1 Ideal Home Show
SECC, Glasgow, Fri-Mon
After welcoming a whopping 46,000 visitors over three days in 2014, Scotland's biggest homes and interiors show this year runs from Friday right though to Bank Holiday Monday. As ever, the focus is on DIY, decorating, fashion and food - as well as gardening, technology, and shopping. Celebrity guests include Masterchef's Gregg Wallace (manning the show's restaurant), with John Amabile, George Clarke, Diarmuid Gavin and Amanda Lamb popping up as part of a rolling programme of live seminars. Tickets are £12-£15 (under 16s free). www.idealhomeshowscotland.co.uk
2 Hidden Door Festival
Edinburgh, from tomorrow
This highly intriguing grassroots multi-arts festival returns with nine days of music, visual art, cinema and theatre set around the courtyard of Edinburgh Council's former street lighting depot - premises so extensive you'll wonder why you never noticed them before. Open daily until from noon, there's a huge amount to explore as you wander between exhibits, performances and screenings from the likes of award-winning artist Toby Paterson, Scottish music heroes Admiral Fallow and Errors, and the Edinburgh Short Film Festival. Free before 6pm, evening tickets are £8-£14. hiddendoor.org
3 Traquair's Medieval Fayre
Traquair House, Innerleithen, Sat-Sun
Scotland's oldest inhabited house hosts brings the middle ages to life with this weekend of historical attractions including jousting, archery, medieval market traders, and wandering minstrels. Younger visitors can also try catapult firing, hobby horse jousting, and helmet and sword-making workshops. Tying in with the 300th anniversary of the 1715 Jacobite uprising, there will also be an 18th century encampment and combat demonstrations, highlighting developments in martial techniques. Tickets are £10-£12. www.traquair.co.uk
4 Scotland's Big Nature Festival
Levenhall Links, Musselburgh, Sat-Sun
Two days of family outdoor fun at this RSPB Scotland-organised event at one of Scotland's top bird-watching sites. Along with more than 100 exhibitors, plus special events and guided walks celebrating birds, animals and wild places, there are talks from Bill Oddie and Landward presenter Euan McIlwraith, and activities including bushcrafts, pond-dipping, and storytelling. There's also a Scottish farmers' market, plenty of seasonal food and drink, and a rolling roster of live folk music acts. Tickets are £10-£12. scottishbirdfair.org.uk
5 Bookbug Week
Across Scotland, until Sun
There's still time to catch the end of this week of free events encouraging mums, dads and carers to share books with babies and young children. This year's theme is Bookbug's Bedtime Story, and there are hundreds of teddy bear sleepovers, book readings and song and rhyme sessions to catch in local libraries and community centres. Look out for an exclusive event with author Chae Strathie, streaming live to schools, nurseries and homes at 11am this morning, which if you miss, will be available on demand later from the Scottish Book Trust website. www.scottishbooktrust.com
6 Knockengorroch World Ceilidh
Near Carsphairn, Dumfries and Galloway, Thu-Sun
One of Scotland's longest running outdoor music festivals, Knockengorroch takes place in a remote valley 10 miles from civilisation in the Southern Uplands. Something of a musical melting pot, this year's line-up's boasts Mercury Prize-winning alternative hip hop trio Young Fathers, along with a host of dance, electronic and roots acts. A friendly atmosphere ensures festival-goers of all ages will feel welcome, while there's also loads of entertainment for kids including creative workshops, storytelling, and mini-beast hunts. Weekend tickets are available from £100, (11-16s half price, under 11s free). www.knockengorroch.org.uk
7 Mhor Festival
Monachyle Mhor Farm, Balquhidder, Sat-Sun
Taking place on the northern fringes of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, this intimate family-friendly festival is the latest Year of Food and Drink event to catch the eye as summer approaches. Alongside a folk, blues and soul-flavoured musical lineup, there's a local produce market, fancy take-away food and specialist bars for thirsty grown-ups. Elsewhere there are baking and rafting competitions, plus workshops and fun activities for children. Tickets £5, (£10 camping, under 14s free), some additional events ticketed. mhor.net/nbsp/mhor-festival-2015
8 The Queen's Feast
Stirling Castle, Sat-Sun
More Scottish history, this time focusing on Mary of Guise, the French noblewoman who ruled as regent until her daughter Mary Queen of Scots came of age. Marking 500 years since her birth, this event pitches visitors into the busy world of Mary's royal court as she dines with a company of lords and ladies. While there, you can discover the rules of sixteenth century etiquette, eavesdrop on conversations, meet the cooks preparing the feast, and be entertained by musicians, dancers and jesters. Open from noon to 4pm, entry to the castle is £8.70-£14.50. www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
9 Lee Miller and Picasso
Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh, from Sat
An early taste of this year's Edinburgh Art Festival, this new exhibition focuses on the 35-year friendship and collaboration between painter Pablo Picasso, photographer Lee Miller and modern art promoter Roland Penrose - Picasso's biographer and Miller's husband. Between the late 1930s and early 1970s, she photographed the Spanish artist over 1000 times - around 100 of these images are featured - while he painted six portraits of her, one of which is also on display here. Open daily until September 6, entry is £7-£9. www.nationalgalleries.org
10 Spring Fling
Dumfries and Galloway, Sat-Mon
This weekend, art lovers also have the chance to peek behind the scenes at the workshops of over 100 visual artists and makers across the south west. Now in its 13th year, Spring Fling is the largest visual art and craft open studios event in Scotland, and features everything from paintings, photography and prints to ceramics, jewellery, sculpture and textiles. To help visitors get around, there are a number of bus and cycling tours visiting different parts of the region, as well as a specially-kitted out black cab 'cafe' touring participating venues. www.spring-fling.co.uk
Don't Miss
Fabulous 50s
National Museum of Rural Life,
East Kilbride, Sunday
Jump back six decades for a day of events inspired by the 1950s. Check out a range of vintage vehicles, glam up in a retro hair salon, learn rock'n'roll dancing and enjoy family crafts. Entry is £4.50-£8 (under 5s free). www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-rural-life
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