Septemberfest’s this Saturday

SEPTEMBERFEST

Saturday 26 September 11am – 4pm, Broughton High School

The hugely-popular Septemberfest community festival takes place on Saturday (26 September) at Broughton High School from 11am to 4pm and this year’s event is set to be bigger and better than ever!

There’s free entry and a huge range of fun activities on offer – many of them free too – all organised by Broughton High School Parent Council. All welcome!

Looking out the window, I’m very glad it’s not taking place today! What is it about Edinburgh and public holiday weather?

Leith Festival set to kickstart summer

Sunny Leith’s all set for nine days of festival fun

Nine days of fun, entertainment, exhibitions and performance kicks off in Leith tomorrow with the Gala Day and pageant from midday.

There’s been a festival in Leith for over a hundred years and this year’s programme is as bold and ambitious as it’s ever been with a range of events and activities to suit all tastes.

Dave Carson, Chair of Leith Festival, said: “Leith is one of the largest community festivals in Scotland, with a regular attendance of between 11, 000 – 15,000 local people and families participating on Gala Day, and many more besides during the following week of activites in our comunity.

“Leith Festival celebrates and reflects the cultural diversity amd richness we have in Leith, acting as a facilitator to celebrate our community assets and seeking to promote a sense of community, neighbourliness and connectedness with each other.”

To see the full Leith Festival programme visit

www.leithfestival.com

Fingers crossed for fair weather this weekend

Summer’s almost upon us and this weekend sees the start of those seasonal events – the fetes, galas and fun days – here’s hoping the sun will come out and help things along!

There are loads of events happening this weekend. Today we have the Family Fun Day event at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre from 11am – 3pm and there’s also the Teddy Bears Picnic at West Pilton Park from 11.30 – 2.30pm.

Slightly further afield there’s Holy Cross Episcopal Church Summer Fete in Davidson’s Mains from 2 – 4pm today, Clermiston & Drumbrae Children’s Gala today and tomorrow at Drumbrae Leisure Centre and don’t forget Newhaven Gala at Victoria Primary School today from midday too!

A community cleanup is taking place in West Pilton Green from 10am tomorrow morning as well, so fingers crossed the predicted showers stay away – we don’t want those teddies getting wee wet bottoms!

Burns Night Community Ceilidh: Get ready to rock at Royston Wardieburn!

We are delighted that the Burns night community ceilidh will happen again tomorrow (Saturday 24th January) from 5 – 9.30pm at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre.

The event is a celebration of diversity and talent in north Edinburgh. It is organised by a wide range of groups – including Pilton Community Health Project (PCHP), Granton Community Gardeners and Royston Wardieburn Community Centre – under the banner of Living in Harmony. Living in Harmony is about bringing local residents together to share their experiences and cultures and get to know each other better.

Pilton Community Health Project’s Rachel Farrier said ‘The joy of this event is what happens afterwards, once people have danced with each other, it’s difficult not to say hello on the street!’

This year’s ceilidh will include a traditional haggis supper served up by Granton Community Gardeners giving us all a chance to sample produce from the gardens. We’ll be reliving the highlights of last year with ‘turns’ from residents from around the world – including wee Sarah reading Burns poetry, some highland dancing from Dakota Hay and Nepalese dancing from Sushma and her friends. The homecoming string band will lead the dancing and we’ll all get the chance to strut our stuff.

Last year’s ceilidh was a massive success – over 200 people attended and over 40 volunteered to make it such a brilliant event. You can see photos from this event on PCHP’s facebook page [photos by Anneleen Lindsay].

Local people really enjoyed the event: ‘nice to see some community spirit’ one said. This year tickets are going fast and it looks to be a great event.

Tickets available NOW from Royston Wardieburn Community Centre and only cost £1.

Get yours before they are gone!

Lifecare Craft Fair

LifeCare is holding a Craft Fair on Saturday 18 October from 10:30am – 4.30pm here at Stockbridge House, 2 Cheyne Street, Edinburgh EH4 1JB (just off Raeburn Place).

There will be a wide range of crafts on offer from fused glass, crocheted jewellery and Harris Tweed bags to soap, bath bombs and ceramic creatures. Entry is free with tea/coffee and snacks available.

Come and take a look around while supporting a good cause. The Craft Fair will raise money for LifeCare, a charity which provides services to help older people and those with dementia to lead fulfilling and independent lives.

Soon be time for Septemberfest …

Septemberfest 2014 Community Festival

at Broughton High School

Saturday 27 September 2014

11am – 4pm

Free Entry and lots of free activities for all ages

Fun for all the family! This years Septemberfest has a Commonwealth flavour with lots of sports to try out: Indian Dance, Commonwealth food and all the usual bouncy castles, inflatable assault course, gladiators, sumo suits and climbing tower.

The craft fair has loads of fantastic handcrafted goods. Have a go at drumming and listen to the samba band.

There will be magic shows from Gary and Stone the Crow, Mr Puffins fantastic balloons, face painting, dance workshops and displays, music, unicycles, circus skills, bikes, hula hoops, judo, fencing, crazy science, massage and henna tattoos.

Come and ring the siren on a heritage and a real fire engine.

There will be a special Commonwealth themed treasure hunt and craft activities plus leather working and jewellery making.

Get your bike fixed for free with Edinburgh Cycles.

Tea and cakes, BBQ, La Favorita pizza, curry, paella, crepes and ice cream.

Septemberfest 2014 is partly funded by Activcity and the Big Lottery Celebrate Fund.

http://broughtonhighpc.org

Facebook: Septemberfest Broughton High School

Naomi Crowley

Fair’s fair – and Fun Days too

West Pilton & Muirhouse Gala is NEXT Sunday – not today!

The school holidays are a distant memory, the nights are already ‘fair drawin’ in’ but it seems the summer fun days go on forever! Yesterday was packed with community events but there’s plenty more on offer in North Edinburgh this coming weekend too:

Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre’s popular annual Fun Day takes place next Saturday from 11 – 2pm and is packed with activities

Along Ferry Road, North Edinburgh Community Art Group is holding an Art and Craft Fair in the Craighall Centre (below) from 11 – 3pm.

Silverlea Care Home on Muirhouse Parkway (below) are also holding a Summer Fun Day on Saturday from 2 – 4pm with lots of fun for everyone – all welcome.

And last – but certainly not least – West Pilton and Muirhouse Community Gala does go ahead – but it’s NEXT SUNDAY (not today!)

Organisers have confirmed: “This year’s gala is at full steam ahead .. It’s been a bit quiet from us as the committee have other commitments too. But your gala on Sunday 24 August at West Pilton Park will be a blast , we have a little something for everyone and hope to see as many people turn out as the last one ..”

Fun kicks off at midday until 4pm.

So much fun, so little time …!

Celebrate Africa at Craigroyston

We are pleased to invite you to the CELEBRATING AFRICA event on Saturday 21 June at Craigroyston Community High School on Pennywell Road.

The event aims to provide a unique opportunity showcasing African heritage and culture by the African community groups who live/ work across Edinburgh & the Lothians. Themes for the event are participation, heritage, culture and sports.

There will be live African music, dance, cultural performances, stalls, workshops and children activities at the event. Popular traditional food will be cooked on site and served by members of the African community groups.

As Scotland hosts the Glasgow 2014, we are proud to welcome participating African nations and celebrate their heritage. The event is supported by the Big Lottery – Celebrate fund. Please find about stall booking & for interested community groups and volunteers who wish to participate at http://elrecafricacelebration.wordpress.com/ .

This is a free event but places are limited. If you wish to attend the event please register online at:

http://celebratingafrica2014.eventbrite.co.uk

For more information about the event please contact Mizan Rahman e-mail: mrahman@elrec.org.uk or call 0131 556 0441.

We very much look forward to welcoming you at this celebration.

Mona Adhikari

Manager, Edinburgh & Lothians Regional Equality Council

Tel: 0131 556 0441 | Fax: 0131 556 8577 | email: MAdhikari@elrec.org.uk | www.elrec.org.uk

Open Day at Granton this Saturday

Granton Parish Church on Boswall Parkway will be holding an Open Day this Saturday from 10am – 4pm. Lots of fun and activities for the whole family and it’s all free!

Visit www.grantonparish.org.uk for more info or just drop in on Saturday – whatever the weather you’re sure of a warm welcome!