🎉 Wee Weekender | 19–20 September – Puppets, Paint, Pythons & Plenty of Cake! 🎭🎨🐍

Hello Wee Weekenders! 👋

This weekend's got a lovely community feel, with gala games in Anderston, colourful running in Lanark, and a whole lot of free crafty fun.

You can meet rescued animals, build a Meccano masterpiece, catch a puppet show, or celebrate IKEA's big birthday. Here's what's on 👇

🎉 Anderston Gala

A brilliant free day out with bouncy castles, face painting, crafts, games and freshly pressed local apple juice. Bring a bake for the Golden Whisk Cake Contest, let the kids try football on the pitch, and have a wander around the community garden too.

📍 The Pyramid at Anderston, Glasgow West End
⏰ Saturday 19 September, midday–4pm
💷 Free
👉 More info

🎭 Doors Open Days: Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre

Pop into Glasgow's wee hidden gem for free puppet shows at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. There are museum displays to explore, plus masks and puppet activity kits in the café if your crew fancy getting crafty.

📍 Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, Glasgow West End
⏰ Saturday 19–Sunday 20 September, 10am–4pm
💷 Free
👉 More info

🌈 Lanark Colour Run

Get ready to get gloriously messy! Choose a 2km or 4km route, throw on clothes you don't mind sacrificing to the colour powder, and help raise funds for Lanark Lanimer Celebrations.

📍 Lanark Racecourse, Lanark
⏰ Saturday 19 September, registration and warm-up from 2pm
💷 Adult £15 / Child £10 / Family of 4 £45 / Under 3s free
👉 More info

🦎 Family Afternoon At Woodlands

Reptiles, crafts, games and refreshments make this a very easy free afternoon plan. The ReptiZoo Rescue & Encounters team will be there too, so prepare for some up-close creature spotting.

📍 Al Furqan Mosque, 19 Carrington Street, Glasgow G4 9AJ
⏰ Saturday 19 September, 1:30pm–3:30pm
💷 Free
👉 More info

🌕 Mid-Autumn Festival

Head along for a relaxed afternoon celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival through art, culture and plenty of hands-on activities. Paint a fan, tote bag or mask, make a Nüshu-inspired bookmark, and pick up a free fortune cookie while you're there.

📍 The Boardwalk, Glasgow City Centre
⏰ Sunday 20 September, midday–4pm
💷 Free
👉 More info

🛠️ Meccano Society of Scotland Annual Exhibition

Vintage cars, towering cranes and space-age machines are all built from Meccano at this brilliant working exhibition. Best bit: some of the models are interactive, so curious kids can have a go themselves.

📍 Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life, Coatbridge
⏰ Saturday 19–Sunday 20 September, 10am–4pm
💷 Free
👉 More info

💃 Little Ray

This playful dance show is made for wee ones aged 3–5 who have a lot of feelings to get through. Build a cosy nest, watch the dancers bring emotions to life, then join them on the dance floor at the end.

📍 Lanternhouse, Cumbernauld
⏰ Sunday 20 September, 11am & 2pm
💷 See event website for details
👉 More info

🎈 IKEA Glasgow Turns 25

IKEA's birthday party comes with face painting, balloon modelling, a roaming magician and Clyde 1 DJs in store. There'll be food samples, giveaways and 25% off selected iconic products too, which could make that "just popping in" trip a dangerous one.

📍 IKEA Glasgow, Renfrew
⏰ Saturday 19–Sunday 20 September, 9:30am–7pm
💷 Free
👉 More info

🐍 Animal Man’s Learn About Animals!

For kids who'd happily spend all day chatting to a spider or a stick insect, this hands-on animal session is a good yin. Meet rescued ducks, a royal python, giant millipedes and more, while learning how to care for animals kindly and safely.

📍 Mugdock Country Park, Milngavie
⏰ Sunday 20 September, 1pm–2pm / 2:30pm–3:30pm
💷 £10
👉 More info

That's your weekend sorted, Wee Weekenders! 🎉

From cake contests and colour clouds to puppets and pythons, there's loads happening without needing a huge plan.

Fingers crossed you get a coffee while it's still warm.

Catch you next week,

Wee Weekender 💛