of the season. Along with all the usual heavy events, entertainment includes the West of Scotland Highland Dancing Championship and the Gourock Pipe Band and Drum Majors Competition, while a tie-in with Scotland's Year of Food and Drink means there's also a marquee stuffed with tasty local produce to sample. Elsewhere, there are also children's activities, a climbing wall and a range of community stalls. Open from noon to 6pm, entry is £3-£5 (under 5 free). www.gourockhighlandgames.org.uk
8 Race For Life
Glasgow Green, Sunday
Run, jog, walk, or even dance around Glasgow city centre with the return of this huge women-only running event in aid of Cancer Research UK. A very achievable 5K course takes in Saltmarket, Trongate and the Style Mile before returning for the finish line in Glasgow Green. Stating at 9.30am, entry is £14.99 (£10 children). Can't make it on Sunday? There are a series of other Race For Life events in coming weeks, including at Irvine and Hopetoun House later this month, and in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness in June. raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org
9 Perth Beer Festival
North Inch Park, Perth, Saturday
If you've missed out on tickets for this weekend's now sold-out Glasgow Sevens, this family friendly mix of food, drink and egg-shaped sports action could wind up being a handy, if slightly less high profile alternative. Hosted by Perthshire Rugby Club, the event combines a rugby sevens tournament with a festival marquee stocked with Scottish craft beers and real ales. Starting at noon, entry to the beer tent is free, but £20 tickets are available granting drinks tokens and entry to an evening function. perthbeerfestival.co.uk
10 Ayr County Show
Ayr Racecourse, Saturday
This annual agricultural show - 172 years young - is also one of the first big events of its type of the summer months. Visitors can expect the usual array of livestock competition and outdoor entertainment, along with displays of stunt bike riding, a truck show, and a huge retail and craft marquee. This year, there's also a Taste Ayrshire tent featuring stalls from local producers, plus a children's corner promoting the work of the Get Ayrshire Growing project. Tickets are £12 under 14s free. www.ayrcountyshow.co.uk
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