1 Southside Fringe
Various venues, Glasgow, from Friday
Almost 50 south side venues are set to host a packed programme of more than 150 arts, music, theatre, comedy, cabaret, heritage, dance, and literary events until May 28. Kicking off this weekend, highlights include the launch of an exhibition of work from south side artists at House for an Art Lover on Friday. Then, back for its second year, Art on the Park on Saturday will be showcasing previews of acts visitors can enjoy during the festival, as Dundee’s Joan Clevillé Dance company performs its new work, The North at the Tramway.
Visit southsidefringe.com for more information.

2 FestivALE
Summerhall, Edinburgh, today until Saturday
The beer, spirits and street food festival is back, this time showcasing limited edition beers along with some interesting cocktail concoctions, plus handmade gin. The street food will show off the best of all things local, while ExperimentALE, a series of live science experiments, explores the senses through beer. Music for the event will be provided by acoustic musician Jim Harbourne, with the party getting on into the small hours with DJ Joe Malik.
Over-18s only. Visit summerhall.co.uk for more details.

3 Jimmy Carr: The Best of Tour
Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline, Saturday
After 15 years on the stand-up scene and nine sell-out tours playing nearly 2,000 shows across four continents, Jimmy Carr has been putting that experience to good use, gathering his best jokes along with new material for this UK-wide tour, where audiences can see all his career highlights in one show.
Over-16s only. Tickets £27.50, plus booking fee. Visit alhambradunfermline.com for more details.

4 Descent
Universal Hall, Findhorn, Saturday
A gritty play about a family’s struggle to cope with illness, Descent follows Rob and Cathy who, in their 50s, are looking forward to reclaiming their lives now their daughter Nicola has flown the nest. Looming over them, however, is a threat that could rip the three of them apart. As they desperately try to hold on to each other in the face of early-onset dementia, Descent does not shy away from the despair and heartbreak which inevitably ensue, though it does celebrate the courage, hope and humanity all three bring to the fight against what is an increasingly topical disease.
Tickets £10, plus booking fee. See universalhall.co.uk.

5 Clyde and Avon Valley Festival
Various locations, until Sunday
Tying in with Scotland’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, the festival has offered 38 events over nine days. Ending this weekend, there’s still time to discover what secrets are tucked away in the Clyde and Avon Valley. From Hamilton to New Lanark and Strathaven, events include talks, children’s activities, musical performances and photography walks. A designated Area of Great Landscape Value, the valley is renowned for its beauty, ancient gorge woodlands, crumbling castles and old estates.
Visit clydeandavonvalley.org/festival to find out more.
6 Seriously Dead
Motherwell Concert Hall and Theatre, Saturday
Starring Benidorm’s Crissy Rock and Emmerdale and Doctor Who’s Frazer Hines, this new comedy tells how extraordinary events shake up a quiet town, bringing together the lives of Betty, Albert, Billy and a local undertaker in an uncomfortable twist after Albert returns to his hometown having been in hiding. After committing a bank robbery a decade earlier, he’s back to claim his share of the cash – with hilarious results.
Tickets £21. Visit culturenl.co.uk to find out more.

7 Buddy Holly & The Cricketers
Arts Centre & Theatre Aberdeen, Saturday
Just weeks after The Buddy Holly Story tour stopped off in Scotland, this band is now hitting Aberdeen having been on the tribute trail since 1992. Celebrating the greatest hits from the American singer-songwriter, the show presents more than 20 songs from the young man with the iconic glasses whose career was cut short, but still changed rock and roll forever.
Tickets cost £18. Visit act-aberdeen.org.uk to book.

8 The Scottish Street Food Awards
The Pitt, Edinburgh, Friday to Sunday
With the culture and popularity of street food continuing to make more noise in the UK with each passing year, the British Street Food Awards were established in 2009 to shake off the “snobbery” that dictated good food could only be had in a stuffy restaurant. Having attracted Scottish entrants in the past, the current dynamism of the scene in Edinburgh and Glasgow has inspired the launch of a separate competition for Scotland. Open to the public to taste, feast and vote, the event will give vendors the chance to represent Scotland at the UK national awards in September, plus a possible place in the British team at the inaugural European Street Food Awards in Berlin.
Tickets cost £3, plus booking fee. Children go free. Visit britishstreetfood.co.uk for more information.

9 FifeSing
Falkland Community Hall, Friday to Sunday
Many of the finest traditional singers in the country gather in May each year for the Fife Traditional Singing Festival in a weekend of concerts and workshops held near Collessie in the Kingdom. This year’s line-up includes singer and concertina player Will Duke from Sussex, Janice Clark from Aberdeen, bothy ballad singer Scott Gardiner from Forfar and Michael McGonigle, one of the finest of traditional singers, representing the living song traditions of Inishowen in Donegal.
Tickets start at £8. Visit springthyme.co.uk/fifesing to book.

10 VAMOS!
Perth Racecourse, Friday to Sunday
A weekend of live American music will see everything from rock and roll, country, jazz, blues and soul to rockabilly and bluegrass bring the Perth Racecourse to life. Featuring music from the 1950s through to the 80s, among the acts taking to the stage are James Carothers and His Significant Others, Border Radio, John Verity Band, Johnny Lee Memphis as Elvis Presley, former New Seeker Eve Graham.
Ticket prices start from £25 with weekend passes costing £80. Visit perth-races.co.uk for more information.