Dark Room
Different from your normal escape room, in the Dark Room players are immersed in total darkness. Losing out on one of the most important senses when it comes to solving clues – it is the first escape game that those with sight loss can enjoy to the fullest. Players will have to use their other senses in order to complete challenging tasks to light up the exit sign and make their way out of the dark. No tricks, no jump scares – just the dark. Helping a good cause, until the end of 2019, Riddle Rooms are donating £10 from every game to RNIB (a national charity organisation) to help them produce a new talking book for children with visual impairments.
Tickets start from £42 (for two players and are charged on a group basis)
The Riddle Rooms, 35 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 1HW
Freezy Lionel
This event celebrates the life of Glaswegian artist, comedian and barman Jonathan (Jo) MacKenzie, after his death from suicide in October 2018 just a month before his 50th birthday. His daughters suggested that they hold an exhibition of his work. Freezy Lionel is the result. A feast of art, music and comedy, the free four-day event wants to shine a light on male mental health issues, while raising money for SAMH and Brothers in Arms and showcasing Jo’s work from over the years. There are a variety of events on offer over the weekend. On Saturday, there will be guest DJs from 8pm. On Sunday, some of Scotland’s top comedians will perform a great evening of stand up, in celebration of the gift of laughter Jo brought to everyone in his life. On the final day of the exhibition there will be an acoustic jam session, open to anyone who wishes to join in. Jo's daughters Katy and Emma said they want to show everyone how gifted and special their dad was.
Friday 1st November – Tuesday 5th November (closed on Monday)
Free
Barras Art and Design, Moncur Street, Glasgow, G40 2
Illuminight
After welcoming 80,000 visitors over the last two years, Illuminight returns to Dean Castle Country Park in Kilmarnock for the third year. This time round, the theme of space takes centre stage taking audiences on an intergalactic journey. Taking inspiration from the moon landing on its 50th anniversary, audiences will discover alien worlds, the moon and stars and a variety of cosmic surprises. There will be treats on offer throughout the evening including hot drinks, melting marshmallows and street food. After the show, visitors can have a go on an exhilarating funfair ride or try to catch-an-alien at one of the stalls. Whatever age you are, the night promises to be out of this world.
23rd October – 17th November
Tickets from £5.85
Dean Castle Country Park, Dean Road, Kilmarnock, KA3 1XB
Elements
The annual celebration of the most significant designer jewellers and silversmiths returns for its fifth year. The festival will bring together the finest designer-makers for a selling fair and exhibition and is a chance for visitors to see work from 50 of the finest designer makers from across Britain. The items for sale range from jewellery to silverware at a range of prices – including affordable brooches and hand-crafted one-off pieces using precious metals and gemstones. Also at the festival will be an exhibition of the work of 60 silversmiths from the European Silversmithing Forum, HammerClub. To try your hand at crafting, there will be a series of workshops which can be booked online including a sculpt a ring workshop, among others.
8th November to 10th November from 11am-6pm daily
Tickets are £5
Lyon & Turnbull, 33 Broughton Place, Edinburgh New Town, EH1 3RR
Items of Interest 2019
Over the next month at Pollok House in the south side of Glasgow there’s a variety of exhibitions. Uncover the fascinating stories behind the people, paintings and collections at Pollok House. Next week, join them for the Criminal Conversations of Caroline Norton and learn about the story of Caroline Norton, a high society Victorian lady who fought for women’s rights.
8th November at 2pm
Tickets start at £5.50 and can be booked online
Pollok House, Glasgow, G43 1AT
To God and to Nature Exhibition
This month, Dalkeith Country Park welcomes an exhibition featuring the work of fine art photographer Walter, The Earl of Dalkeith. Walter’s work explores the aesthetic beauty that can be found throughout the world, primarily focusing on nature he aims to evoke the underlying emotions that nature brings out within us. This latest series was inspired by George Edwards, who dedicated himself to the creation of works detailing creatures and birds that had never been described or drawn before. Dalkeith’s work will be on display alongside the historic books from George Edwards that inspired his images. Although the exhibition is free, Walter’s work will be on sale with £5 from every sale being donated to CHAS (Children’s Hospices Across Scotland).
5th November 2019 9.30am-6pm
Free
Restoration Yard, Dalkeith Country Park, Dalkeith, EH22 1ST
Cheese Fest
The first and only touring cheese festival makes its way to Edinburgh next week. Celebrating 30 years of Wallace and Gromit, there’s an array of activities, from live music to meeting Wallace and Gromit and, of course, a lot of cheese. There’s a whole host of cheese to try including those described by foodies as the greatest in the world. Have a taste of some of the cheesiest cheeses with the melted raclette or have a try of their top-notch toasties.
9th November 2019 form 10am-6pm
Ticket prices range from £3-£25
Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston. Newbridge, EH28 8NB
Balmoral Winter Land Rover Safari
Join one of Balmoral Estate’s guides as they take you on a fascinating tour of Balmoral Estate through the manicured parkland and gardens in front of the castle and through the estate farm into the old Caledonian Pine forest. As you travel higher up the hillside and the flanks of Lochnagar, one of Scotland’s most famous mountains, the views open out onto the hillside, returning past the various monuments and historical buildings of Easter Balmoral. Learn about the wildlife and the conservation management the Estate is undertaking to help protect some of Scotland's rarest species. Although there are no guarantees, some of the wildlife that can be spotted include red squirrels, red deer and snow bunting.
28th October – 29th November 2019 from 10am
Ticket prices start at £70
Balmoral Estate, Ballater, AB35 5TB
Part Seen, Part Imagined
An exhibition rooted in Japanese tradition and culture, Part Seen, Part Imagined showcases the work of a number of Scottish-based artists and designers who have formed their own relationships with Japan. Their work takes on board Japanese design principles including asymmetry, an exploration of space and a relationship with nature and grounding them in present day aesthetics, materials, techniques and technology.
5th November to 10th November from 11am-4pm
Free
Studio Pavillion at House for an Art Lover, Bellahouston Park, 10 Dumbreck Road, Glasgow, G41 5BW
Fife Opera – La Traviata
Celebrating 40 years of Fife Opera, they will be performing the world’s most performed opera, Verdi’s tragic masterpiece La Traviata. Directed by Vanessa Codutti, this exciting new production boasts a line up of star soloists accompanying the Fife Opera chorus and orchestra. Head along to experience the joy and tears of Verdi’s stunning music.
6th November to 9th November at 7.15pm (2.15pm on Saturday)
Tickets start at £8
Adam Smith Theatre, Bennochy Road, Kirkcaldy, KY1 1ET
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