1 Dead By Dawn
Filmhouse, Edinburgh, until Sunday
This Edinburgh-based horror film festival has been serving up a trusty mix of international previews, genre classics, and terrifying shorts since 1993. An access-all-areas festival pass is £75, but tickets for individual screenings are also available to those with thinner wallets, less stamina, and more limited time.Meanwhile, insomniac fans are pointed to spin-off strand Spawn of The Dead, which cherry-picks a handful of programme highlights and runs them as an all-night screening starting at midnight on Saturday - an all inclusive ticket will set you back £25. Over 18s only, mind. www.deadbydawn.co.uk
2 Paisley Beer Festival
Paisley Town Hall, until Sunday
Real ale aficionados can lap up 160 different beers from around Scotland and sample some of the finest brews from further afield at Scotland's biggest beer festival. Back for a 28th year and running over the next four days in Paisley's historic town centre, entry is £6, or £4 for CAMRA members. An added bonus is Saturday's food festival outside the Town Hall in Abbey Close, featuring an abundance of market stalls and specialist produce, plus numerous foodie workshops and an appearance from kids' TV favourite Mr Bloom. www.paisleybeerfestival.org.uk
3 China Insight
Burrell Collection, Glasgow, Saturday and Sunday
Focusing on Chinese creative arts such as furniture making, ceramics, textiles, metalwork and jade wear, this intriguing fundraising weekend features a Saturday of talks and tours for Far Eastern art fanatics, followed by an Antiques Roadshow-style valuation Sunday, where collectors can have antiques and artworks appraised by experts. A day ticket for Saturday is £10, with Sunday's valuations starting at £5 for a first item and £1 for subsequent each item. Devised by auction house Lyon and Turnbull, all profits will be donated to Glasgow Museums. http://bit.ly/1aOMwjJ
4 Pedal On Parliament
Edinburgh Old Town, Saturday
Dig that old bike out of the shed, get out in the fresh air and strike a blow for a more cycle-friendly Scotland by joining thousands taking part in this annual mass ride-out to the Scottish Parliament. The 1.5 mile event starts at the Meadows at noon, and winds its way to Holyrood via the Royal Mile, specially closed to cars for the occasion. Organised by the Scottish grassroots cycling advocacy campaign of the same name, Pedal on Parliament last year attracted 4,500 bikers - and pedestrians - of all ages. http://pedalonparliament.org
5 Kelpies Tour
Helix Park, Falkirk, daily
If you haven't already, now could be the time to check out Scotland's newest landmark. Falkirk's two towering horse head sculptures were formally opened a year ago this week, and a 45 minute guided walking tour inside the stunning artworks recently started up for the spring. There are up to 12 slots a day available, with tickets costing £6.95 (£4 children, under 5s free). Of course, if you'd prefer something less formal, access to the surrounding parkland is free, and especially striking for around an hour after sunset, when the sculptures are specially lit up by spectacular LED lights. www.thehelix.co.uk
6 Glasgow Contemporary Art Fair
Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, Friday to Sunday
A new event for art lovers and collectors in Glasgow's elegant Merchant City, showcasing two floors of contemporary paintings, sculpture, photography and prints by established, up and coming and celebrity artists from around Scotland. Friday's Preview Evening has now sold out, but the main fair is open on Saturday from 9.30am to 5.30pm and on Sunday from 10am-5pm, with works on sale ranging from £50 to £10,000. Tickets on the door are £3, with under 16s free. www.gcaf.co.uk
7 Mulberry Bush Montessori Balfron 10K
Balfron High School Campus, Stirlingshire, Sunday
If you missed last week's Great Edinburgh Run - or even if you didn't - this friendly 10K road run in rural Stirlingshire could be just the thing to keep the spring fitness bug alive. With onsite facilities, professional chip timing and water stations, the event is perfect for first-timers, while more serious athletes will find plenty to challenge on a route boasting some cracking views of Ben Lomond and the Campsies. Entry is available online until midnight on Friday costing £16. www.balfron10k.org.uk
8 Harlem Globetrotters
SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Saturday
Elsewhere, the legendary US exhibition basketball team bring their latest family-friendly world tour to the Hydro this weekend. Known as much for their trick shots and comedy showboating as their whistling Sweet Georgia Brown theme tune, the Globetrotters have been entertaining audiences for nearly nine decades. Facing off against the perennially hopeless Washington Generals - on a losing streak to rival Hibernian's Scottish Cup woes - you wouldn't bet on a colourful roster of names such as Big Easy Lofton, Handles Franklin and Hi-Lite Bruton slipping up this time either. Tickets from £16.80. www.harlemglobetrotters.com
9 Northern Streams
Grassmarket Community Project, Edinburgh, Friday and Saturday
Delve into the world of traditional folk culture with this mini-festival celebrating the links between Scotland and Scandinavia, which returns to Edinburgh's Grassmarket Centre for a second year. Mixing one-off concerts with hands-on workshops for adults and children, the festival's two-day programme offers the chance to explore song, dance and storytelling alongside local and visiting performers from Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Individual events from £5.50, with a festival pass costing £30 (£24 concession.)
www.northernstreams.org
10 Sun Over The Botanics
Botanic Gardens, Glasgow, Sunday
An enlightening option for those with an interest in solar science - piqued by the recent eclipse perhaps - this afternoon with the Astronomical Society of Glasgow promises a closer look at the sun's disc in safety. Using special telescopes to filter out 99.999% of emitted light, those attending will be able to view features such as sun spots and eruption-like prominences. Taking place beside the Kibble Palace and including a drop-in beginners telescope workshop, the event runs from 1pm to 4pm. http://theasg.org.uk
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