1 Spectacular Jousting
Linlithgow Palace, Sat-Sun
Step back to the Middle Ages for the return of Linlithgow Palace's annual medieval jousting tournament, featuring battling displays of technique, horsemanship and skill from a host of armour-clad knights on horseback. The two-day event will also include demonstrations of foot combat and falconry, along with historical costumed performers and a jester to keep the crowds entertained. For younger visitors, there's hobby-horse jousting plus arts and craft activities. Running both days from 12.30pm-4.30pm, tickets are £7.20-£12 (under fives free), with a 10% online discount. www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/jousting
2 Scottish Traditional Boat Festival
Portsoy, Moray, Sat-Sun
This long-running fixture of the summer events calendar brings a flotilla of traditional and modern boats to the Moray Firth coast to celebrate the maritime and rural heritage of the North East. Taking place in Portsoy's historic harbour, festival-goers will have the chance to try traditional maritime skills, watch regatta races and enjoy local crafts and artists. To mark Scotland's Year of Food and Drink, the festival will also be celebrating local suppliers and seasonal produce with a series of cookery demonstrations. Entry to the festival site is £9 (£5 kids). www.stbfportsoy.com
3 Sma' Shot Day
Abbey Close, Paisley, Sat
Paisley's annual community fair has its roots in a hard-fought industrial dispute won by the town's weavers over textile bosses in the 19th century. The day starts with a noon parade from Brodie Park to Abbey Close, where there will be stalls, a food market, live performances, and giant games. Residents and visitors can also visit the historic Sma' Shot Cottages in Shuttle Street between noon and 4pm, before witnessing the Burning of the Cork, the day's traditional effigy-torching climax at 5pm. This year, there's also a free programme of evening events at Paisley Arts Centre. www.renfrewshire.gov.uk
4 Glasgow Garden Wildlife Festival
Across Glasgow, to July 31
Discover more about urban wildlife with this programme of 70 events summer organised by RSPB Scotland to showcase Glasgow's green spaces. Running for the whole of July, there's a huge amount going on, from canoe trips, art workshops and wildlife walks to minibeast workshops, bushcraft activities and foraging - and accompanied children are welcome at all events. This weekend you can sign up for den building at Pollok Park, take part in a Flowers, Food and Folklore session at Castlemilk Park, or attend a two day Mini Garden Festival at Kelvingrove Museum. www.glasgowgardenfestival.org
5 Scottish Game Fair
Scone Palace, near Perth, Fri-Sun
One of Scotland's largest outdoor lifestyle events returns for a 27th year with the promise of another three days celebrating the best of rural life, country sports and local food and drink. Along with around 300 stands, there's a craft fair, a food hall, and a cookery theatre, along with a range of animal entertainment, a children's area, and have-a-go activities involving vintage vehicles, shooting, 4x4 driving, and fishing. Entry on the gate is £19 (children £5, under fives free). Visitors can also pay a bit extra for access to Scone Palace itself. www.scottishfair.com
6 Tarbert Seafood Festival
Tarbert, Argyll and Bute, Sat-Sun
If seafood's more your thing, you'll find an entire quayside of it beside Loch Fyne this weekend, celebrating the summer with two days of local produce, tastings and cookery demos. Be sure to arrive by 1pm on Saturday to catch the crowing of the 2015 Seafood Festival Queen - after she arrives at the harbour by boat, there's a huge costumed float parade through the village. If you're staying for the weekend, Sunday is set aside for laid back live music and family attractions. www.tarbertfestivals.co.uk
7 Music Mayhem: Science of Sound
Dundee Science Centre, to Oct 25
Embark on a voyage of sonic discovery at this new interactive music-making exhibition for families, where visitors can get creative and experiment with a range of oddball installations and giant versions of instruments to find out what sound is and how we hear. Devised by Germany's MobilesMusikMuseum, the exhibition comes accompanied by a series of drop-in activities, talks, and demonstrations, plus daily shows where children can join in, have fun and generally make a racket. Entry to the centre is £7.25 (£5.25 children). dundeesciencecentre.org.uk
8 Glasgow Comic Con
CCA, Glasgow, Sat-Sun
Scotland's only festival focusing on the writers and artists behind comics and graphic novels returns for a fifth year. Featuring talks, panels, signings, retailers and cosplay, guests include the internationally acclaimed likes of Mark Millar, Cameron Stewart, and David Lloyd, alongside up and coming creators such as Asia Alfasi, Colin Bell and Gary Chudleigh. Based at the CCA, there are also events at The Art School union and the Renfield Centre. Festival wristbands are £15-£20. Look out for an expanded programme of screenings and special events, and an accompanying exhibition at Glasgow Print Studio. gccon.wordpress.com
9 Kelburn Garden Party
Kelburn Castle, near Largs, Fri-Sun
With a list of attractions as free-wheeling as Kelburn's famous psychedelic mural walls, this independent music and arts festival is a perfect choice for those looking to carry over the post-Glastonbury vibe into July. Along with a impressive variety of underground Scottish musical talent, plus comedy, film, and storytelling, festival-goers can discover a myriad of cultural surprises crammed into every nook and cranny of the site, including something organisers call the Neverending Glen Art Trail - an outdoor walk peppered with art installations, workshops, and pop-up performances. Weekend tickets are £99 (kids £20). kelburngardenparty.com
10 Speedfest
Grampian Transport Museum, Alford, Sun
Billed as the North East's premier motor show, this Sunday petrol-fest brings a fleet of high spec, classic and vintage vehicles to the Alford motor museum, 25 miles west of Aberdeen. Along with an exclusive supercar pursuit event, entertainment includes drag racing, karting, mini racing bikes, rally driving, trade stands, an aerobatics display, and an exhibition paddock. Tickets are £10 (children £5), which also gets you into the exhibits and displays of the museum itself, spanning the 19th century to the present day. www.alfordspeedfest.co.uk
Don't Miss
City of Edinburgh Running Festival
Meggetland, Edinburgh, Friday
More than 20 events over one evening for male and female runners at youth, junior and open categories, including the Sandy Jardine Memorial Football v Rugby 300m race. The twist? There's a carefully calibrated handicap system in place to ensure that - theoretically - anyone can win. Spectators £5 (£2 children). www.cerf.org.uk
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