Jig in the Gardens
West Princes Street Gardens
Friday 30 November, 1pm – late
A free celebration of Scotland's National Day
1 - 6pm
Two purpose built marquees will host a programme of dance, music and family fun to celebrate St Andrew's day. In the Scottish Pavilion, Dance Base will run workshops of Bollywood, salsa, belly dancing, jive - not to mention ceilidh. In the Chiller Tent, the Scottish Storytelling Centre will be in situ, along side face painters, colouring books and giant garden games. Don't miss the opportunity to meet the Royal Highland Show's Highland Cow!
6pm - late
Join in the giant ceilidh and enjoy some of Scotland's most talented bands in the Scottish Pavilion. Revel in the exciting sounds of world fusion masters Salsa Celtica. Party to the vibrant contemporary sounds of the Porridge Men. Jig to the traditional rhythms of the Portobello Ceilidh Band and the Jimmy Shandrix Experience. Featuring DJ Zak Zagarelos and DJ Jo Malik.
If ceilidh-ing's not your thing, you can get into the groove at the Chiller Tent with the Colin Steele Quartet featuring Cathie Rae, the Andy May Trio and DJs Barney Strachan and Aki.
Sat & Sun
1 & 2 Dec
Activities will continue throughout the weekend – dance workshops, music, face painting and storytelling. And if all the activities tire you out, light refreshments are available for you to buy.
AND help create the largest Dashing White Sergeant Scotland has ever seen - 3.30pm Sunday 2 December.
Entrance is free:
Numbers are limited so get there early.
One Scotland
Edinburgh International Conference Centre
Friday 30 November
A dramatic presentation exploring our past and present identity as Scots. This multi media experience tells the story of our multicultural past.
Scottish University's Debating Society - St Andrew's Day Debate
The Royal Society of Edinburgh, George Street, Edinburgh
Friday 30 November
1-4pm
On St Andrew's Day, the best of Scottish debating talent will meet to discuss the motion "This House believes you don't have to be born in Scotland to be Scottish". Chaired by Magnus Linklater, stalwart of Scottish media society, the speakers will be made up of eight representatives from the Scottish Universities Debating Society, split into pairs. After proposition and opposition teams have made their arguments, they will be judged by a panel:
Linda Fabiani MSP, Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture
John Duncan, director of English Speaking Union in Scotland (Presiding Judge)
John Loughton, chairman of Scottish Youth Parliament
Professor Eberhard Bort, Edinburgh University
Harminder Berman, arts development officer-cultural diversity, Glasgow City Council
Entry is free but by ticket so book yours now! Simply email Christopher.Francis@scotland.gsi.gov.uk with the subject: "St Andrew's Day Debate".
St Andrew's Day Steeplechase
Musselburgh Racecourse, East Lothian
Friday 30 November
10.30am-6pm
Musselburgh Racecourse is to fly the flag for St Andrew's Day by turning the racecourse blue and white.First Minister, Alex Salmond, will visit the East Lothian track as part of his whirlwind tour of celebrations taking place around Scotland. Mr Salmond, a keen racing fan, will present the winning trophy to the owner and jockey of the day's feature race, the £15,000 St Andrew's Day Steeplechase. A host of Scottish themes will also run through the St Andrew's Race Day which features seven national hunt races. Pipers will launch the race day and later pipe out the jockeys competing in the big race at 2.55pm. Scottish themed menus will be offered in all catering facilities and there will be a Hot Toddy marquee. Saltire face painters will be on hand to add Braveheart style face art to any racegoer and the race course will be decorated in blue and white bunting, banners, flowers and flags.
Gates open Friday, November 30, at 10.30am. The first race is off at 12.20pm and the last race is at 3.30pm which will be followed by a disco until 6pm.
www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk for more info.
Slaves Lament
Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh
Saturday 1 December
7.30pm
Songs by Robert Burns to mark the bicentenary of the abolition of slavery for St Andrew's Night
Devised by Ian McFarlane
This concert forms the first Robert Burns recital relating to the abolition of slavery for the 2007 bicentenary. SLAVES LAMENT combines Gillian Keith soprano and Paul Agnew tenor and leading musicians including French fortepianist, Jérôme Hantaï, in his first Edinburgh and Scottish appearance. It continues the pioneering work of McFarlane Productions in work by Robert Burns - including McFarlane's Burns' opera Ae fond kiss... - the first Scottish opera to premiere at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and the first opera about Robert Burns which then premiered at Wigmore Hall London, for Burns' Night 2002 - Year of Burns.
Gillian Keith soprano, Paul Agnew tenor, with Monica Huggett violin, Joseph Crouch cello, Jérôme Hantaï piano
Tickets: £15 & £12 concession
Edinburgh Leisure's Splashing White Sergeant
Next Friday, 30th November, Edinburgh Leisure will be getting into the spirit (and the water) of St Andrew's Day by hosting three FREE ceilidhs... with a difference.
Yes, the Royal Commonwealth Pool, Drumbrae Leisure Centre and Portobello Swim Centre are proud to present the city's first ever Aqua-Ceilidhs - featuring old reeling favourites, such as the 'Splashing White Sergeant', 'Drip the Willow' and 'Spray Gordons'.
Tartan-clad callers will be on hand to keep everyone quite literally in line and to keep spirits higher than the watermark - which shouldn't be too difficult given they'll be in the shallow end!
Following 45-60mins of rip-tide reels, our patriots will no doubt be in need of some traditional refreshments. Lucky then, the hosts will be laying on free shortbread, tablet, tea, coffee and Irn Bru. They will also be given a complimentary blue or white swim cap as a momento of this quite unique experience.
Each class (times of which are listed below) still has spaces available, which can be booked in advance by contacting the relevant centre.
Royal Commonwealth Pool ... 0915-1000 (0131 667 7211)
Drumbrae Leisure Centre ... 1000-1100 (0131 312 7957)
Portobello Swim Centre ... 1030-1115 (0131 669 6888)
www.edinburghleisure.co.uk
