With hype around the Royal Wedding reaching fever pitch, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best local events which offer a nice alternative to Harry and Meghan’s big day.
Jacobite and Redcoats: The Battle for the Highlands
Want to meet a real Highland soldier or one of his Redcoat foes? Head to the Black Watch Museum this Saturday for a trip back to the 1700s. Visitors will learns about the “Highland charge” and how to fire a musket, wield a broadsword and defend yourself with a shield.
The event takes place on Saturday from 10am until 4pm. For more click here.
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design Degree Show
Dundee’s art school launches its annual degree show on Friday. It will run across the whole weekend. The event, showcasing the work of the college’s final year students, runs from May 18 – 27. The building is transformed into Scotland’s largest exhibition space for the show.
Fife Show
One of Scotland’s most popular agricultural shows returns to the Kingdom this weekend.
For more information click here.
Festival of Museums at the McManus – Generation/Dundee
McManus Art Gallery and Museum will host a number of activities to mark this festival. This year’s theme takes inspiration from the landmark’s portraiture collection and Scotland’s Year of Young People. There will be performances from dancers, musicians and poets. There will also be living history theatre performers, who will explore Dundee’s past generations.
For more information, click here.
Perth Fake Festival
The popular covers band festival returns to Perth’s South Inch on Saturday. Six “fake” bands paying tribute to Oasis, Muse, Queen, Kasabian, Stereophonics and Green Day are playing.
The event takes place from noon to 11pm. For more info click here.
Handfasting at the Crannog
If you want to celebrate your own marriage instead of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s, The Scottish Crannog Centre is allowing couples to renew their wedding vows at its roundhouse with special handfasting ceremonies. This is an ancient Celtic custom. Iron Age Interpreters will be dishing up aphrodisiac soup, flower garlands, love potions and celtic knot fire pendants in exchange for donations.
For more information click here.
Pottermania in Glenrothes
Rothes Hall will host an event celebrating 21 years of JK Rowling’s magical world. The 21 Years of Harry Potter Magic event will explore life at Hogwarts, Quiddich and more. Fancy dress is being welcomed.
The event takes place from 11.30am until 12.30pm. To inquire about the event click here.
The Cause at Edzell Castle and Gardens
A coventing army will be at Edzell Castle on Royal Wedding day, offering visitors the chance to learn more about their cause.
The event takes place from 12pm – 4pm.
Perth dinosaur hunt
The Fair City has been embracing all things Jurassic thanks to the Playing with Dinosaurs event at the city’s Museum and Art Gallery. The exhibition continues this weekend, with a “Dino Hunt” also taking place on Saturday.
The Dino Hunt takes place from 2pm until 4pm. The event is free but booking is essential. For more click here.
Scot Gin Fest in St Andrews
Scotland’s “biggest and best” gin festival is hosting an event in St Andrews Town Hall on Saturday.
It will take place from 12.30pm until 4.30pm.
Dudhope Park Litter Pick
Want to avoid the Royal nuptials by doing a good deed? The Friends of Dudhope Park will be out and about with volunteers cleaning up the beloved city greenspace.
The litter pick begins at 11am. No booking is required. The team will meet at the children’s play park.
Charity concert at St Paul’s Cathedral, Dundee
Dundee Chamber Orchestra concert will be performing at St Paul’s Cathedral on Saturday in a concert raising funds for Roxburghe House. Soloist Joseph Fleetwood will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.3, The event begins at 7.30pm. More information can be found here.
Dundee Design Month
There’s loads going on in May to mark Dundee’s first ever design month. A temporary exhibition and workshop space called Factory Shop has been established on Reform Street. To check out what else is planned this weekend, click here.
Soapbox Art and Science in Perth
As part of Perth Festival of the Arts, local artists and scientists will take to Perth city centre to discuss the innovations emerging across Scotland. There will be visual art, and live performances and demonstrations taking place.
The event will take place on the High Street from 11am until 2pm. For more click here.
ArTay
Another strand of the Perth Festival of the Arts, a marquee outside Perth Concert Hall will host an exhibition featuring the work of more than 80 artists and craft makers
It will take place at the Horsecross Plaza from 10am until 7.30pm.
Gypsy Jazz at the Caird Hall
Dundee’s premier music venue will host this unique event aimed at introducing youngsters to jazz. It will take place on Saturday at 2.30pm.
US Craft Beer Week at Duke’s
There will be beers a plenty at Duke’s Corner this weekend as the popular pub marks US Craft Beer Week, with six brands on tap and others available in can and bottle form.
Dundee Farmers’ Market
This showcase for local food and drinks returns to the City Square on Saturday from 9am – 4pm.
Summer Holiday at Whitehall Theatre
Downfield Musical Society is bringing classic show Summer Holiday to its stage this weekend.
Performances will take place on Friday and Saturday at 7.30pm.
Camperdown Parkrun turns six
The hugely successful running initiative at Camperdown Park will celebrate its sixth birthday at the weekend. What better way to the get the Royal Wedding hype out of your system? Participants are being asked to don bright colours to mark the occasion.
Things get under way on Saturday at 9am.
Bankfoot Community Gala
There will be market stalls, a mini Highland games, races, a bouncy castle, food stalls, a beer tent and plenty activities taking place the popular gala.
The gala takes place from noon until 5pm.
Pirate Fun Day in Arbroath
Arbroath’s Signal Tower Museum is holding a pirate-themed family fun day to mark Scotland’s Festival of Museums.
It will take place from 11am until 4pm.
Montrose Makers’ Market
A new selection of artists, local producers and craftsfolk from across the area, and wider Scotland, will be in Montrose to show off their work.
It takes place from 11am until 4pm.
St Andrews golf history tours
Walking trips exploring the history of golf at the historic home of the sport will be taking place in St Andrews. It will begin and end at The British Golf Museum.
Tickets for the event must be booked by contacting hannahfleming@randa.org or calling 01334 460054.
Gaelic Day in the heart of Perthshire
Scotland’s native tongue will be celebrated at Strathearn Community Campus in Crieff on Saturday. Gaelic language and culture will be explored through a series of workshops and a concert featuring Radio Two Young Folk award winner Mischa Macpherson.
The event is free and runs from 10am. More information can be found here.
Watch the football cup finals…
Scottish Cup
Motherwell and Celtic will face-off at 3pm on Saturday afternoon for the Scottish Cup Final. There’s plenty at stake as The Steelmen aim to claim the trophy for the first time in 27 years, while the Hoops are looking to secure their second “treble” in a row.
The match will take place at Hampden and be shown on BBC One Scotland. Kick-off is 3pm.
FA Cup
Down south, there’s another huge match with Antonio Conte’s Chelsea taking on Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United in the FA Cup Final. Both sides are looking to end their season on a high. Chelsea failed to secure Champions League football next season and Manchester United were bettered by their City rivals to the Premier League title.
The game kicks off at 5.15pm and will be shown on BBC One.
Watch the boxing
Lee Selby is defending his IBF world featherweight title against Josh Warrington on Saturday at Elland Road in Leeds.
The match will be shown on BT Sport 1 and BoxNation. Coverage begins at 7.30pm.
Go to the Cinema
The brilliant Deadpool 2 has just been released and Avengers: Infinity War is still raking it in at the Box Office. Locally, the DCA is screening Open Close Movie, a film about Dundee’s street art project, at 11m on Saturday. The cinema is also showing Lean on Pete this weekend, which has received rave review from critics. There’s also plenty to chose from at the Perth Playhouse on Saturday.
Head to the beach
It’s gonna be hot this weekend! What better excuse to grab an ice cream and hit the beach?!
