Edinburgh Festival 2011

Each year during the month of August, the Scottish capital becomes a vibrant cultural hub as it plays host to the biggest arts festival in the world. With everything from one-man Shakespeare monologues to stand up ventriloquists and urban ballet troupes on offer, allow us to offer you some inspiration with our pick of the best of the fest:

Mad Science Free Dangerous Family Show

August 4–12
Flying rockets, exploding icing sugar and the possibility of electrocuted parents all feature in this live family science show with mad Professor Kaos and his lab rat Dr Dude. Entry is free so make sure you arrive early to the Laughing Horse at The Counting House  to ensure your seated out of the danger zone!

The Amazing Bubble Show
August 4–29
Float away with an afternoon of mesmerising bubble entertainment at C Too, twice daily during the Fringe Festival. Gigantic bubbles, bubbles with people inside them, edible bubbles, square bubbles, bubble sculptures…need we say more?

Pasta! Macaroni Puppet’s Show
August 5–21
A unique and mesmerising show featuring puppets created entirely from pasta. Wordless, poetic and oh-so-Italian, your children will be fascinated by a spaghetti man in love, yearning for his tomato sauce and a dramatic pasta firework finale. Playing throughout August at the Assembly George Square this will undoubtedly be one of the most original (and delicious!) puppet shows of the Festival.

Baby Loves Disco
August 7–28
Sunday afternoon is the new Saturday night at hip nightclub Electric Circus where funky young things can throw some shapes to classic disco tunes then retire to the Gymboree chill-out room for free face painting. With live DJs, free healthy snacks plus that all-important licensed bar for mummy and daddy, Baby Loves Disco is certain to be your child’s best ever clubbing experience!