TOP EVENTS
George Square, Glasgow. Glasgow on Ice – spend some time on the ice, enjoy a bite to eat and a hot drink and take in the fantastic programme of free entertainment on offer every night on the big stage. Phone 0141 564 4220 or visit www.winterfestglasgow.com/ glasgow_on_ice for further details and to book, 10am-10pm, today until January 3.
Mills Observatory, Balgay Park, Dundee. Planetarium Show – take a tour of the night sky and learn about constellations, asteroids and galaxies with a chance to look through an impressive telescope (weather permitting). Booking essential on 01382 435967, 7pm, 7.45pm, 8.30pm and 9.15pm, tomorrow.
Eden Court, Inverness. Homecoming 2009: St Andrew’s Feis. Phone 01463 234234 for further details and to book, 7.30pm, tomorrow.
Aberdeen Winter Festival. Country Fair, Belmont Street, 9am-5pm, Saturday; Christmas Tree switch-on preceded by a short carol service, Castlegate, 4pm, Sunday.
Brodie Castle, Forres. Christmas Fair with quality handcrafts and gift ideas from Exclusively Highlands group, carol singers and refreshments, 10am-4pm, Saturday and Sunday.
WDCS Wildlife Centre, Spey Bay, near Fochabers. Christmas Carols, 2-4pm, Sunday.
Keith Library. St Andrew’s Day whisky tasting. Phone 01542 882223 for further details and to book, 7.30pm, Monday.
Musa Art and Music Cafe, Exchange Street, Aberdeen. St Andrew’s Night Supper and live Scottish music. Phone 01224 571771 for further details and to book, 7pm, Monday.
INVERNESS
Queen’s Park Stadium, Inverness. Highland Santa Fun Run in aid of WildHearts . Phone 01667 458849 or visit www.wilddayout.com for further details and to register, 1pm, Sunday.
EDINBURGH
City Centre. Edinburgh’s Christmas 2009 – six-week festival full of exciting events including, funfair attractions, markets, carol concerts, shows, pantomimes and sporting events. Visit www.edinburghschristmas.com for further details, today until January 4.
GLASGOW
Theatre Royal, Hope Street. The Grass is Greener starring Liza Goddard, Christopher Cazenove, Jack Ellis and Sophie Ward. Written by one of Britain’s favourite play-writing teams of the 60s, Hugh and Margaret Williams, this classic comedy was a huge hit in London’s west end and went on to be adapted into an award-winning movie starring Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum and Jean Simmons, Monday until December 5.
DUNDEE
Dundee Contemporary Arts and Bonar Hall, Dundee University, Perth Road. Dundee Mountain Film Festival – a celebration of the mountain environment through an extensive programme of films, talks, exhibitions and personal appearances of major figures in the world of mountaineering and exploration. Phone 01382 668193 or visit www.dundeemountainfilm.org.uk for further details, today until Sunday.
OTHER EVENTS
The Breadmaker, Rosemount Viaduct, Aberdeen. P.I.N.K. – informal, friendly coffee morning group for women who have been affected by breast cancer and other women-related cancers, 10.30am-noon, tomorrow.
Mulbuie Primary School, Black Isle. Christmas Craft Fair, 7pm, tomorrow.
Ledgowan Lodge Hotel, Achnasheen. Christmas Fair, from 11am, tomorrow.
Whinnieknowe Care Home, Nairn. Friends of Whinnieknowe Christmas Fair, 2pm, tomorrow.
Udny Green School, Ellon. Christmas Fair, 6.30-8.30pm, tomorrow.
Tomatin Village Hall. Charity Auction in aid of Multiple Sclerosis Society (Inverness), 7pm, tomorrow.
Oldmeldrum Golf Club. Whist Drive. Phone 01651 872648/872737/872726 for further details, 7.30pm, tomorrow.
Kemnay Primary School. PTA Christmas Fair with Santa, school choir, fun games for all the family and lots more, 10.30am-1pm, Saturday.
Blairbeg Hall, Drumnadrochit. Glenurquhart Care Project Christmas Craft Fair, 10am-4pm, Saturday.
Newtonhill Church. Christmas Fair, 10am-1pm, Saturday.
Inverness Town House. Fairtrade Christmas Bazaar, 10.30am-3pm, Saturday.
Stewarts Hall, Huntly. Christmas Fashion Show with Tesco Fountain, Vanity and Gibbs of Inverurie and The Prom Shop, Montrose. Tickets from 07733 303 161, 7pm, Saturday.
Mount Pleasant School, Thurso. Feis Ghallaibh Feis Day. Phone 01847 811388 for further details, 9.30am-3.45pm, Saturday.
Lumphanan Primary School. Parent Council Christmas Fair with stalls and Santa’s Grotto (Santa arrives 10.30am), 10am-1pm, Saturday.
Loch na Croic, Contin. Salmon Hatchery Open Day – learn about the conservation of wild salmon by the Cromarty Firth Fishery Board. Phone 01349 868563 for further details, Saturday.
Harlaw Academy, Albyn Place, Aberdeen. Aberdeen City and Shire National Childbirth Trust Nearly New Sale, 10am-noon (last entry 11.30am), Saturday.
Nevis Centre, An Aird, Fort William. Rotary Club of Lochaber Christmas Craft and Food Fair, 10.30am-4pm, Saturday.
Oyne School. PTA Christmas Fair with various stalls and refreshments, 10am-noon, Saturday.
Portlethen Parish Church. Christmas Fair with stalls and Santa’s Grotto, 10am-1pm, Saturday.
Cannich Village Hall. Bag-a-Bargain in aid of hall funds, 10am-5pm, Saturday.
Trinity Church Hall, Elgin. Soup and Sweet in aid of Elgin Falls Prevention Group, noon-2pm, Saturday.
Linden Centre, Huntly. Arts Breakfast with Merlyn Riggs: Why are Artists Poor? – event discussing the exceptional economy of the arts with Hans Abbing, artist and cultural economist (speaker) and Judith Winter, Dundee Contemporary Arts (chairwoman). Tickets from 01466 794494, 10am, Saturday.
Balmoral Castle. Tours of the grounds, gardens, ballroom and exhibitions. Phone 013397 42534/42700 for further details, 11am, noon, 1pm and 2pm, Saturday.
Royal British Legion, Nairn. Junior World Childcare Group Coffee Morning, 10am, Saturday.
Mannofield Church Hall, Aberdeen. Church Guild Homecoming Coffee Morning, 10am-noon, Saturday.
Duthac Centre, Tain. Tain Nursery Craft Fair, 10am-4pm, Saturday.
Old Parish Church, Nairn. Christmas Fair, 1pm, Saturday.
Lonach Hall, Strathdon. Christmas Fair, 10am-noon, Saturday,
Lairhillock School, Netherley. Christmas Fair with stalls, crafts, games, raffle and Santa’s Grotto, 10am-noon, Saturday.
St Andrew’s Church (the Auld Kirk of Inverurie) Homecoming Service, a celebration of Scotland’s cultural and religious heritage. St Andrew’s Choir and Music Group will be joined by singers from Inverurie’s primary schools, and north-east entertainer Robert Lovie will sing the 2009 Homecoming’s special anthem, Caledonia. Traditional fare with teas and coffees will be served in the church hall after the service, 10am, Sunday.
Forres Town Hall. Christmas Fair and Car Boot Sale, 10am-3pm, Sunday.
Borders Bookstore, Inverness Retail Park. Book signing by Philip Paris author of The Italian Chapel, 2pm, Sunday.
The Seaforth Club, Nairn. Caroline’s Tombola, 7.30pm, Monday.
THEATRE
Wick High School. Waltz of the Cold Wind, 7.30pm, tonight.
Aberdeen Arts Centre. St Margaret’s School for Girls presents Crazy for You, 7pm, tonight and tomorrow; 5.30pm, Saturday.
The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen. Theatre Serendipity presents Farivyebin, 2pm, today and Monday; 7pm, tomorrow.
Macrobert, Stirling University. Sleeping Beauty. Phone 01786 467163 for performance times and to book, tonight until December 31.
Redrooms, Perth Theatre. Toujours L’Amour, 8pm, tomorrow and Saturday.
Haddo House Hall, near Tarves. Haddo Youth Musical Theatre present Cinderella. Phone 01224 649277 to book, 7.30pm, tomorrow; 2.30pm and 7.30pm, Saturday.
HM Theatre, Aberdeen. Cinderella starring Elaine C. Smith, Alan McHugh and Jordan Young. Phone 01224 641122 or visit www.boxofficeaberdeen.com for performance times and to book, Saturday until January 3.
Dundee Rep. A Christmas Carol. Phone 01382 223530 or visit www.dundeerep.co.uk for performance times and to book, Monday until January 2.
COMEDY
The Ironworks, Inverness. Dave Spikey, tonight.
The Music Hall, Aberdeen. Roy Chubby Brown, 7.30pm, Monday.
The Blue Lamp, Gallowgate, Aberdeen. Vocoustics and Aberdeen Folk Club present Breanndan Begley, Kevin Henderson, Tim Edey and Finfolk, 8pm, tonight.
MUSIC
Eden Court, Inverness. Royal Scottish National Orchestra, 8pm, tonight.
Musa Art and Music Cafe, Exchange Street, Aberdeen. Chemical Callum, 8.15pm, tonight; Los Acousticos Banditos, 8.15pm, tomorrow; Steve Crawford and Simon Gall, 8.15pm, Saturday.
Macphail Centre, Ullapool. Mairearad Green and Anna Massie, tonight. Also at An Lanntair, Stornoway, tomorrow; The Old Brewery, Cromarty, 7pm, Saturday.
Fortrose Community Theatre. Blueflint, 7.30pm, tonight. Also at Aros Centre, Portree, Skye, 8pm, Saturday.
The Warehouse, Aberdeen. DF Concerts present Elliot Minor, 7pm, tonight; Ja Ecosse presents Sugar Minott with Tony Tuff, 7pm, Saturday; Gallows, 7.30pm, Sunday; DF Concerts present Codeine Velvet Club and support, 7pm, Monday; Frightened Rabbit and special guests, 7.30pm, Tuesday; Foy Vance and support, 7.30pm, Wednesday.
The Doghouse, Dundee. Open Mic, tonight; The Stowaways, The Little Kicks, The Mode, tomorrow; Tango in the Attic, Sol Diablos, Killing Rabbits, Saturday; Codeine Velvet Club and support, Monday.
Red Shoes Theatre, Elgin. Friday Night Live. Phone 01343 548614 for further details, 5-7pm, tomorrow.
Rubislaw Church Centre, Aberdeen. Aberdeen Inner Wheel Club present A Musical Interlude in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care. Phone 01224 645477 for tickets, 7pm, tomorrow.
Portmahomack Hotel. Live music, 9pm, tomorrow.
Victoria Hotel, Forres. Forres Country Music Club: Lemon Grass, tomorrow.
Urquhart Parish Hall, Lhanbryde. St Andrew’s Night Concert with Forres Accordion and Fiddle Club. Phone 01343 842365 for tickets, 7.30pm, tomorrow.
The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen. Friday Live session with the best local blues and folk singers, from noon; The Animals and Spencer Davis Group, 7.30pm, tomorrow; Scottish Cultures and Traditions’ session, from 12.30pm; Balkanarama, 7.30pm, Saturday.
NNCM Club, Thurso. Collette and Country Flavour, 7pm, tomorrow. Also at Invergordon Social Club, 8.15pm, Saturday; New Inn Hotel, Ellon, 7.30pm, Sunday.
The Rusty Nail, Aberdeen. Two’s Company, 9pm, tomorrow; JB and The Classics, 9.30pm, Saturday; St Andrew’s Day Music with Stealer and support, from 2pm, Sunday.
Perth Concert Hall. Scottish Brass Band Association Brass and Voices Gala Concert, 7.30pm, tomorrow; Scottish Open Brass Band Championships, 9am, Saturday; Scottish Youth Brass Band Championships, 10am, Sunday; Scottish Ensemble, 1pm, Monday.
The Ironworks, Inverness. New Soul City Live, 10pm, tomorrow; Frightened Rabbit, 7pm, Sunday; Shed Seven, 7.30pm, Monday.
Wetherspoon’s, Wick. The Chicken Pickers, 10pm, Saturday.
Ellon Old Academy Hall. St Andrew’s Night Fiddlers Rally, 7.30-10.30pm, Saturday.
Lonach Hall, Strathdon. Grand Christmas Concert with Keith and District Silver Band and The Strathdon Singers, 6.30pm, Saturday.
The Music Hall, Aberdeen. Aberdeen Sinfonietta and the Iain Milne Band, 7.30pm, Saturday; Shed Seven, Tuesday.
Monymusk Arts Centre. Gliondar Ensemble, 3pm, Sunday.
High Church Hilton, Hilton Road, Aberdeen. The Learig Orchestra performs music by Haydn, Brahms and Nicholai, 8pm, Sunday.
Cowdray Hall, Aberdeen. The Finzi String Quartet, 7.30pm, Monday.
Redrooms, Perth Theatre. Findlay Napier and the Bar Room Mountaineers, 8pm, Monday. Also at The Tunnels, 8pm, Tuesday.
Strathpeffer Pavilion. Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham, 8pm, Tuesday.
JAZZ
Red Shoes Theatre, Elgin. Moray Jazz Club, 8-10.30pm, tonight.
The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen. Belhaven Sunday Jazz featuring Hyldie Grinsted, from noon, Sunday.
Glen Mhor Hotel, Inverness. Ness River Rhythm Kings play jazz from the 20s and 30s, 9-11pm, Tuesday.
DANCE
Ritchie Hall, Strichen. St Andrew’s Night Touch of Tartan Ceilidh and Dance. Phone 01771 637344/01779 821301 for further details and to book, 8pm, tomorrow.
The Station Hotel, Guild Street, Aberdeen. La Fiesta Latina Salsa class for beginners. Phone 07876 474405 for further details, 9-10pm, tomorrow.
Kirkhill Community Hall. Social dance with Jock Fraser, 8pm-midnight, Saturday.
Station Hotel, Stonehaven. Stonehaven and District Country Music Club: All Jacked Up. Social, line and partner dancers welcome. Phone 01569 740600 to book a table, 8.30pm, Saturday.
Garlogie Hall. Traditional Music and Song Association Ceilidh, 2-5pm, Sunday.
Beach Ballroom, Aberdeen. St Andrew’s Day Ceilidh. Phone 01224 641122 or visit www.boxofficeaberdeen.com for further details and to book, 7pm, Monday.
GALLERIES
Syllavethy Gallery, Montgarrie, near Alford. Tara and Silver Tree Indian Bazaar, 11am-6pm, today, tomorrow, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Wednesday.
Aberdeen Art Gallery. Paintings and watercolours by James McBey; The New Landscape – a celebration of the way in which contemporary artists deal with rural landscape and the urban environment, 10am-5pm, today, tomorrow, Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday; 2-5pm, Sunday.
The Castle Gallery, Inverness. Mixed Christmas exhibition, 9am-5pm, today, tomorrow, Saturday and Monday until Wednesday.
An Tobar, Tobermory, Mull. MADE: Contemporary arts and crafts from Iona, 10am-4pm, today, tomorrow, Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Country Frames Gallery, Leslie, near Insch. Winter Lights featuring a number of local artists including Annie Sturgeon, 10am-4pm, today, tomorrow, Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Kilmorack Gallery, near Beauly. Christmas exhibition, 11am-5.30pm, Saturday and Sunday.
Inchmore Gallery, near Inverness. Christmas exhibition, 2-5pm, Saturday; 10am-5pm, Wednesday.
MUSEUMS
Inverness Museum and Art Gallery. Now You See it – a fascinating glimpse into the history of stage magic, 10am-5pm, today, tomorrow, Saturday and Monday until Wednesday.
Provost Skene’s House, Guestrow, Aberdeen. A Victorian Christmas – how the fashions of the Victorian period reflected the desire to look suitable attired for festivities as well as the need to keep warm during the winter days, 10am-5pm, today, tomorrow, Saturday and Monday until Wednesday.
MARKETS
Bonhoga Gallery, Weisdale Mill, Shetland. Noel – Christmas Exhibition with affordable art and craft under £100, 10.30am-4.30pm, today, tomorrow, Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday; noon-4.30pm, Sunday.
Macduff Fishmarket. Farmers’ Market, 9am-1pm, Saturday.
Kirkhill Primary School, near Inverness. Village Market, 10am-noon, Saturday.
North Kessock Village Hall, Black Isle. Community Market, 10am-noon, Saturday.
Community Gardens, Bogton Road, Forres. Farmers’ and Craft Market, 10am-2pm, Saturday.
Kinross. 10am-4pm, Sunday.
CAR BOOT SALES
Huntly Mart. Plus indoor and outdoor market stalls, 10am-4pm, tomorrow.
Elgin Auction Centre. Plus crafts and lots more, 10am-4pm, Saturday.
Drill Hall, Castletown, Caithness. Noon-2pm, Sunday.
Thainstone Centre, Inverurie. Plus indoor and outdoor market stalls, 9am-4pm, Sunday.
ANTIQUES
The Collectables Shop, Stable Block, Haddo House, near Tarves. Noon-5pm, Saturday and Sunday.
Hilton Treetops Hotel, Springfield Road, Aberdeen. Alba Fairs Antiques’ and Collectors Market, 10.30am-4pm, Sunday.
Edderton Community Hall. Antiques and Collectors’ Fair, from 10.30am, Sunday.
EXHIBITIONS
Strathpeffer Pavilion. Art Fair, 10am-8pm, today and tomorrow; Friday; 10am-4pm, Saturday and Sunday.
Laing Hall, King Street, Nairn. Nairn Art Society Christmas Exhibition and Sale of Work, 10.30am-6.30pm, tomorrow, Saturday and Monday until Wednesday.
FOR CHILDREN
The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen. Creative Kids with Whitespace, 12.30-2.30pm, Saturday.
Aberdeen Arts Centre. Drama Workshops for aged three to 11. Phone 01224 635208 for further details, from 10.30am, Saturday.
Borders Bookstore, Inverness Retail Park. Storytime and fun activities, 2.30pm, Saturday and Sunday.
Details of events have been compiled from information supplied by various organisations. Care has been taken to ensure accuracy, but the Press and Journal accepts no responsibility for errors or alterations to details.