What to do this weekend: 30 April-1 May

ALL WEEKEND

Grassmarket Vintage Weekend

Love everything vintage? Visit the Grassmarket this weekend for vintage cars (the main reason Mr Enthusiast would come along), vintage fashion and a market of pre-loved items. Read more about the event on the Greater Grassmarket website.

30TH APRIL, SATURDAY

Pitt Market

Source: The Edinburgh Enthusiast (C)

The ever popular Pitt Market is back again with our favourite street food stalls including Harajuku Kitchen, Umami Spice Girl, Bearded Barista, Pilot Beer, Smith & Gertrude. As usual it's on between 12.00-22.00 - let's hope for some sunshine (and no April snow).

Akva Beer Garden Party

On the other side of town, in Fountainbridge Akva will be launching their summer beer garden from 2pm. Although the recent weather makes me doubt whether summer arrives any soon, Akva is preparing with BBQ, Swedish cider and they even invited a Grahams ice cream van.

Beltane Fire Festival

A pagan fire festival on Calton Hill celebrating the start of the pastoral summer - a must for any Edinburgh first-timer or if you are a local and have never been. We do feel for the Beltane Fire Festival performers who will be dancing (semi)naked this Saturday. If you're not one of the dancers, make sure you dress warm! Buy your Beltane tickets in advance here.

1ST MAY, SUNDAY

Garden of Cosmic Speculation

Source: scotlandsgardens.org

Hope you have been doing the 'no rain dance' as this Sunday is the only day of the year when the Garden of Cosmic Speculation is open to the public! If you love Jupiter Artland you should not miss this event (or mark it red in next year's calendar). The garden is near Dumfries, but totally worth the trip - you can pop in to Drumlanrig Castle or Caerlaverock Castle nearby. Find more info about the garden, opening time and admissions on the Scotland's Gardens website.

Old Town Street Food Festival

If you decide to stay in town, Three Sisters will be hosting their popular street food festival in the old town. As usual there will be live music and a bunch of lovely local vendors.

Have a good weekend!

What to do this weekend: 23-24 April

ALL WEEKEND

Blossoms at the Botanics

Source: The Edinburgh Enthusiast (C)

We do love a weekend walk in Stockbridge and now it is the ideal time to visit the Botanics if you would like to see their Yoshino cherry tree in full bloom. Also the rhododendrons look incredible!

Eating & Drinking Guide

Have you bought The List Eating & Drinking Guide yet? The 23rd edition is finally out - get yours at Waterstones and save £2 by using this voucher. You do not need to print the voucher, it's sufficient to show it on your phone.

23RD APRIL, SATURDAY

Cramond Beach Clean Up

Source: @igersedinburgh

Happy Earth Day! Join the instameet organised by @igersedinburgh and meet a bunch of lovely instagrammers while helping a good cause. Safe crossing times for Cramond Island are between 7:50-12:32, make sure you don't get stranded. Sign up via Eventbrite.

Century General Store Birthday

Happy 2nd birthday to Century General Store! There will be birthday cake and fizz at both stores (Marchmont and Abbeyhill).

24TH APRIL, SUNDAY

Son of Saul

If you love foreign cinema, do not miss Hungary's Best-Foreign-Language Oscar winner Son of Saul at Cameo Cinema's 35mm special screening.

Have a nice weekend!

What to do this weekend: 16-17 April

ALL WEEKEND

Spring Festival

Spring has finally sprung! Join the Spring Festival fun at the Botanics and check out how the rhododendrons are doing. You can find other seasonal highlights in the Alpine House and the British Art Show 8 is still on at Inverleith House.

16TH APRIL, SATURDAY

EIF Public Booking Opens

Source: The Edinburgh Enthusiast (C)

You'd better clear your calendar for 10am as the 2016 Edinburgh International Festival events are finally open for public booking. Our favourites this year include:

• Opera: Norma with Cecilia Bartoli singing the title role - note that for Norma booking has opened earlier and all dates have only limited availability.
• Theatre: Measure for Measure aka a Shakespeare play in Russian at the Lyceum performed by Moscow's Pushkin Theatre.
• Dance: Scottish Ballet at the Festival Theatre as we do love ballet.
• Classical music: our weakness so we have several on our list including Daniil Trifonov at the Usher Hall, George Li and Daniil Trifonov and Friends at the Queens Hall. Trifonov's name is guarantee for a quickly sold-out performance and we thoroughly enjoyed him playing Rachmaninov a few years ago.
• Contemporary music: Sigur Ros is back to Edinburgh, this time they have two concerts scheduled at the Playhouse. We were at their concert a few years ago at Usher Hall, fantastic performance.
• Opening event: Deep Time is free but ticketed, reservation opens on 20 June. The Harmonium Project last year was amazing, expect something similar but this time centred around the Castle.

Edinburgh Beer Festival

Stewart Brewing is having a beer fest at Loanhead between 3-11pm. There will be live music and they will even have gluten free beers (and not only). Get your tickets via Eventbrite - Midlothian residents get discounts and the price includes two beers. Get there by bus 37 - approximately 40 minutes from Princes Street.

Fallachan Nights

We love foodie pop-ups and often end up travelling for an interesting event. This weekend one of the most talented young chefs in the UK, Ian Scaramuzza and Fallachan's Craig Gozier will cook you a six-course seasonal tasting menu at Glasgow's Studio 93. Missed out? It is worth keeping an eye on Fallachan's website for similar future events.

17TH APRIL, SUNDAY

Last day of Build it!

It is the last day of the Build it! LEGO exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland - make sure to visit if you have yet not checked it out. If it is a sunny day, you can also admire the city views from the secret balcony as presented in Instagrammer (@exploringedinburgh) Shawna's vlog.

Have a nice weekend!

What to do this weekend: 9-10 April

ALL WEEKEND

Afternoon tea at Colonnades

Colonnades at the fabulous Signet Library is open for afternoon tea all weekend. Book your table here.

9TH APRIL, SATURDAY

Symmetries in Light

Did you know that the kaleidoscope was invented by a Scottish physicist, Dr David Brewster?

As part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival the Playfair Library hosts a free exhibition where you can admire kaleidoscopes of different principles and sizes, some of the exhibits coming from the Japan Kaleidoscope Museum.

British Art Now

Source: www.edinburgharchitecture.co.uk

Art and wine is a great combination! Join the panel discussion, exhibition viewing and wine reception organised by the Association of Art Historians between 6-7.30pm at the Talbot Rice Gallery. Tickets are free and they can be booked via Eventbrite here. The event is sponsored by the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art.

10TH APRIL, SUNDAY

Mini Maker Faire

The Mini Makers Faire is back at Summerhall for the fourth year - book your tickets via the Edinburgh Science Festival's website. Here is the highlights video from last year. There will be workshops ranging from geometric embroidery to sewn circuits and jewellery making. Sounds like the perfect family day out!

Have a nice weekend!