30 days has September, April, June, and November… But do you know what's special about February this year? That's right, that all-elusive leap day has come around once more, and it's all the more special in 2020 because it falls on a Saturday. A whole 24 hours offers a lot of possibilities when it comes to entertainment, so we've done most of the work for you, and selected all the best things you can do this leap day in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Edinburgh

If the weather is not in your favour, the Scottish capital has plenty of indoor activities to offer. A great option for the entire family would be a trip to the Edinburgh Playhouse for The Lion King (until Sat 18 Apr), as the tale of lion cub Simba comes alive before your very eyes. Other options for theatre lovers include Dial M For Murder (King's Theatre) and Mrs Puntila and Her Man Matti (Royal Lyceum Theatre, until Sat 21 Mar).

Still indoors, there are also plenty of exhibitions across a variety of topics that will surely appeal to all ages. You can celebrate the life of the acclaimed painter at Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing (The Queen's Gallery, until Sun 15 Mar), be in awe of the ferociousness of the great Tyrannosaurs (National Museum of Scotland, until Mon 4 May) or browse through Portuguese artist Paula Rego's work at Paula Rego: Obedience and Defiance (Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art Two, until Sun 19 Apr). Edinburgh is your oyster!

If you'd rather be out and about, you can have a giggle at the Edinburgh International Improv Festival (until Sun 1 Mar), explore the city and search for hidden gems with the Edinburgh Scavenger Hunt: The Fairy Tale Capital (The Scottish Parliament Building), venture through the haunted Blair Street Underground Vaults with Doomed, Dead & Buried (Mercat Tours, until Tue 31 Mar), try out the Holyrood Distillery Tour, or even visit the iconic filming locations for TV series Outlander with the Edinburgh Outlander Experience (Mercat Tours, until Sat 28 Mar).

For those with creative and inquisitive little critters, take your 5–11 year old to learn about clarinets at Families Programme: Weird and Wonderful Woodwind (St Cecilia's Hall), or, if you have a little scientist on your hands, Accidental Science (Dynamic Earth) is just the place to be.

You can also celebrate the extra day with a boogie and a shimmie at the Burly Ceilidh Club (Ghillie Dhu, every Fri & Sat), or sit back and enjoy some music with The Big Moon (Summerhall), Scottish Chamber Orchestra Chorus (Greyfriars Kirk) and Soul Jam (Sneaky Pete's).

Dial M for Murder

Glasgow

Further afield in Glasgow there is also plenty to do this leap day. The Glasgow Film Festival is taking over the city until Sun 8 Mar with plenty of screenings for all tastes, whilst young book lovers can mark the leap year by making some slime at a Leap Year Party (Waterstone's Argyle Street). Want a colourful and animated leap day? Then why not head along to Boteco do Brazil for their carnival Mardi Gras party, or celebrate Japanese culture at the Hina Matsuri Japanese Spring Festival (Kibble Palace).

If the weather isn't great, you can head indoors for a variety of events. Sit back and take in some great storytelling with We are in Time (Tramway), a unique production about a transplanted heart, Kieran Hurley's critically acclaimed look at class consciousness in Mouthpiece (Tron Theatre Bar), or take the little ones to Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre's Three Bears (Scottish Mask and Puppet Theatre).

Speaking of the kids, there's something for them to do this leap day too. Let them discover the secrets of Mitchell Library at Mitchell Children's Trail (until Sat 9 May) or be creative at the Saturday Art Club (Gallery of Modern Art, until Sat 28 Mar) and Charlie Mack's Playtime Orchestra: Make a Slide Whistle (Scotland Street School Museum, until Sun 1 Mar).

Once the kids go to bed, why not go along to Leyla Josephine: Daddy Drag (Tron Theatre Bar), as she attempts to understand what it means to be a father through drag. For a good old laugh, there is always the Rotunda Comedy Club (Rotunda Bar & Diner, every Sat).

There is definitely no excuse for you not to enjoy this leap day, so go out and explore!