1 Glasgow Film Festival
Various venues, until Feb 28
Glasgow rolls out the red carpet on another entertaining fortnight of international and homegrown cinema. In between opening and closing galas from the Coen Brothers (Hail, Caesar!) and Charlie Kaufman (Anomalisa) are premieres of some of the year’s hottest movies, as well as headline-grabbing classic screenings in venues such as Kelvingrove Museum and the Barrowlands. This year’s programme also spans the best new horror and cult films, along with special events and talks. http://visitgff.glasgowfilm.org
2 Fossil Hunters
National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh from Fri
A fascinating look back at the epoch before dinosaurs roamed the earth, this free exhibition brings together rare specimens from a ground-breaking trove of fossils from 360-345 million years ago, uncovered recently in the Scottish Borders. Including the remains of ancient fish, plants, and four-legged land vertebrates called tetrapods, the findings are revolutionising understanding of how life made the leap from water on to land. Open daily until mid-August, there’s also plenty of absorbing detail on the intrepid scientists behind the discoveries and the techniques they used. www.nms.ac.uk
3 Fort William Mountain Festival
Fort William & Lochaber, to Sun
Perfect for winter sports fanatics and armchair action fans alike, this annual weekend of events celebrating climbing, walking, biking and skiing makes a return to the doorstep of Scotland’s highest mountain. Featuring talks from top adventurers and screenings of the best new outdoor and extreme sports films, the weekend also features presentations, workshops, and art exhibitions, plus a selection of renowned authors sharing tales from their latest adventures. Festival passes are £40, with individual events from £12.50 (£3 children). www.mountainfestival.co.uk
4 National Nest Box Week
Around Scotland, until Sun
Contribute to conservation and attract wildlife to your garden by taking part in this annual project encouraging people to put up nesting boxes for birds. Taking part involves registering for a free information pack online, making or buying a nest box and putting it up, then reporting back what you see to organisers at the British Trust for Ornithology. For something more structured, visitors to Kelvingrove Museum can make their own nest box as part of a drop-in on Sunday afternoon costing £6.50-£8. www.bto.org/about-birds/nnbw
5 Scottish Puddle Jumping Championships
WWT Caerlaverock, until Sun
Pull on some wellies, get out into the fresh air, and make a splash in this special competition at the Caerlaverock Wetland Centre near Dumfries. There are daily prizes for the biggest and wettest jumps, with regional and national winners from contests at nine Wildfowl and Wetland Trust centres around the UK named at the end of the holidays. Running daily from 10am to 1pm until Sunday, the event is suitable for all ages and is free with admission to the reserve (£4-£8.20). www.wwt.org.uk/bigsplash
6 Snowflake Run Series
Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, Sun
There’s still time to sign up for the showpiece event of a new Cancer Research UK charity challenge setting out to inspire people to keep active through the winter. Pitched at participants of all fitness and stamina levels, the 10K event ups interest levels by funnelling runners through simulated snow zones - which may or may not be discernible given the current cold snap. With £19.99 online registration until 10am on Friday, cash-only entries are also accepted on the day. www.snowflakeseries.winterrunseries.co.uk
7 Around The World with the Black Watch
The Black Watch Museum, Perth
A chance to mix history with creativity this half term with a series of drop-in craft workshops inspired by the travels of the Black Watch regiment over the past 300 years. In the coming days, visitors are invited to have a go at making Indian peacocks, Egyptian sphinx headdresses, Italian-inspired mosaics, and mythical creatures from Burma called chinthes. Running daily from 1pm to 4pm, entry is by a suggested £2 donation, with adults free with an accompanying child. www.theblackwatch.co.uk
8 Snowdrops & Stars
Scottish Dark Sky Observatory, Dalmellington, Sun
A first time addition to this year’s Scottish Snowdrop Festival, this new event invites visitors to explore historic Craigengillan Estate, the East Ayrshire home of the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory. Guests will get access to parts of the house and grounds not usually open to the public - currently decked out with drifts of magical snowdrops - before journeying to the Observatory at dusk for an astronomy talk and a peek at the heavens through the building’s powerful telescope. Prices from £3 (children free). www.craigengillan.com
9 VIP Record Fair
Bellahouston Leisure Centre, Glasgow, Sat
Declared to be the biggest record fair in northern Britain, this one-dayer presents analogue-friendly fans of rock, pop, indie, punk and soul with a veritable roadmap to collection-building nirvana. Boasting a range of sellers from across the UK and Europe and a wallet trashing selection of bargains, rarities, deletions and new releases, keen-eyed consumers can also browse and buy from staggering range of CDs, DVDs, and memorabilia. Open from 10am, entry is £3. www.vip-24.com/glasgowbellahouston.htm
10 Granite City Roller Derby Double Header
Aderdeen Beach Leisure Centre, Sat
A free introduction to the tough and fast-paced sport of roller derby, as Aberdeen’s female league begin their British Championship season with a bone-crunching afternoon of action. First up, the Halifax Brusing Banditas take on Blackpool Roller Derby, with Granite City Roller Derby facing off against Durham Roller Derby straight afterwards. For those unfamiliar with the game, there will be a brief explanation of the rules and plenty of friendly fans around to help fill in the details. www.granitecityrollerderby.co.uk
Don’t Miss
Light Fantastic
Paisley Museum, daily except Monday
Interactive displays, natural history specimens and rarely seen equipment from the Coats Observatory collection form the backbone of this illuminating examination of the visible spectrum, from microscopic minerals to the farthest reaches of the cosmos. Until March 28, free. www.renfrewshireleisure.com/light-fantastic
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