Bannockburn Visitor Centre
Bannockburn, Saturday
The long-awaited new £9million National Trust for Scotland-Historic Scotland visitor attraction near Stirling opens this weekend ahead of the 700th anniversary of The Battle of Bannockburn in June. Promising to provide a world-class showcase for the historic battle, the main draw is a 3D Battle Game allowing visitors to experience medieval combat, witness the Scottish and English armies preparing for battle, and interact with life-size recreations of key characters including Robert the Bruce and Edward II of England. Advance booking is a must, with adult tickets £11 and children £8. battleofbannockburn.com
Dundee Women's Festival
Dundee, from Saturday
Three weeks of film, performance, workshops, activities, and exhibitions, underway from Saturday. Coinciding with International Women's Day on March 8, there's a serious side to the programme - there are a number of events commemorating pioneering Dundee social reformer Mary Lily Walker for instance - but there's also an emphasis on fun and relaxation. Look out for comedy with Janey Godley, a series of international cookery classes, reiki and tai-chi taster sessions, and the chance to explore the city on foot on one of a number of guided walks. www.d-v-a.org.uk
Inter Varsity Folk Dance Festival
Edinburgh University, Friday to Sunday
It's apparently the UK's longest running folk festival, held at a different university every year since 1951. This year it's the turn of the capital to host three days of ceilidh dancing, music sessions, concerts, and workshops covering dance styles as varied as Scottish Country, Highland, Morris, Rapper Sword, Irish, and Playford. While aimed primarily at students, it's open to anyone with an interest folk culture, music and dancing. Weekend passes are £19-£29, with individual day tickets also available priced £6-£10. www.ivfdf2014.org.uk
The 13th Hina Matsuri 2014
Kibble Palace, Glasgow, Saturday
Welcome the spring with this afternoon of events celebrating Japanese heritage at the Kibble Palace in Glasgow's Botanic Gardens on Saturday from 1pm. Matsuri is the Japanese word for festival, and the day comprises an inclusive, community-friendly programme of performances and activities inspired by the nation's culture. Visitors will have the chance to learn about and experience origami, calligraphy, and kimono wearing, as well as sample Japanese sweets and enjoy Taiko drumming performances from local children and adults from 2.30pm. Best of all, entry is free. www.japanese-matsuri-glasgow.org.uk
Meadows Marathon
The Meadows, Edinburgh, Sunday
Blow away the cobwebs at this charity running event organised by students from Edinburgh University. Now in its eighth year, it's open to anyone capable of finishing 5K, half or full marathon distances in laps of the Meadows, south of the city's Old Town. With everything concentrated in one place, runners are never far away from the next water station and spectators are always close to the action. Online registration is closed, but there are still slots available if you fancy signing up on the day (£10-£40). www.meadowsmarathon.org.uk
Glasgow Dirty Weekender
Various venues, Friday and Saturday
An early start to the music festival season with this grassroots rock and indie effort in Glasgow over the weekend. Taking place in five noted rock establishments within a few streets of Central Station - Pivo Pivo, Ivory Blacks, The Admiral, Stereo and the Classic Grand - Britpop slanted headline acts Mark Morris (Bluetones) and Mark Gardiner (Ride) appear alongside local outfits such as Bombskare, Urang Mutang, and Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5. Weekend tickets will set you back £20, with day passes costing £13. www.killieweekender.com/glasgow-2014
Aberdeen Asset Management Universities' Boat Race
River Dee, Aberdeen, Saturday
Billed as the Scottish equivalent of the famous Oxford-Cambridge boat race, this will be the 19th annual contest between rowing teams from Robert Gordon and Aberdeen Universities. There will be plenty of room for spectators at several points along the 3.5km route from Bridge of Dee to the Aberdeen Boat Club, with some of the best views at the Queen Elizabeth II and Wellington bridges. The action starts at 11.35am, with second crew, alumni, and media races set to embark before the main event at 1.45pm. www.facebook.com/AAMBoatRace
Brewdog present Beer Geek Brunch
SWG3, Glasgow, Saturday
The cult Scottish craft beer company hosts a day of malt and hops-fuelled-events, food, and live music in Glasgow's SWG3. From noon to 6pm, there will be the chance to try beers from around the world matched to street food, plus talks with experts from a number of independent UK brewers. From 6pm to 2am, there will music from Miaoux Miaoux, Prides, The Shivering Sheiks, The New Piccadilly's and the NYC Brass Band. Including drink tokens, tickets are £10-£20. http://t-s.co/brewd
Resolution Run
Sunday, Cramond Foreshore, Edinburgh, Sunday
Run, jog or even walk for fun along an accommodatingly flat course at Cramond promenade in Edinburgh in aid of the Stroke Association. There's the option of 5k and 10k distances, and you can register on the day for £15. It's the first in a series of similar events being held in Scotland over the coming weeks - the next is in Glasgow's Bellahouston Park a week on Sunday, with additional Resolution Runs scheduled in Dundee, Kirkcaldy and Aberdeen right up to mid-April. www.stroke.org.uk/resolution
OffKiltr Street Feastival
Gordon Street, Glasgow, Thursday to Sunday
So, dancing, rowing and running for charity in the East; music, drinking and eating in the West. It's either a direct manifestation of the Nietzschean dichotomy at the heart of the Caledonian psyche or a pretentiously extrapolated coincidence based on something I'm only pretending to understand to seem cool. Regardless, this pop-up food-and-drink festival further burnishes Glasgow's good-time credentials. It's not really meant for kids, but grown-ups can sample posh hot dogs and smoked meat, washed down with a variety of fancy quaffables whilst grooving to a funky soundtrack from a roster of top DJs. www.kiltr.com/streetfeastival
Don't Miss
Kid's Club Comedy
The Stand, Glasgow, Sunday
An afternoon of stand-up in a grown-up comedy club featuring material devised especially for an 8-12 year old audience. On the bill this month are Phil Ellis and Ashley Storrie. Starting at 3pm, tickets for the show are £4.
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