4 fun family time things to do in Inverness this weekend
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
It's a bumper week with Hey Duggee on stage, the Eastgate Centre's free fun, big movies and Eden Court's week-long creative events for different age groups ...
1 Curtain opens on new Hey Duggee live show
Big news this week is the chance to get along to the Hey Duggee interactive production with music, puppets and laughs in a show that won itself the honour of an Olivier Award a few months back. What to expect? It's 55 minutes (no interval) with Duggee and the Squirrels plus many more favourite characters, all hoping to have fun! Betty wants to make costumes, Happy wants to sing, Tag wants to make music, Norrie wants to dance, Roly wants jelly and they all want lots of people to join them at the clubhouse. Luckily Duggee has his theatre badge, will you all get yours too? The BBC and Studio AKA TV series has won six BAFTAs and multiple EMMYs, so don’t miss Duggee live on stage in this production of the much-loved TV show. There are six performances at Eden Court on Saturday, July 8 and Sunday, July 9 both days at 10am, 1pm and 3.30pm.
2 Shopping for free events?
There's a summer of free events lined up at the Eastgate Centre from today until August 12 – also with the new soft play for younger ones open every day from 9am to 5pm. Each of the activities will last around 30 minutes on a first come first served basis on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11am to 3pm. On Tuesday (July 4) this week, that is Exotic Animal Encounters and the chance to get up close with friendly creatures from Scottish Exotic Animal Rescue (More here:). On Wednesday (July 5) Garden And Grow, learning about planting, growing and caring for plants and the environment. Youngsters also get to take home their own plants to grow at home, sponsored by Simpsons Garden Centre. A heads up for next week is Tuesday, July 11 there's the chance to learn circus skills with Trapeze Entertainment from plate spinning, juggling, ribbons to poi. And on Wednesday, July 12 there's the chance to try animal yoga! Look out for a meal discount offer and the chance to win £25 of prizes in Smiggle and Waterstones.
3 Big movie moments ...
Movies to look out for this week for families, include for younger ones Elemental (PG) where in a city where fire, water, land, and air residents live together, a fiery young woman discovers how much you can have in common with someone different from you! And for older families, it's the big one –Tom Cruise is back Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One (12A) as Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team have their most dangerous mission yet, to find the terrifying new weapon that threatens humanity.
4 Wood you fancy this?
Into The Forest at Eden Court is a themed week for ages five to eights, while Myths And Legends is for nines to 12s, Both are on from Monday, July 10 until Friday, July 14. Into The Forest is on from 11.15am to 1.15pm, with Myths And Legends on the same dates but from 2.15pm to 5.15pm each day. Both themed weeks of events are part of the Summer Studio Programme. For both, it is a block booking costing £55 for the five days. Each day there will be a different creative activity – for Into The Forest, sometimes dancing, sometimes filmmaking, sometimes crafting together, but always being as sustainable as possible too. Things to know – the sessions are available as a block booking only and discounts aren't available for part attendance. Youngsters need to bring – a light snack for during the short break; loose, comfortable clothing, they will be moving lots; a bottle of water or juice to keep hydrated – reusable would be great as you can top it up there if need be. For the Myths and Legends programme, grown-ups are invited to come along at the end of the week for a short, informal sharing of the creations the young people have made. The theatre says it recognises that for some the cost of this class/project might be "prohibitive to taking part" and mentions that it can support a limited number of bursary places. To find out more, email: engagement@eden-court.co.uk and a member of the engagement team will be back in touch with you.
