🎉 Wee Weekender | 8–9 August – Family Raves, Pirate Ships & Stargazing Fun! 🏴‍☠️✨🎶

Hey Wee Weekenders! 👋

August is in full swing and this weekend has a proper mixed bag of brilliant things going on.

We've got a family rave at Drygate, bagpipes taking over the city, a pirate adventure at the Pavilion, and even a chance to peek at the sun through a proper telescope.

Something for the dancers, the dreamers and the "please just tire them out" crowd.

Here's what's on 👇

🎶 Forever Young – Family Rave Day

A proper dancefloor day out for the whole family. Expect DJ sets, glitter tattoos, colour hair braids and even a Rumi and Spiderman appearance in Room 2. Throw some shapes with the wee ones — no bedtime required.

📍 Drygate Brewing Co., Glasgow East End
⏰ Sunday 9 August, 1pm–4pm
💷 See website
👉 More info

🎉 Ferguslie Park Gala Day

A big, warm-hearted community gala where everyone's welcome. Bring the wee yins, bring the whole clan, and enjoy an afternoon of proper neighbourhood fun. It's free, it's friendly, and it's exactly the kind of local day out that makes summer feel like summer.

📍 The Tannahill Centre, Paisley
⏰ Saturday 8 August, midday–3pm
💷 Free
👉 More info

🎵 Piping Live!

The world's biggest piping festival kicks off in Glasgow this weekend. Loads of events in and around the National Piping Centre, with everything from traditional tunes to contemporary performances. A brilliant way to soak up a bit of Scottish culture with the kids in tow.

📍 The National Piping Centre and around Glasgow
⏰ From Sunday 9 August (runs to 14 August)
💷 See website
👉 More info

⛵ Summer Activities: Boatbuilding (and sinking!)

Build a boat… then deliberately sink it. What's not to love? Kids get to make their own sea-going crafts and launch them in the courtyard pool, plus there's a Titanic handling kit to explore. Cheap, cheerful and gloriously messy.

📍 Low Parks Museum, Hamilton
⏰ Saturday 8 August (booking via reception)
💷 £2.05 per child
👉 More info

🌿 Summer Holiday – Family Fun at Baron's Haugh

A lovely gentle morning exploring the reserve at your own pace, with nature activities designed to help little ones build confidence outdoors. Perfect if your crew love pond-dipping, bug-hunting and general wandering. Just note there are no toilets on-site — plan accordingly!

📍 RSPB Barons Haugh Nature Reserve, Motherwell
⏰ Friday 7 August, 10.30am
💷 £3–£8
👉 More info

🏸 Decathlon Braehead PlayDays

Decathlon turns its flagship store into a giant sports arena for the weekend. Try 20+ sports including archery, cycling, badminton and padel, plus free family fitness classes and loads of local clubs to meet. A brilliant way to burn off some energy and maybe even find a new hobby.

📍 Decathlon Braehead, Renfrew
⏰ Saturday 8 & Sunday 9 August, 9.45am–5pm
💷 Free
👉 More info

🎨 SiMY's Commonwealth Games Family Fun Day

A vibrant free community day with live samba music, bowls and volleyball tournaments, creative workshops and cultural food. Bouncy castle and face painting sorted for the wee ones too. Loads to do and it won't cost you a penny.

📍 Townhead, Glasgow
⏰ Saturday 8 August, from 11am
💷 Free
👉 More info

🎤 Ms.R Tribute Show

If your household is deep in the Ms Rachel phase, this one's a total win. It's a warm, interactive live show with sing-alongs, actions and gentle early learning, perfect for babies, toddlers and under-5s. A lovely first taste of live theatre.

📍 Valley View at Gouldings, Rosebank
⏰ Sunday 9 August, 10.30am
💷 See website
👉 More info

🔭 Stargazing with John Pressly

Stargazing… in the middle of the day? Yep. John from Coats Observatory brings solar telescopes so families can safely observe the sun and its features, plus you'll make your own solar viewer to take home. If the weather doesn't play ball there's an indoor mini planetarium instead — win-win.

📍 Erskine Arts, Erskine
⏰ Sunday 9 August, 11.30am–2pm
💷 Pay what you can / £5 / £8 / £10
👉 More info

🏴‍☠️ The McDougalls: Pirate Adventure

All aboard! Auntie Aggie, Max and Morag the Rabbit set sail on a musical treasure hunt packed with singalong sea shanties. Kids are actively encouraged to come dressed as pirates, so dig out the eyepatch. A brilliant intro to live theatre for the wee ones.

📍 The Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow City Centre
⏰ Sunday 9 August, 1pm
💷 See website
👉 More info

That's your weekend sorted, Wee Weekenders! 🎉

From raves to pirates to a peek at the sun through a telescope, this weekend's lineup has serious variety energy.

Whatever you get up to, hope it's full of sunshine, sea shanties and maybe a wee ice cream to round it off 🍦

Catch you next week,
Wee Weekender 💛