AROUND TOWN

Europe’s largest indoor funfair is coming to town as The IRN-BRU Carnival (Friday 22 December – Sunday 14 January) returns to Glasgow’s SEC. The opening festivities will take place this weekend, with treasure hunts and challenges alongside the rides and stalls.

Affectionately known as MagicFest, the Edinburgh International Magic Festival (until Sunday 31 December) has been wowing crowds since 2010 with its close-up magic, witty trickery and showstopping illusions. Featuring Kevin Quantum, Vincent Gambini and many more.

Providing a different style of festive spectacle, there are still tickets left for this weekend’s Christmas At The Botanics (until Saturday 30 December) which has been transforming Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden by night into an illuminated, fantastical paradise.

MUSIC

Best known for their hits ‘Painted Moon’ and ‘Bulletproof Heart’, Scottish rockers The Silencers (Saturday 23 December) have been evolving their sound since 1986. They’ll be playing tracks from their most recent record, Silent Highway, and more at Glasgow’s SWG3.

Dundonian lo-fi legends Spare Snare (Saturday 23 December) are now 12 albums down the line, with their most recent, The Brutal, released earlier this year. Hear what they’re doing now, along with plenty of old faves when they play their hometown’s Beat Generator this weekend.

If you’re looking to dance your festive socks off then the spirit of Christmas will be meeting the rhythm of techno at the Techno Connects Christmas Party (Friday 22 December), featuring A.P., MSSTEC, Hamaton3 and Colinhq. Saint Judes in Glasgow plays host.

STAGE

Providing a fresh ‘spin’ on Aladdin (until Sunday 31 December), this year’s Perth Theatre panto promises fun for all the family as it delivers some mobile laundrette-based, daft-as-a-brush drama.

And there are still chances to catch Dundee Rep’s return to A Christmas Carol (until Saturday 30 December), which offers a fresh take on the classic festive redemption story, made in collaboration with celebrated musical theatre writers Noisemaker.

Meanwhile, over at The Webster Memorial Theatre in Arbroath they’ve taken inspiration from Frozen and the original story The Snow Queen for their Christmas show Freezin (until Sunday 24 December). Expect sparkling sets and plenty of panto silliness.

SCREEN

Hoping to buck the trend of underperforming superhero flicks, Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom brings the DC Extended Universe to a close, as Jason Momoa’s Aquaman battles the Black Manta (Candyman’s Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). Patrick Wilson and Nicole Kidman provide the support.

An enjoyably devilish antidote to festive sentimentality, Emerald Fennell’s super-rich satire Saltburn drops this Friday on Prime after causing a stir in cinemas last month. Barry Keoghan impresses in the lead but it’s Rosamund Pike’s former ‘It Girl’ who steals the show.

And here’s a real festive treat, a few weeks after its theatrical release the superb Maestro hits Netflix. It’s your chance to check out Bradley Cooper’s fine work both in front of and behind the camera as he tells the story of composer Leonard Bernstein and his wife Felicia (Carey Mulligan).

PODCASTS

An iconic, divisive and, for many, disturbing figure is under the microscope in podcast Think Twice: Michael Jackson. Journalists Leon Neyfakh and Jay Smooth take a considered look at Jackson’s life and legacy over ten compelling parts.

In gripping investigative podcast A Very British Cult Catrin Nye shines a light on the sinister life coaching company, Lighthouse, that instead of helping people, sought to control them.

Authors Nadia Shireen and Frank Cottrell-Boyce are both known for writing amazing stories for kids. The Island Of Brilliant! sees the pair look at what’s new and exciting in the world of children’s literature, with their recent festive special paying tribute to the late, great Benjamin Zephaniah.

VISUAL ART

Group exhibition Deep Rooted (until Sunday 25 February) at Edinburgh’s City Art Centre features work by Dalziel + Scullion, Anya Gallaccio, Andy Goldsworthy, Andrew Mackenzie, Naomi Mcintosh, Katie Paterson and Hanna Tuulikki, who all explore the relationship between people and the natural environment using a variety of media and approaches.

In Alex Malcolmson: Veering North (until Saturday 23 December) at Edinburgh’s Open Eye Gallery, the artist works in wood and mixed media, creating beautiful fish, birds and seascapes inspired by his love for northern England and beyond.

And Glasgow’s Gerber Fine Art is the setting for The Winter Collection (until Sunday 28 January), a vibrant, mixed exhibition of 19th to 21st century fine art, featuring work from Joan Eardley, the Scottish Colourists, Glasgow Girls & Boys, Scottish Modern Masters and more.