Scottish Air Show
Low Green, Ayr, Sat
With organisers stressing that all stunt manoeuvres are to take place over the sea, the Scottish Air Show returns to the skies as planned this weekend. Featuring the Red Arrows for the first time since 1992 and a final appearance from Britain’s last remaining Vulcan jet before its retirement, the free event also includes market stalls, simulators and a display of classic cars and motorcycles. On Sunday, there’s also a static aircraft exhibition event at Prestwick Airport, open from 10am to 5pm and costing £15 for one adult plus two free children. www.scottishairshow.com
Dundee Flower and Food Festival
Camperdown Park, Dundee, Fri-Sun
One of Scotland's top lifestyle events, offering three days food, gardening and entertainment, plus a range of attractions including cookery and gardening demonstrations, children's activities, a craft fair and live music. Along with dazzling displays of floral art and prize-worthy produce, visitors can explore a showground, and a Kitchen Garden Roadshow, while special guests include Masterchef’s Gregg Wallace, TV chef Tony Singh, Scottish folk veteran Dougie Maclean, and green-fingered CBeebies character Mr Bloom. Open from 10am to 5.30pm each day, entry is £11-£12, with accompanied children under 16 free. www.dundeeflowerandfoodfestival.com
Carve Carrbridge
Carrbridge Playing Field, Highlands, Saturday
If there were a prize for the week’s most unusual day out, it would surely go to this rugged annual festival held in the Highland village of Carrbridge, known formally as the Scottish Open Chainsaw Carving Championship. Bringing together 24 top chainsaw-toting exponents of the little-known sport from across the UK, Europe and North America, participants undertake an intense race against time to turn huge logs into a carved artworks. Action starts at 10am, with additional attractions including stalls and have-a-go activities for families. Entry is £5 (£2 kids, under-fives free) www.carvecarrbridge.com
Craft Beer Rising
Drygate, Glasgow, Fri-Sat
The never-more-trendy combination of craft beer and street food, centre stage at Glasgow’s experimental brewing hub for a second year. Those attending the two-day festival can taste, test and talk to some of the faces behind 150 local and international beers, including William Bros, Innis & Gunn, and West, whilst being entertained by top DJs and live bands. Courtesy of a tie-in with the Year of Food and Drink initiative, much of the food served is sustainable, seasonal and Scottish. Tickets for each of three sessions - Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening are £12. craftbeerrising.co.uk
Braemar Highland Gathering
The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park, Braemar, Sat
Featuring a time-honoured mix of heavy and track events, competitive piping and dancing, and the oldest footraces in the world - dating from 1832 - this late-season games meeting derives plentiful kudos from a geographical proximity to Balmoral and the regular patronage of its regal owner. Making things extra special this year will be a massed pipe band procession through the village to the games arena celebrating the event’s 200th anniversary. Open from 9.30am, tickets are available on the gate for £12 (under 14s £2). www.braemargathering.org
Concours of Elegance
Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, Fri-Sun
Can’t make it north? How about the chance to gawp at some of the world’s rarest classic cars parked up on the royal driveway instead? First staged at Windsor Castle as part of the 2012 Diamond Jubilee celebrations and held subsequently at St James’s Palace and Hampton Court, this high class motoring show comes to the monarch's official Scottish residence for the first time. Exhibits are set to include a 1912 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, a Bugatti Type 23 from 1923, and a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO. Tickets £25-£35 (under 17s £10, Palace admission included). http://concoursofelegance.co.uk
Aberdeen Art Fair
Music Hall, Aberdeen, Fri-Sun
Discover, browse and buy original paintings, prints, sculpture and photography from familiar names and fresh talent from across Scotland and the UK. With prices ranging from £50 to £10,000 there should be something on show to suit every taste and budget, along with a cafe and a free arts creche for kids. A limited number of two-for-one tickets to Friday’s adults-only preview night are still available for £14, with the main event open to the general public all day on Saturday and Sunday for £3 (under 16s free). www.aberdeenartfair.co.uk
Pedal for Scotland
Glasgow Green, Sun
There’s also still time to sign up for Scotland’s biggest bike ride, a classic challenge covering the 50 miles from Glasgow Green to Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium along quiet back roads and cycle paths. For the more experienced, there’s also a testing 110 mile sportive option, dubbed The Big Belter. To prove that you’re never too young to startt, there are also three family-friendly Wee Jaunt events, the first in Glasgow city centre on Saturday, with the other two in and around Edinburgh on race day itself (£5-£8). Registration for the main races is £19-£45 pedalforscotland.org
National Museum of Rural Life Country Fair
Kittochside, East Kilbride, Sun
Celebrate Scotland’s rich agricultural heritage at this annual fair day packed with traditional crafts and country skills including dog trials, ferret racing, and a sheep show. Home to a working 1950s-era farm and dairy, the attraction also promises a more nostalgic taste of rural life with a food marquee showcasing produce from a range of Scottish suppliers, plus talks and demonstrations from experts, and cake decorating workshops from the Scottish Women’s Institute. Open from 10am to 5pm, tickets are £4.50-£8, also including museum entry. www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-rural-life
Doors Open Days
Across Scotland
Running every weekend in September, Scotland’s largest free annual architectural event involves hundreds of normally inaccessible buildings opening their doors to the public free of charge. Encompassing an incredible variety of the nation’s best loved properties, the programme features everything from ancient castles to cutting-edge contemporary structures, green spaces and grand Victorian hotels - along with a supporting series of talks, tours and special events. Organised by region, the immediate focus is on Angus, Ayrshire, Renfrewshire and Inverness; Aberdeen and Glasgow follow next weekend, with Dundee and Edinburgh later in the month. www.doorsopendays.org.uk
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