Festival of Museums

Various venues, Scotland, tomorrow to Sunday

Over 80 exciting attractions across the country will take part in this annual, three-day celebration of the Scotland’s culture, history and creativity. The event encourages museums to stage one-off events that will allow guests to experience their venues and collections in unique and hands-on ways. The Festival of Museums includes a diverse range of day and night events from a Museum Marathon in Edinburgh, to drawing classes in Dumfries and an Ugly Bug Ball in the Borders.Many venues will be transforming, for one weekend only, into after-hours entertainment venues.

To view the full festival programme, visit festivalofmuseums.com.

Braveheart Night

Hamilton Racecourse, tomorrow

A heart-thumping night of Scottish entertainment and top-class racing is lined up for the first Braveheart Night event meeting of the season. The featured race is the £25,000 Braveheart Handicap Stakes which is the highlight of a high quality racecard worth over £80,000. The Scottish theme will continue with pipers and Highland dancers throughout the evening as legendary Glasgow band, Big Vern 'N' The Shootahs, return to perform a selection of soul classics after the races.

Tickets are £22 at hamilton-park.co.uk.

Skipinnish

Usher Hall, Edinburgh, tomorrow

One of Scotland’s leading traditional music band are on track to beat their 2017 record of sell-out shows with their biggest-ever gig. The band will be supported at by the multi award-winning Emily Smith and Jamie McClennan as well as World Champion Pipe Band, Inveraray and District and other guests. Formed almost 20 years ago by Angus MacPhail and Andrew Stevenson, Skipinnish were named ‘Live Act of the Year’ at last year’s Trad Music Awards. They’re now on their on their seventh, self-released album.

Tickets are £34.50, with booking fee from usherhall.co.uk.

Ethical cocktail night

Harry’s Southside, Edinburgh, Sunday

Social enterprises Ginerosity and Harry’s Southside will help save the world while mixing up cocktail favourites in one of the capital’s newest bars. An expert mixologist will have goers shaking, stirring and mixing-it-up as they guide you through three cocktails, providing all the spirits, mixers and garnishes needed to create a trio of cocktail goodness. All profits go towards good causes.

Book a spot at airbnb.co.uk/experiences/199379. Costs £20 per person.

Glasgow Coffee Festival

The Briggait, Glasgow, Saturday and Sunday

This two-day event is a celebration of speciality coffee and hosts exhibitors from across Scotland serving up delicious coffee as well as food, masterclasses, workshops, presentations and demonstrations. The UK Brewers Cup will be held as part of the festival. Baristas have seven minutes to brew three coffees for the judging panel. The competition attracts entrants from around the UK and will be hotly contested.

Day tickets are £16.19, with booking fee, and weekend ones are £24.79, with fee. Buy via glasgowcoffeefestival.com. All event proceeds go to support charitable causes.

Evita

King’s Theatre, Glasgow, until Saturday

After 10 years in the UK and two West End seasons, Evita is captivating audiences across the world as it continues to tell the story of an ordinary woman’s meteoric rise to power at a time of extraordinary political unrest. With more than 20 major awards to its credit, an Oscar-winning film version starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas, and featuring some of the best loved songs in musical theatre, including “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” and “Another Suitcase in Another Hall,” Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s extraordinary musical is an iconic classic not to be missed.

Tickets are between £17.90 and £63.40, plus fees. Buy from atgtickets.co.uk.

Scottish Rhododendron Festival

Various venues, Scotland, until May 31

The event is back at a number of gardens, venues and properties across the country as stunning flowers burst into bloom. Organised by Discover Scottish Gardens, this year’s festival features over 90 individual events. Some events are free or a donation can be made while some attract a small admission fee. Over half of the gardens taking part will support open garden charity Scotland’s Gardens Scheme, which raises money for hundreds of local charities.

Visit discoverscottishgardens.org to find an event near you.

Ballater Walking Festival

Various venues, Royal Deeside, from Saturday

This event offers a programme designed for walkers of all capabilities from Munro-bagging to pleasant rambles. Each walker can choose to take part in whatever grade of walk they feel suits them best and can participate on as many as the six days or as few as one. Most of the walks are situated within the Cairngorms National Park, though a few enter parts of West Aberdeenshire or the Angus Glens which border the Park.

Three categories of walk are available daily. Prices vary. Visit walkballater.com to see the full brochure. Festival runs until Friday, May 25. 

Royal Wedding Celebrations

The Royal Yacht Britannia, Leith, tomorrow to Sunday

The yacht where Prince Harry spent his childhood summer holidays with his parents is marking the much-anticipated royal wedding in style. A special, set-price celebratory menu (£22.50) will be on offer along with the bride-to-be’s favourite cocktail. Complimentary chocolate delicacies will be given to visitors and extravagant wedding cake will go on display.

Admission prices vary. Visit royalyachtbritannia.co.uk. Please note, the wedding will not be screened on-board on Saturday. 

Museum Late: Music from WHYTE

Aberdeen Maritime Museum, today

Ambient electronica meets traditional Gaelic in this special after hours live session during the Festival of Museums and Museums at Night celebrations. Enjoy a drink, explore the galleries and enjoy arrangements of rarely-heard traditional Gaelic songs and original instrumental pieces.

Tickets are ate £5.98, with booking fee. Buy at eventbrite.co.uk. 

DON’T MISS…

Eddie and the Slumber Sisters

Eastwood Park Theatre, Giffnock, May 23

Blending music, magic and imagination, this interactive show explores grieving through the eyes of a child with heartwarming songs and humour. Eddie has been having wild, chaotic dreams since her gran passed away. The Slumber Sisters are an all-singing trio whose job it is to monitor our dreams and night wanderings. Eddie catches the Slumber Sisters’ attention and they decide to intervene. Recommended for all dreamers aged eight and over.

Tickets cost £8 for adults and £6 for children and £25 for a family of four. Visit eastwoodparktheatre.co.uk.