It’s the last full week of the summer holidays, and we’ve got a few more special events on for you.
We’re super excited to host Danyah Miller for an amazing storytelling session on Tuesday afternoon. Come in and help inspire some truly great tales with her and a magic carpet!
This is best for ages 4-7 but older and younger children can definitely still enjoy it, as can the whole family!
Remember to book your place on Eventbrite. with the following link:
On Wednesday at 3:30pm, join Kali from Edinburgh Zoo for a story, lots of facts, and a fun activity all related to sloths and armadillos.
Join us for our Library Afternoon Tea at 2:30pm on Friday. We will be talking about books, colouring in, and enjoying a warm drink, juice and some snacks.
Just like every Saturday, we have Junior Board Games on at 2pm. Discover a new game or play an old favourite with your family, other library users, and maybe a member of staff!
We also have Bookbug on for your wee ones, including our fortnightly Saturday session. Tuesday and Saturday are at 11am, Wednesday is at 2pm.
Here are our events for next week to help you #ReadToTheBeat and keep enjoying the summer holidays! All our events are free to attend, but make sure you book a place to our external workshops.
On Tuesday, it’s Karaoke time from 2pm! Emily will be helping you belt out your best songs in style.
On Thursday morning, we have spaces left for our superb workshop with Befana and Midnight, where you can learn about herbs, design recipes, and brew your own magical tea! This is aimed at ages 7-10 but younger children can participate in some of the event with parental help.
If you want to come along to this, please sign up on Eventbrite:
On Thursday afternoon, we will put E for Engineering in STEM. Learn about the construction and destruction of castles, help build one for the library, and test it out. This will run from 2-3pm.
We are fully booked for Jenny Laahs’ final Music Makers Club, but those who are signed up will be trying out keyboard instruments and playing some fun musical games.
Lastly, like every week, we have Junior Board Games from 2pm on Saturday. We’ve got lots of board games available to try out.
Remember that coming to any of these events will earn you a sticker for the #SummerReadingChallenge, which you can sign up for with your library card and parent.
We are very happy to release the last of our special summer events to help you #ReadToTheBeat: “Once Upon a… What?” with award-winning storyteller Danyah Miller.
Using games, sound, movement and a very opinionated magic carpet, we need lots of families along to craft an exciting story with her!
This will be on Thursday 4th August at 2:30pm, for around an hour.
Please sign up on Eventbrite with the following link:
It’s the fourth week of the summer holidays and we have yet more events on for you. All of them are free and there is no need to book ahead.
If Saturday doesn’t suit you for board games, come along on Tuesday from 2-4pm with your family or friends to play new games and classics with a member of staff available to teach the rules.
We have a special extra Zoo Tails session on at the usual time on Wednesday at 3:30pm. This is a great one for younger children, but everyone can enjoy the stories and activity with a community zookeeper!
If the weather is still good on Thursday afternoon, we have another toddler-friendly event: some parachute songs and games with Emily!
Friday Crafternoon is back for one week during the summer holidays, so come along and get colourful and creative from 2:30pm.
We’ve got Bookbug on this Saturday at 11am, as well as our usual sessions on Tuesday at 11am and Wednesday at 2pm.
Remember to register for the #SummerReadingChallenge and earn your first sticker by coming to a library event!
Important Message from Corstorphine Fair Committee
Dear Corstorphine and Edinburgh community,
After a successful but challenging Corstorphine Fair 2026, we have submitted a detailed report highlighting serious issues with licensing, administration, and support for volunteer-run community events.
We are not alone — many other galas across Edinburgh and Scotland face the same growing pressures. That is why we have joined forces with other organisers to launch a petition calling on the Scottish Parliament to protect our volunteer-run fairs and gala days.
Every signature helps show decision-makers that these much-loved community events matter and must be properly supported, not burdened with last-minute bureaucracy and unrealistic demands on volunteers.
If you enjoyed the Fair, attended as a stallholder or participant, or simply value strong local communities, please take 30 seconds to sign and share this petition widely.
Together we can protect these vital traditions for future generations.
Residents are being encouraged to have their say on proposed Firework Control Zones (FCZs) for autumn 2026 as a public consultation gets underway across Edinburgh.
The consultation is seeking views on continuing Firework Control Zones in Corstorphine, Longstone, Sighthill/Broomhouse, Mordeun and The Murrays, as well as introducing new zones in Liberton Grange, Lochend, Stenhouse/Gaskell Street, West Pilton and Wester Hailes.
Firework Control Zones prohibit the use of fireworks within designated areas for a limited period and form part of a wider package of measures designed to improve public safety, reduce anti-social behaviour and support local communities during the fireworks season.
Earlier this year, community groups were invited to apply for Firework Control Zone status in their neighbourhoods. Applications highlighted concerns about the misuse of fireworks, anti-social behaviour, and the impact on animals, older people and other vulnerable residents.
The proposals build on the positive results seen in recent years, with Edinburgh experiencing significantly lower levels of firework-related anti-social behaviour compared with previous years.
Councillor Margaret Graham, Convener of Culture and Communities, said: “We want to hear directly from residents and communities about the areas being considered for Firework Control Zones again this year.
“They are just one of the measures we’re using to improve safety and reduce firework-related anti-social behaviours to make sure our communities can enjoy Bonfire Night in a safe and responsible way.
“I’d encourage everyone to take part in the consultation and help shape our approach for the 2026 fireworks season.”
The consultation will run from Wednesday 24 June until Wednesday 5 August on the Council website.
As Edinburgh Zoo celebrates 110 years, recently retired keeper Karen Stiven shares her favourite memories and encourages the public to add their own stories to the archive
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) is inviting members of the public to share their memories of Edinburgh Zoo as part of its 110th anniversary celebrations, helping to preserve the stories that have made the zoo a cherished part of Scottish life since it first opened in 1913.
Among them is Karen Stiven, who has recently retired after 45 years at RZSS. Joining the zoo in 1981, Karen dedicated her career to caring for a number of animals from birds to hoofstock and became one of the zoo’s longest-serving keepers.
Now retired from her role as Experienced Keeper, Karen has witnessed decades of change at Edinburgh Zoo. One of her fondest memories is hand-rearing a young hippo, Cleo, a challenge that involved sleepless nights and round the clock care. Seeing the calf grow and thrive made all the hard work worthwhile and remains one of Karen’s most treasured memories.
Karen believes preserving the zoo’s history is just as important as creating new memories for future generations. She said: “Having these archives is a huge achievement.
“They allow people to look back and see where everything started, how much has changed and how far we’ve come.
“The stories are incredibly important and I hope people continue adding their own memories so future generations can do the same for many years to come.”
The appeal comes as RZSS continues to uncover and preserve stories from across its history. While archive collections contain official records and photographs, the charity says some of the most valuable insights come from the personal memories of people who have visited, worked at or supported Edinburgh Zoo over the years.
David Field, CEO of RZSS, said: “Karen’s story is a wonderful example of the memories that make Edinburgh Zoo so special. After 45 years of dedication, she has been part of countless moments that have shaped the zoo’s history.
“Karen’s story is just one of thousands and for 110 years, Edinburgh Zoo has played a part in the lives of people across Scotland and beyond.
“We know there are an abundance of family photographs, favourite animal encounters, school trip memories and personal stories waiting to be shared, and we would love to hear them. Every memory helps us build a clearer picture of our past and preserve it for future generations.”
Members of the public can share photographs, souvenirs and other memorabilia with the team as part of Memories Week running from 13 – 21 June, helping ensure the next chapter of Edinburgh Zoo’s story is recorded alongside the first 110 years.
A special Memories Week exhibition will take visitors through the Zoo’s remarkable past, revealing how generations of memories continue to shape its future
Families, visitors and supporters are invited to celebrate generations of memories as the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) Edinburgh Zoo opens the doors to its past this June. The rare archive material, much of it unseen for over 100 years, goes on public display during a special Memories Week from 13 – 21 June 2026.
The week-long celebration will shine a spotlight on the wildlife conservation charity and the generations of people who have grown up visiting Edinburgh Zoo, from first family days out and school trips to encountering some of its most loved animals.
Highlights include children’s letters addressed to “Mr Zoo Man”, photographs and memorabilia from community events such as a 1927 carnival, and early records from the Zoo’s opening on 22 July 1913, when visitors reportedly left with mud on their finest shoes due to ongoing construction.
The exhibition also reveals how founder Thomas Haining Gillespie described creating Edinburgh Zoo as “an obsession”, despite many believing Scotland’s climate made it impossible to house animals from around the world. Determined to create something different from the time, Gillespie championed a revolutionary “open-air zoo” concept, giving animals more natural spaces and room to retreat from public view.
The early meetings did not always run smoothly. At RZSS’s first annual meeting in July 1909, attendance was reportedly so low that organisers had to call in a passerby from the street to make up the numbers needed to pass motions. Despite this, the focus of these early gatherings remained the creation of a new zoological garden in Scotland.
David Field, CEO of RZSS said; “Edinburgh Zoo holds a special place in the hearts of so many people. Memories Week is a chance to celebrate those connections and the role the Zoo has played across generations.
“We want people to come along, reminisce, share their stories, bring in their keepsakes and be part of preserving this incredible history for the future.
“Some parts of the archive reflect a very different time and understanding of animal care and conservation than we have today.
“We would not attempt to defend everything from the past, but it is important to acknowledge how much has changed over more than a century and how those lessons have helped shape the conservation and welfare values we continue to build on today.”
Sign the petition here: 
