Celebrating Scottish Tale-making and discovering foreign cultures, with a dash of Valentine’s warmth

Scottish tales, traditional and modern, are the focus for fast-paced entertainment to keep the kids entertained through the mid-term holidays at the Scottish Storytelling Centre. The Centre is serving up plenty of treats for all ages, with Mrs Mash’s Pancake Day, Story Space and a free afternoon of events that celebrate the storytelling traditions of Scotland and China.

For parents, minders and anyone else who cringes at the cutesy couplings of Valentine’s Day, why not come along to the Centre’s Storytelling Café on Wednesday 10th February for an evening of tales to sit back and enjoy or contribute towards. Storyteller Patsy Dyer hosts an alternative, early Valentine’s night full of weird and wonderful Love Stories.

Enjoy the Chinese New Year of the Tiger with Scotland ♥s China. On Saturday 13th February, the spacious and welcoming Storytelling Court turns into a circus of stories, music and activities, guaranteed to captivate and enthral all the family. Get into the spirit with Tiger face painting and hear the unique blend of stories and Chinese musical instruments – including Chinese harps, flutes and gongs – in sessions with Marion Kenny and June Chan. Plus, Allison Galbraith tells the story of The Little Yellow Dragon, followed by a craft session where children can create their own dragons to take home.

On Tuesday 16th February, Marie Louise Cochrane becomes Mrs Mash, the storytelling cook who mixes together stories, food and rhymes to whip up the perfect recipe for a fun afternoon. In celebration of Pancake Day, Mrs Mash provides an interactive afternoon of tasty tales, culminating with participants tucking into freshly prepared pancakes after adding delicious, toppings of their choice, picking between raspberry jam, lemon and sugar or steamed apples.

We round off our mid-term treats with monthly Story Space session on Thursday 18th February for kids aged 2-5 years and their parents. Raconteur Cathy Low brings enthusiasm, a sense of fun and an imaginative touch to this session of story, music, movement and games to join in with.