Saturday in Edinburgh – What’s On Today

Christmas Special Dugs N Pubs: dress your pooch up as a Christmas pudding, Santa or Rudolph and meet your favourite doggy friends at Sofi’s! 12 noon, Sofi’s Bar, 65 Henderson Street.

Out of the Blue Christmas Arts Market and Open Studios – stalls will include furniture, jewellery, illustrations, photography, textiles, paintings, ceramics, clocks, vintage wear and mulled wine. There will also be a small Music Fair organised by local labels (Hobbes Music, Hero Records, Glint Recordings, mini50, Tabernacle and Groove Line) selling their own releases whilst their DJ Collective plays throughout the day, and an Open Studios event offering a chance to see behind the scenes and meet some of the Drill Hall based artists and makers. 11am-5pm, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street. Entry £1.

Ukrainian Craft and Food Fair: a charity event featuring Ukrainian crafters who live in Scotland. 12 noon-4pm, Edinburgh Ukrainian Club, 14 Royal Terrace. Entry £1 (children free), which includes a tea or coffee and a mince pie. Organised by the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain. 

Edinburgh University Brass Band: a concert of music from various genres and time periods, conductor Angus Tully. 7.30pm, Reid Concert Hall, Bristo Square. £5/£3, tickets available on the door. More information from eubrassband@gmail.com.

Bookbug: songs and rhymes for very young children and babies: 2.30pm, Corstorphine Library, 12 Kirk Loan.

FACE (Fighting Against Cancer in Edinburgh) Christmas Fair: crafts, books, cakes, candy, bric a brac, tombola, raffle, Santa’s Grotto, children’s games, police motorbike, refreshments, carols and much more. 11am-3pm, Edinburgh Cancer Care Outpatients, Western General Hospital (Off Crewe Road). Free entry.

Maharaja Duleep Singh and Queen Victoria: removed from his throne in Northern India by the East India Company, Duleep was separated from his mother at the age of 10 and brought up by his Scottish guardian, Dr John Spencer Login. He was eventually ‘adopted’ by Queen Victoria and became a popular figure amongst British high society. Priya Atwal (University of Oxford) explores Duleep’s peculiarly British upbringing across mid-19th century India, England and Scotland and delves into how the queen and the doctor attempted to mould Duleep into a new kind of ideal ‘Anglo-Indian prince’ during a formative period of the British Raj. 2-3pm, Auditorium, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Booking required: free tickets can be reserved online, by calling 0300 123 6789 or in person at the Museum’s information desk.

GENERATION Tours at Modern One: free, discussion-led tours of the GENERATION exhibition, focusing on key themes and artists. 11-11.45am or 1-1.45pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art ONE, Belford Road. Free and unticketed.

The Open Orchestra Concert: Borodin, Eine Steppenskizze; Tom Cunningham, Edinburgh Suite, Mozart Haffner Symphony No.35 in D Major. Conductor: Andrew Lees. 7.30pm, Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate. The Open Orchestra is an established group of amateur musicians of all ages and abilities.

Christmas Crafternoon: a festive afternoon drop-in session at which you can make a Christmas decoration inspired by the Museum’s collections. 12 noon-4pm, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Free. Also available at same times on Sunday 7th, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th December 2014.

Bookbug: songs and rhymes for very young children and babies. 10.30am, Oxgangs Library, 43 Oxgangs Road North.

The Edinburgh Christmas Tree Festival: a festival of Christmas trees donated by local businesses. Today until 24th December, Sanctuary, St Andrew’s & St George’s West Church, 13 George Street.

Illustrated Storytelling with James Mayhew: James Mayhew’s much-loved picture-book character Katie has been making art an adventure for children worldwide for 25 years. James’s infectious enthusiasm and fantastic events are legendary – find out why as you watch him tell amazing stories while painting upside down! Get your book signed in person – a perfect Christmas treat! For ages 5+. 2-2.30pm or 3-3.30pm, Main Gallery Floor, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. No booking required.

Portrait Gallery Thematic Tours: White as Snow. Monthly thematic tours of the Portrait Gallery’s collection: this month artist Emily Learmont traces the colour white through the art of portraiture, looking at the portrait of Mary,Queen of Scots, the history of lead white paint, and how artists painted shimmery white silk. 2-2.45pm or 3-3.45pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free and unticketed.

Christmas Truce Concert: a concert in memory of the Christmas ‘truce’ between troops on the front in Flanders on Christmas Eve 1914. An evening of German and British carols performed by all-male vocal group Ensemble miXtur, accompanied by readings and poetry. Join the German Consulate General for this festive charity event. 6-7pm, St Andrew’s & St George’s West Church, 13 George Street. All contributions will be donated to charity.

Ponte City: Mikhael Subotzky and Patrick Waterhouse – Opening Talk. South African photographer Subotzky and British artist Waterhouse discuss their collaborative project Ponte City with Anne Lyden, International Photography Curator at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. The project, currently on show at the Portrait Gallery, documents the Ponte City building in Johannesburg from 2007 to 2012. 2-3pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.

Eco Kidz Pop Up Stall: a fantastic selection of recycled gifts. Eco Kidz is a Creative Social Enterprise project for children aged 8-12, set up by North Edinburgh Arts and funded by the Big Lottery Young Start Fund: it aims to develop young people’s art, design and business skills by helping them to create their own brand of handmade, market-ready products using recycled materials and upcycling techniques. Today’s pop up stall will offer jewellery, notebooks, pincushions, vases, brooches, key rings, magnets, Christmas cards and more. 10am-12.30pm, North Edinburgh Arts Cafe, 15a Pennywell Court.  For more information click here.

Edinburgh Youth Choir: the Choir performs two short concerts of your favourite Christmas songs. From traditional tunes to jazzy jingle bells, there will be something for all the family to enjoy and get involved in! 11.30am-12 noon or 1-1.30pm, Great Hall, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free and unticketed.

The Big LGBT Music Jam: a creative and supportive space for making music. Play, sing your own song, or just be an appreciative listener: all music tastes welcome. Bring your own instrument – some percussion supplied. 1-4pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. No need to book, just turn up! For more information contact biglgbtmusicjamedinburgh@gmail.com.

Christmas Craft Fair: hand-crafted gifts, Santa’s Grotto, carols. 1-4pm, Craigmillar Community Arts, 58 Newcraighall Road.

Natural Partners: Forests and Education. Forests, trees and woodlands, and all aspects of wood as a material, offer fantastic opportunities for learning. Explore a number of hands-on activities, suitable for all ages. 12.30-3.30pm, Real Life Science Studio, Gateway, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. Free: no booking required. Facilitated by students from Moray House School of Education and staff from Forest Research and Forestry Commission Scotland. Also available at same times on Sunday 7th December.

Bohemia Art, Craft and Vintage Christmas Fair: browse and buy from local artists, designers and makers. Cafe open. 11am-4pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Free entry.

Winter Guided Walk: join a garden guide for a leisurely afternoon walk around the Garden. Discover stunning seasonal highlights and learn about the history of the Garden and its plants. For ages 14+. 2pm, meet at John Hope Gateway reception, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. £5 per person, no advance booking required. Also available at same time on Sunday 7th December.

TF Muir: The Meating Room. Best-selling Scottish crime writer TF Muir will be signing copies of his new thriller, The Meating Room, the fifth book in his DCI Andy Gilchrist series. When Andrew Magner’s business partner is found dead in his car in Anstruther all the evidence points to suicide – why did he do it?And was Magner himself a serial rapist in his youth – or something even worse?  ‘Gilchrist might just be the bloke to put St Andrew’s on the crime fiction map’ (Daily Record). 2pm, Waterstones, Ocean Terminal. For more information call 0131 554 7732.

Coburg House Open Studios: come out of the cold and explore Coburg’s four floors of working artists’ studios in the heart of Leith. Meet the creators of the work on display and pick up the perfect hand-crafted piece. Painting, printmaking, textiles, ceramics, jewellery and more. 11am-6pm, Coburg House Art Studios, 15 Coburg Street. Also open at same times on Sunday 7th December 2014.

The Edinburgh Gallery Christmas Exhibition: opens today, then 11am-5pm Monday to Friday, 10am-1pm Saturdays, The Edinburgh Gallery, 20a Dundas Street.