Entertainment for all the family
May
1-6 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, various venues, Speyside – annual celebration of Scotland's national drink. www.spiritofspeyside.com
3-5 Crime and Thrillers Weekend, Cromarty – talks, book signings, Q&A sessions, writing workshops, movie night and spectacular Gala Night entertainment. Guest authors include Ian Rankin, Shona MacLean and Lin Anderson. To book visit www.cromartyartstrust.org.uk
3-6 Adult Fèis, Ullapool – festival offering first-class tuition in traditional music, song, dance, Gaelic language and culture. www.feisrois.org.uk
3-7 Bandstand Beer and Music Festival, Braeval Hotel, Nairn. www.braevalhotel.co.uk
4 Inverness Farmers' Market, Eastgate end of High Street, Inverness.
4 Strathconon Cycle Ride, Fairburn Memorial Hall, Marybank – annual family-friendly event. Visit the Strathconon Cycle Facebook page for more details.
4 In Conversation at Inverewe, Inverewe Garden (Osgood's Café), Poolewe, 7pm – renowned crime writer Ann Cleeves, author of the highly successful 'Shetland' and 'Vera' series. Includes book-signing. www.nts.org.uk/visit/inverewe
4 Warehouse 91, The Ironworks, Inverness – an authentic 1990s warehouse rave. www.ironworksvenue.com
4 Fortrose Community Market, Fortrose Town Hall, 10am-12.30pm.
4 Legend: A tribute to Bob Marley, Eden Court, Inverness – seven great musicians and singers dedicated to the life and music of the late, great Bob Marley. www.eden-court.co.uk
4-5 Logie Timber Festival, Logie Steading, Forres – a weekend of all things wood. www.logie.co.uk
5 Cairngorm Farmers Market, The Square, Grantown.
6 West Coast Arts (Music, dance, and song from around the world), Gairloch Community Hall annex, Gairloch – Hebrides Ensemble (live streaming of lunchtime concert). Find on Facebook.
7-11 The Verdict, Eden Court, Inverness – a stunning courtroom thriller made famous by the five times Oscar-nominated Sidney Lumet film with Paul Newman and James Mason. www.eden-court.co.uk
8 Dark Side of the Moon in Strathpeffer, Strathpeffer Pavilion, 7.30pm – London based tribute band What the Floyd perform the whole of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, plus a heap of other Floyd classics. www.highlifehighland.com/strathpefferpavilion
8 Dornoch Community Markets, Cathedral Green, Dornoch, 9.30am-1pm. www.visitdornoch.com
9 An evening with the "world's greatest psychic" June Field, Strathpeffer Pavilion, Strathpeffer, 7.30pm-10pm – June has amazed audiences with her specific contacts and evidence that our loved ones are still with us. www.highlifehighland.com/strathpefferpavilion
9 Christine Hanson's The Creation of Sam McGee, Macphail Centre, Ullapool, 7.30pm – Christine's wonderful musical compositions accompany what is probably Robert Service's best-known poem, set in the snow-bound north. www.macphailcentre.com
10 Amateur Photographic Competition, Strathpeffer Community Centre, Strathpeffer – theme is food for thought. There are three age categories ranging from five to 18 years old and a prize for the winner in each age category. www.strathpeffercommunitycentre.org.uk
10 Teuchter's Comedy Club, The Muir Hub, Muir of Ord – join The Teuchter's Comedy Club for a hilarious night of comedy. Limited tickets £7 available on Eventbrite and at The Muir Hub. https://themuirhub.org
10-12 Ullapool Book Festival, Ullapool – showcase for writers from the Highlands, other parts of Scotland and from the world. For list of guests visit www.ullapoolbookfestival.co.uk
10-12 Cairngorms Nature BIG Weekend (formerly the Cairngorms Nature Festival) – nature walks, talks and activities around the Cairngorms National Park. www.cairngorms.co.uk
11 Orquesta Latina Del Norte, The Stables, Cromarty, 8pm – the best salsa band in the Highlands! www.cromartyartstrust.org.uk
11 Glen Affric Duathlon – a bike and run event suitable for novices and elite athletes. www.glen-affric-duathlon.co.uk
11 Inverness BID Classic Vehicle Show, city centre, Inverness. www.invernessbid.co.uk
11 Hotel California, Elgin Town Hall, Elgin – 100 minutes of pure Eagles nostalgia. www.elgintownhall.co.uk
11 Cromarty Community Market, Victoria Hall, Cromarty 11am-2pm.
11 Bealach Beag, Sheildaig – a 43-mile cycling event on the Applecross peninsula, taking in the famous Bealach na Ba, the UK's biggest road climb. Entry www.handsonevents.co.uk
11-12 StrathBetter 19, Strathpeffer Community Centre, Strathpeffer, 10am-5pm – a weekend of oneness and vitality with therapists, retailers, readers, speakers and workshop activities to help us achieve optimal living. Visit the StrathBetter Facebook page for more details.
12 Through the Decades with Roy Orbison & Buddy Holly, Strathpeffer Pavilion, Strathpeffer, 7.30pm – an uplifting two hour show that will entertain you with all the hits, but with a few older and more modern tracks thrown in too. Starring Darren Page and Marc Robinson. www.highlifehighland.com/strathpefferpavilion
12 The RNLI Pursuit Race, Invergordon Boating Club, Invergordon, 11am-2pm – the annual event is open to all sailing boats at the club. Donations to RNLI Invergordon Lifeboat. Find on Facebook.
14-15 A Disappearing Act, Eden Court, Inverness – a comedy about how we want to be remembered and what we hope people will forget! www.eden-court.co.uk
15 Tom McGuire + The Brassholes, The Ironworks, Inverness – an eclectic, modern-soul-funk, 8-piece band from Glasgow, headed by keen skater, lumberjack-attired soul bearer, Tom McGuire. www.ironworksvenue.com
16 Moth Morning, Evanton Woods, Evanton, 10am-noon – get mothy with a coffee! A morning of moth identification, hot drinks and biscuits. Free event but donations welcome. Email Marcia.rae2@highlifehighland.com or ring 07788387634.
16-18 Lost at Sea, Eden Court, Inverness – featuring the voices of fishermen and their families in their own words – with music, songs and Scots language – it is the lyrical and powerfully evocative story of a North-East fishing family. www.eden-court.co.uk
17 Siobhan Miller, Ceilidh Place, Ullapool. www.ceilidhplace.com
17 Kendal Mountain Festival UK Tour 2019, Eden Court, Inverness – an evening packed full of amazing films and awe-inspiring talks from some of the world's most impressive adventurers. www.eden-court.co.uk
18 Culbokie Community Market, Findon Hall, Culbokie, 10am-12.30pm.
18 The Poozies, Eden Court, Inverness – expect exhilarating sets of original tunes and an eclectic mix of songs, all bursting with energy, seduction, rascality and invention. www.eden-court.co.uk
18 Jerry Sadowitz, The Ironworks, Inverness – making comedy grate again! www.ironworksvenue.com
18 Tain Community Market, Rose Gardens, Tain, 10am-2pm – for more details visit the Tain & District Development Trust Facebook page.
18 The Bohemians (Queen Tribute), Dingwall Town Hall, Dingwall, 8pm – the most dynamic and exciting Queen Tribute Band currently touring. Go to the Dingwall Events Facebook page for more details.
18 Trunk In2 Grantown-on-Spey, The Showfield, Grantown-on-Spey – charity truck show. Find on Facebook.
18 East Sutherland Rotary Club's Classic Car Tour, starts at Dornoch Square, Dornoch – annual coast to coast classic car rally for charity. www.rotary-ribi.org
18-19 Community Art Fair, Strathpeffer Community Centre, Strathpeffer, 10am-4pm – www.strathpeffercommunitycentre.org.uk
19 Garden Open: Old Allangrange, Munlochy – a 17th-century lime-washed house is the backdrop to a formal garden with fine old trees including an ancient stand of yews. Planting for wildlife and bees with vegetables grown biodynamically. www.scotlandsgardens.org
19 Paul Merton's Impro Chums, Eden Court, Inverness – an evening of mind-blowing improvisation. www.eden-court.co.uk
19 Gordon Castle Highland Games and Country Fair, Fochabers. www.gordoncastlehighlandgames.co.uk
19 MFR Cash for Kids Car Boot Sale, Mannsfield Showground, Muir of Ord, 7am-1pm – the biggest car boot sale in the North of Scotland. Find MFR Cash for Kids on Facebook for details.
20 Phil Jupitus: Sassy Knack Scottish Tour, Macphail Centre, Ullapool – stand-up comedian, poet, improviser, and TV stalwart tours his new show. www.macphailcentre.com
21-25 The Magic Flute, Eden Court, Inverness – perfectly balances the opera's beguiling mix of comedy, fantasy and pantomime with a profound story of the search for wisdom, love and truth. www.eden-court.co.uk
24 Blackmore's Blood, The Ironworks, Inverness – the authentic tribute to the genius, flamboyance and flair of Ritchie Blackmore from the rock years of Deep Purple and Rainbow. www.ironworksvenue.com
25 Diamh, The Stables, Cromarty, 8pm – Gaelic supergroup and current MG Alba folk band of the year. www.cromartyartstrust.org.uk
25 Garden Open: 10 Stuart Avenue, Ardersier. www.scotlandsgardens.org
25 Mini Orienteering, Culduthel Woods, Inverness (Culduthel Avenue entrance), 10am-2pm – a fun day of family-friendly orienteering, suitable for absolute beginners of any age as well as the more experienced. All funds raised from the event go to Highland Cross, supporting charities across the north of Scotland. For more details see www.johndavidsonoutdoors.com/highlandcross
25 Hooley in the Highlands, Strathpeffer Pavilion, Strathpeffer – annual country music festival, this year featuring Ritchie Remo, Trevor Loughrey, Joe Moore, Tracey McAuley, Bill Alexander and Keltic Storm. www.highlifehighland.com/strathpefferpavilion
25 North Kessock Community Market, North Kessock Hall, 10am-12.30pm.
25 Jersey Notes, Duthac Centre, Tain, 7.30pm – Scotland's number one tribute act to Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Find on Facebook.
25 Cairngorm to Coast – a 100km hike and bike challenge that takes place against the backdrop of the Cairngorm National Park. www.outfitmoray.com
25 Highland and Moray Food and Drink Festival, Eden Court, Inverness. Find on Facebook.
26 Garden Open: Novar, Evanton – featuring renovated water gardens, a new terrace garden and a five-acre walled garden. www.scotlandsgardens.org
26 Eileen Mackintosh & Robin Versteeg, The Stables, Cromarty, 4pm – soprano Eileen and pianist Robin combine the exquisite harmonies of Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder with the romance and mystery of music by American art-song composer Ernest Charles, and opera scenes by Puccini. www.cromartyartstrust.org.uk
26 Phil Jupitus: Sassy Knack Scottish Tour, Universal Hall, Findhorn. www.universalhall.co.uk
26 An Evening of Eric & Ern, Eden Court, Inverness – a show full of Morecambe and Wise's most loved routines, songs and sketches and of course a musical guest. www.eden-court.co.uk
26 Mey 10k – annual 10k race starting and finishing at the Castle of Mey in Caithness. www.northhighlandharriers.co.uk
27 Phil Jupitus: Sassy Knack Scottish Tour, Eden Court, Inverness. www.eden-court.co.uk
28 Scottish Ensemble: Dance Music with Malin Broman (violin), Eden Court, Inverness – from waltzes to tangos, marches to tarantellas: join the UK's leading string orchestra for a joyful celebration of music written to make us move. www.eden-court.co.uk
30 The Chicago Blues Brothers: Motown Mission, Eden Court, Inverness – the award-winning spectacular is Europe's biggest and best-loved production of the Blues Brothers. www.eden-court.co.uk
30 Garden Open: Dundonnell House, Little Loch Broom, Wester Ross. www.scotlandsgardens.org
31 Mike Vass 'Save His Calm,' The Ceilidh Place, Ullapool. www.ceilidhplace.com
31 Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club, The Ironworks, Inverness – this is one Funky Party not to be missed! www.ironworksvenue.com
31 The Guns N Roses Experience and MacTallica, Elgin Town Hall, Elgin – the world's only authentic GnR experience plus support from Scotland's No1 Metallica tribute. www.elgintownhall.co.uk
31 Adam Riches - The Adam Riches Experience, Eden Court, Inverness – enjoy a unique show of off the wall, absurd and downright hilarious live comedy from the Edinburgh Comedy Award winner. www.eden-court.co.uk
31 to June 2 Garden Open: Gorthleck House Garden, Stratherrick – an unusual 20-acre woodland garden built in an unlikely place, on and around an exposed rocky ridge. www.scotlandsgardens.org
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this listing, but please check ahead before travelling to any event.
