The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition: 9 - 11 Oct 2026
Bid to ban balaclavas in city centre, new Hogmanay concerts venue, Cargo Bike Carnival in the Meadows on Sunday + Sett Studios 'Foik Ferly' procession through Leith
👋 Good morning Edinburgh. I need to pause the newsletter for a week, so the next edition will be on Monday 19th. Sorry to disappoint, but please understand it's for good reason. Thanks. There are no council meetings next week, so it's good timing. Please behave meantime. Here's your weekend Edinburgh Minute...
🌦️ Weekend weather forecast: Sunshine and showers today and Saturday. Drier on Sunday. Lower temperatures this weekend, though, peaking at 13C on Sunday afternoon after dipping to 6C on Saturday morning. - The full Met Office forecast for Edinburgh is here.
🌅 Sunrise: 7.32am. Sunset: 6.27pm.
🔥 West Nicolson Street was closed to vehicles last night as firefighters tackled a top-floor fire in a flat. - Heather Carrick, Evening News.
- Meanwhile a bungalow fire on Wednesday night sparked the evacuation of some properties in Gracemount. - Erin Maguire, STV News.
😷 Some politicians are calling for a ban on people wearing balaclavas in the city centre to combat antisocial behaviour. - Ian Swanson, The Scotsman.
- 'Duo spotted riding motorbike 'dangerously' on busy footpath'- Isla Storie, Edinburgh Live.
Ian Swanson
🟢 Four local Scottish Greens councillors have announced they'll stand down before next year’s council elections. - Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco, The Herald.
🎨 Summerhall's resident artists and local politicians are urging housing developer AMA to 'keep their promise' to keep arts at the centre of the venue. - A good piece from the consultation event by Jolene Campbell in the Edinburgh Inquirer.
- 'Anger and uncertainty at Edinburgh arts centre “partial demolition” plans' - Ross Chalmers, Deadline News.
- Analysis on Summerhall plans: what 'partial demolition' means for the arts hub - Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco, The Herald.
Edinburgh Inquirer
🎨 Meanwhile councillors have urged the owners of St Margaret's House to 'do the right thing' and help the 200 tenants facing eviction to find new premises. - Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco, The Herald.
Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
🏗️ Plans have emerged to demolish Historic Scotland’s archives building at 16 Bernard Terrace in Newington to make way for new student accommodation. - Kevin Quinn, Evening News.
🥁 If you're anywhere between Calton Hill and Leith Walk on Saturday around 3pm, you will see and hear the Sett Studios Foik Ferly procession. Its the artist collective's fifth annual folkloric procession, featuring live music, visual art and performances. The organisers say:
"As the veil starts to thin while we approach Samhain, Sett Studios reappears from their hibernation for one day. With nightmarish ghouls, creatures and dream-like wanderings from Calton Hill to Leith Walk we invite you to follow the fool and float along with us. Bring bells, whistles and all kinds of noisemakers, and use your encouraging energies to bring us back to life as we continue to find our way out of our limbo state. Attendees are invited to view a nightmare scene full of strange critters at the Collective Gallery before joining the procession at 3pm. Costumes are not required, but are encouraged!"
🔥 Tickets for this winter's Torchlight Procession go on sale at midday. Organisers of Edinburgh's Hogmanay have also announced a new events programme for the McEwan Hall featuring trad stars Blazin’ Fiddles, Julie Fowlis, Karen Matheson, and the return of'‘Muckle Be The Light' with Michael Pedersen welcoming Charlotte Church, Hollie McNish and Gordon Buchanan. - More details here.
🌻 The Secret Herb Garden venue near Hillend is for sale at £1.45m. - Scott Reid, The Scotsman.
🏄♂️ The GB Surfing team has selected the Lost Shore Surf Resort in Ratho as an Olympic training facility. - Kevin Quinn has more details in the Evening News.
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard - news you can use:
📚 Edinburgh's Tills Bookshop wins prestigious RSL Hawthornden Grant for new outdoor reading festival. - 'Tills Bookshop, Edinburgh's tiny green bookshop overlooking the Meadows, has been awarded the RSL Hawthornden Grant to deliver 'The Festival of Wild Reading', a free outdoor communal reading festival featuring author talks and an outdoor library.' - More details here, shared by Tills Bookshop.
👩🍳 Roberta Hall McCarron announces Magic Dinners series with female chefs in support of Magic Breakfast - 'Running across The Little Chartroom, Eleanore and Ardfern, the series will feature exciting female chefs from across the UK. Priced between £60 - £100, 20% of each menu will be donated to Magic Breakfast, UK’s leading school breakfast charity.' - More details here, shared by Liza Kupreeva, Goya Communications.
🚂 322 new walks by train for an autumn day out - 'Edinburgh-based trainable has added 322 new walks across Scotland, just in time for autumn colour. Over half start at a station or within a 15-minute walk (none more than 45 mins away). Routes range from city strolls to woodlands, coasts and hills.' - More details here, shared by trainable.
🎶 Register your child today for new weekly music and movement classes at locations across the city! - '45 minutes of song, movement, musical games and fun! All led live from the piano with no screens or backing tracks to be heard or seen. Locations include Leith, Corstorphine, Morningside and Davidson's Mains.' - More details here, shared by Edinburgh Musicale.
🧘🏻♀️ Qigong in Leith - Special Offer for Edinburgh Minute readers! - 'Hi friends! A wee offer for the fabulous Minute readers of Leith, to start your week in good vibes with some qigong movement and mediation at the cosy Alae. Offering 4 x £5 taster spots to anyone interested to try! Use code MINUTE to access. ✨🙏🌸🌟 (Deadline: 11 Oct)' - More details here, shared by Evi, Numinous Flow.
🏃♂️ Blast 5K @ The Meadows Raises £168 for Charity - 'Thank you to all the runners who ran the Autumn 5K at the Meadows on the 6th October. Runners & supporters raised £168 for the Bowelbabe Fund. The upcoming Santa and Elf Dash 1K / 5K/ 10K in Cammo on 20th December will support Young Lives vs Cancer.' - More details here, shared by Catriona Bruce, Blast Running.
🎭 How do you feel about the Edinburgh Fringe? - 'This undergraduate research explores how the Edinburgh Festival Fringe influences residents’ sense of place, belonging, and experience of Edinburgh It should take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. Any responses are hugely appreciated! (Deadline: 20 Nov)' - More details here, shared by Patrick Baines.
🤖 Teens and AI - 'Teachers and young people aged 16-18 wanted! We're looking for participants to help shape how teenagers use AI. Share your views and habits and help create a safer, fairer future for AI. Get in touch: hwengage@hw.ac.uk' - More details here, shared by Heriot-Watt University.
🌿 Anonymous Scottish Government Survey for Hyperscale Data Centres - 'If you want to have your say about the issues of having hyperscale data centres built in Scotland (in the hopes they actually listen this time) please take a few minutes out of your day to fill in the survey attached. Say no to the tech bros! (Deadline: 15 Nov)' - More details here, shared by Amy Liston.
🥃 Haunted Drams - Ghost & Whisky Experience [Until 30 Oct]
Today, Fri 09 October - 'Step into the shadows of Edinburgh's dark past on this walking tour through the Old Town's forgotten corners, before descending into The Lost Close, a hidden underground space to savour two drams of premium Scotch whisky.'
7.15pm to 8.45pm | The Lost Close · Old Town | £45 - More details here, shared by The Lost Close.
🎷 Annaliesa Rose & the Buds at Edinburgh Jazz 'n Jive
Today, Fri 09 October - 'This Friday, 9 October, will be a very special evening: The Australian Jazz vocalist Annaliesa Rose will play at the Edinburgh Jazz 'n Jive Club. Expect classic swinging jazz, great for listening and dancing.'
8pm to 11pm | Heriot's Rugby Club · Inverleith | £13.00 & £16.00 - More details here, shared by Edinburgh Jazz 'n Jive Club.
🧶 Unconformities Textiles Exhibition [Until Sun]
Tomorrow, Sat 10 October - 'Last chance to see this collection of knitted textiles inspired by mathematics and geology. The centrepiece of the show is a portrait in natural dyed wool celebrating the 300th birthday of Edinburgh's James Hutton, founder of modern geology.'
11am to 4pm | Coburg House Art Studios · Leith | FREE - More details here, shared by Madeleine Shepherd.
🖼 Building Branches: Collective Witness - Art exhibition about Palestine [Until Sun]
Sat 10 October - 'Building Branches: Collective Witness brings together visual art, testimony and collective reflection in response to more than three years of widely documented violence, loss and ongoing injustice in Palestine. 9am-5pm on 10-11 October.'
9am to 5pm | Collective Space · Canonmills & Broughton | FREE - More details here, shared by Edinburgh Palestine Community Wellbeing Group.
🎶 Edinburgh Concert Band - Children's Concert
Tomorrow, Sat 10 October - 'Edinburgh Concert Band presents The Children's Concert - a morning of live music for all the family, with familiar favourites from Pixar, Frozen and more!'
11am to 12pm | St Brides Centre · Haymarket & Dalry | £5 - More details here, shared by Edinburgh Concert Band.
🎶 Music at Noon: Organ Recital
Tomorrow, Sat 10 October - 'Edinburgh New Town Church's Director of Music gives a recital of favourite pieces. Programme includes Maxwell-Davies' Farewell to Stromness and Fletcher's Festial Toccata and more!'
12pm to 1pm | Edinburgh New Town Church · New Town | FREE - More details here, shared by Ian Munro.
🎨 Phoebe Anna Traquair murals at Mansfield Traquair Centre
Sun 11 October - 'See Phoebe Anna Traquair's amazing murals. Open 1.00-4.00pm (last tour 3.15pm). Tour with our friendly guides - no need to book. Free entry, but donations help maintain this beautiful artwork. Buy tickets now for Christmas concert on 6 December.'
1pm to 4pm | Mansfield Traquair · Canonmills & Broughton | Donations - More details here, shared by Friend of Mansfield Traquair Centre.
🐙 How Deep Is Your Love?
Sun 11 October - 'A visually hypnotic and playful plunge into the underworld, this documentary follows a team of biologists racing to identify the strange creatures of the abyss before industrial mining threatens to wipe out their ecosystem forever.'
2pm to 3.30pm | Filmhouse · Tollcross | from £5 - More details here, shared by Scottish Documentary Institute.
💃 By Yon Bonnie Banks
Sun 11 October - 'By Yon Bonnie Banks - a new dance production by Balletto Monson. When Astrid, arrives in Scotland from Sweden, she discovers belonging, joy and love. With ballet, song and spoken word, Scottish and Swedish culture is combined in a moving story.'
7.30pm to 9pm | St Brides Centre · Haymarket & Dalry | £20/£16 concessions - More details here, shared by Julia Forsyth, Balletto Monson.
🥗 7 practical dietary habits for perimenopause
Mon 12 October - 'Free library talk - Dr Laura Wyness, Registered Nutritionist & author of 'Eating Well for Menopause' will share practical advice to help you optimise your diet for perimenopause. Free to attend but please register so we know numbers.'
6pm to 7pm | McDonald Road Library · Canonmills & Broughton | FREE - More details here, shared by Laura Wyness.
🎨 AHSS Lecture: 'Robert Adam and Italian Artists
Mon 12 October - 'Katherine McHale will show the fine work of Italian painters living in Britain who contributed historical and mythological works to decorate Robert Adam's interiors.'
6.30pm to 8pm | Augustine United Church · Old Town | £6 - More details here, shared by The Architectural Heritage society of Scotland.
🇮🇹 Speak Out Beginner Italian Course [Every Monday]
Mon 12 October - 'Speak Out Language' signature beginner course designed to give you all the tools you would need to get around Italy comfortably. Speak Italian in just 10 weeks!'
7pm to 8pm | Speak Out Languages · New Town - More details here, shared by Speak Out Languages.
🎶 Edinburgh Scandi Session; it's a music session for joining in, not a concert.
Tue 13 October - 'Edinburgh Scandi Session - we're having another music session at Diggers Leith. We've the upstairs room where we can play as many pols, gånglåt, polska, vals, schottis, reinländer, halling, sønderhoning, polonäs as we like in our 2-3 hour allocation.'
7pm to 10pm | Diggers Leith · Leith | FREE - More details here, shared by Philip Lyon.
Remember you can always see all 270+ upcoming local events on TownSpot calendars and maps. Thanks to everyone who shares their things!
🏃♀️ The Union Canal and Water of Leith will be busy with runners on Sunday with the Glasgow to Edinburgh Ultra 57 run ending at Saughton Park. - More details here.
🛝 Find lots of family-friendly things to do this weekend and beyond in Gayle's Guide, including a preview of the Make It Yourself Festival at Pianodrome in Bruntsfield.
Gayle’s Guide