Scottish Golf Show
Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh, Friday to Sunday
Tee off for 2014 golf season at this three-day consumer show, the largest event of its kind in the UK. Among a host of top attractions for enthusiasts of all ages and ability levels is a huge retail zone, where visitors can shop for big name brands at discounted prices. There are also free professional lessons and demonstrations, competitions, the largest indoor driving range in Scotland, and the chance to get up close to some of the sport's most famous trophies. Entry costs £16. www.thescottishgolfshow.co.uk
Hidden Door Arts Festival
Edinburgh, from tomorrow
If the sound of catching top names from the Scottish arts scene doing their thing in truly unique pop-up surroundings, this nine-day multi-arts festival could be for you. Offering a one-of-a-kind chance to see 70 live bands, works by 40 artists, and a range of theatre, film and spoken work performances, Hidden Door takes place in a set of 24 abandoned vaults in Edinburgh's East Market Street, soon to be demolished as part of the proposed Caltongate development. Tickets and more information at http://hiddendoorblog.org
Ice Hockey World U18s Championships
Dumfries Ice Bowl, Tonight, Saturday and Sunday
If the Sochi Winter Olympics piqued your interest, it just so happens that one of the most prestigious competitions in international ice hockey is taking place in Dumfries this week. Granted, it's the competition's fourth tier, but a promotion is at stake for the winners of the six-team tournament, so there's plenty of incentive to get along and get behind Team GB. After narrow defeats to the Netherlands and South Korea, the home side have a chance to turn things around in forthcoming matches against Romania, Croatia, and Lithuania. Tickets are £4.95-£10.95. www.ticketweb.co.uk
Spring Holi Day
Vogrie Country Park, Saturday
A highly colourful, inclusive interfaith celebration of spring in the lush surroundings of Vogrie County Park near Gorebridge in Midlothian. Organised and hosted by Edinburgh's Nepalese Community, there's live music, traditional dance and children's activities - but what really makes it stand out is the day's highlight - a fun and riotously messy powder paint fight that has to be seen and experienced to be fully appreciated. On from 12.30pm to 4pm, entry is free with parking £1. www.facebook.com/Spring.Holi.Day
Puppet Animation Festival
Across Scotland, from Saturday
Set up in 1984, Puppet Animation Festival is the UK's longest running annual performing arts festival for children. This year's three-week programme brings over 150 events for little ones to venues across the country, including spellbinding puppetry, family-friendly film screenings, and interactive workshops, with the focus on reimagined versions of classic childhood tales. There are performances in smaller community venues from Saturday, but look out for a six-day residency at Edinburgh Festival Theatre's new Studio next month, where there will be a 30th birthday party and performance of Shona Reppe's award-winning production of Cinderella. www.puppetanimationfestival.org
Scotland's Best Outdoors
AECC, Aberdeen, Saturday and Sunday
This huge exhibition celebrating the great outdoors returns to Aberdeen for a second year this weekend. Pitched at walkers, bikers, surfers, skiers, campers, and everyone else looking to get out and enjoy Scotland, the event has a mix of hands-on activities, guest speakers and stands from a range of outdoor lifestyle companies. Activities include pony rides, lasertag, archery, skateboarding and bmx coaching, Segway scooters, and a climbing wall, while newly added show-within-a-show Wheels 2014 has the latest cars, motorbikes, all-terrain vehicles, cycles, and accessories. Tickets are £4-10 from http://scotlandsbestoutdoors.com
Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society Spring Show
Royal Botantic Garden, Edinburgh, Saturday and Sunday
This winter-banishing open flower show is held at the end of March every year, offering an explosion of stunning spring flower displays and floral art. Taking place in the Fletcher Building beside the Glasshouses from noon on both days, items being showcased include daffodils, spring bulbs, alpine plants, and cacti. There's also a children's section, with the efforts of green-fingered youngsters entered in an Eco-Schools daffodil competition on display in the John Hope Gateway. Admission to the main show is £2. www.rchs.co.uk/shows/spring-show
Duthie Park Rangers Food and Wellbeing Weekend
Satrosphere, Aberdeen, Saturday and Sunday
Aberdeen's science centre is hosting a series of drop-in workshops with Rangers from the city's Duthie Park this weekend. Suitable for the whole family, sessions include a guided bush-tucker themed bug-hunt, as well as recycling and bioecomony-based fact-finding challenges. Tying in with Satrosphere's exclusive Mission Possible exhibition - which runs until April 30 and explores sustainability and the local environment - participation is included in admission to the centre (£4.50-£5.75). www.satrosphere.net
Junk Trunk
Marryat Hall, Dundee, Saturday
Help your little ones to get in tune with their inner Keith Moon at this fun and funky interactive show hosted by Owen Gunnell and Oliver Cox of educational music project Children's Classic Concerts. The pair will be demonstrating how to turn ordinary household objects - from pots and pans, to bins, buckets and hosepipes - into musical instruments, with a rousing catalogue of top tunes to match. If your eardrums are up to it, tickets are £5, with the show also coming to MacRobert Arts Centre in Stirling next month. http://childrensclassicconcerts.co.uk
2014 Scottish Boxing Finals
Emirates Arena, Glasgow, tomorrow
Another important sporting showcase - this time in the venue that will be used for the Commonwealth Games. It's billed as the biggest boxing event ever to be held in Scotland, and fight fans can look forward to 13 bouts across several weight categories with some of the country's finest male and female competitors. With the winners going forward to represent Scotland in July, it's also a great chance to get an early taste of the sport. Tickets for the event are available from £15, with more information at www.boxingscotland.org
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