Saturday in Edinburgh – What’s On Today

Love Culture, Hate Racism: celebrate diversity and enjoy family fun, with music from Rise and the Jit Jive Band, henna hand painting, storytelling from Mara Menzies, world cuisine, stalls, arts and crafts. 12 noon-4pm, St Peter’s Church Hall, Lutton Place. Entry free, donations welcome! Organised by South Central Neighbourhood Partnership, Unite Against Fascism and Muslim Women’s Association of Edinburgh.

Bookbug: songs and rhymes for young children and their carers. 10.30am, Fountainbridge Library, 137 Dundee Street. Free.

LifeCare Craft Fair: jewellery, ceramics, accessories, candles, glass, cards, sweets, cushions and lots more. Refreshments and raffle. LifeCare is a charity working with the elderly, dementia sufferers and their carers. 10.30am-4.30pm, LifeCare Centre, 2 Cheyne Street, Stockbridge. Call 0131 343 0940 for information.

Family Cinema: see your favourite film for free! Adventure, excitement, fun and laughs: juice and choc ices available in the interval for 50p each. Best for children under 10: all children must be accompanied by an adult. This week: Turbo (2013).  Next week: Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs (1937), subtitles available, please ask. 10.30am-12.30pm, St Brides Community Centre, Orwell Terrace. Free.

Craftivism: Creative Activism. Find or restore your inspiration, consider new ways to campaign, share your ideas, make things! The second day of a two day gathering to share skills and ideas for using crafts in activism, as part of Edinburgh World Justice Festival. All welcome, all materials provided – but please bring your own needles if you can – no experience needed, free.  If you missed the first session you are still welcome to attend this one. 10am-2pm, Forest Centre Plus, Argyle House, 38 Castle Terrace. Enter from Castle Terrace, by the roundabout at the bottom of Johnston Terrace. Note: this is not the Forest Cafe, although you are welcome to continue crafting there afterwards. Completed crafts will be displayed in the cafe.

The Big Draw – American Impressionism (Ages 4+) Explore the world of the Impressionists, wonder at the beautiful paintings in the exhibition, and try your hand at a series of fun, creative activities, including painting outdoors (weather permitting!)  1.30-4.30pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art TWO, Belford Road. Free entry to the exhibition for participating families. No booking required. Part of the Family Arts Festival.

The Vintage Kilo Sale: over five tonnes of quality mixed vintage fashion and accessories – only £15 per kilo! Dresses, denim, menswear, jackets, jeans, jumpers, blouses, shirts, shorts, tees and more. Stock will be replenished throughout the day. 12 noon-4pm, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street. Entry £1. For more information see www.judysvintagefair.co.uk

GENERATION tours at Modern One: free, discussion-led tours of the exhibition, focusing on key themes and artists. 11-11.45am or 1-1 45pm, Scottish Gallery of Modern Art ONE, Belford Road. Free and unticketed.

Zoo Arts Extra: Beach Day: bring your family and friends for fun, food, fire and art. Please dress ‘warm and waterproof.’ There will be a walk to a local beach (25 minutes). Zoo Arts Extra will provide food, drink, fire, creative materials and activities. This event is for all ages but children should be accompanied by a responsible adult.  There are limited places for unaccompanied children: please book early and sign a permission form if you wish your child to attend alone. 12 noon-4pm (approx), North Edinburgh Arts, 15a Pennywell Court. Free – a £1 deposit will secure your place and your food and drinks. Call 0131 351 2151, or call into NEA, for more information and booking.

Portrait Gallery Architecture Tours: monthly architecture tours of the magnificent Arts and Crafts building designed by Sir Robert Rowand Anderson. 2-2.45pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free but places are limited so booking is essential: call 0131 624 6560.

Lunchtime concert: Autumn Leaves. A new ensemble of female voices present jazz, pop and gospel music. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.

Zambian Independence: Celebrating 50 Years of a Nation. To mark the 50th anniversary of Zambian Independence a special day of events will take place in the James Watt Centre, to include guest speakers, workshops, exhibitions and a Zambian-inspired fashion project display by students from the School of Textiles and Design. Speakers will include representatives from the Zambian and Scottish governments and a video-conference link to Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia’s founding father and former president. This is an opportunity to learn more about Zambia, its history and culture and its links with Scotland. A celebratory dinner will follow in the evening. 10am-3.30pm, (dinner at 7pm), James Watt Centre, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh Campus, EH14 4AS. The day is free but registration is required: tickets for the dinner may also be purchased via the registration site here: the site also gives more information about this event.

The Drop–In: a new city-wide fun packed activity for families with a child aged 0-18 with a disability, and their siblings, who live in Edinburgh. It offers the opportunity to meet with other parents and carers over a cup of tea whilst the children take part in activities (sports, arts, computer games, soft play, bouncy castle and much more) run by experienced youth workers (NB parents/carers do have to stay in the building.) 10am-2pm, Jack Kane Community Centre, 208 Niddrie Mains Rd (0131 657 1595); 2-4pm Northfield and Willowbrae Community Centre, 10 Northfield Road (0131 661 5273); 1.30-3.30pm, Carrickvale Community Centre, 2 Saughton Mains Street (0131 443 6971) and 10am-12 noon, Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, 11 Pilton Drive North (0131 552 5700.) All drop-ins will take place at the same times every Saturday.

Writing Letters, Writing Lives: in a society filled with emails, texts and tweets are we losing the powerful art of letter writing? Is there something you want to say? Something you want to tell someone? Write your letter in this fun, innovative creative writing workshop. 2-4pm, Ocean Terminal Community Space, 98 Ocean Drive. Free but booking required: contact Kim Schroeder on 07443 488 395 or at katschroeder@gmx.net Part of Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival 2014.

The Science of Wood: meet wood scientists from Napier University and learn how we can use wood in a variety of different ways through fun, hands-on activities. 1-4pm, Real Life Science Studio, Gateway, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. Free: also available on Sunday 19th October 2014 at same times.

Main Street Blues: foot-stomping acoustic blues. 9.30-11.30pm, Old Chain Pier, 32 Trinity Crescent. Free entry.