Posts for June, 2026

As part of our Bikeathon weekend, we will be holding our popular jumble sale again. We have a good selection of bikes and things bike related to sell.

Pop along any time from 11am to 2pm to browse the items, or just to hang out and chat bikes.

If you have something to sell, please bring it along from 10am.

We will also be running bike safety checks there, so bring your bike along to get Bikeathon ready!

All money riased go directly to the charities CRY and Mikeysline.

Lace up your trainers for a truly wild run! Take on a unique 5K fun run (or 2.5K option for little adventurers) through the grounds of Highland Wildlife Park, where you’ll run past some incredible wildlife including snow leopards, tigers and monkeys. Every stride supports our mission to connect people with nature while enjoying an unforgettable day outdoors.

Please note, advance booking is essential for those taking part. Spectators can book in advance or pay on arrival.

Situated by the entrance to Highland Wildlife Park, Pumpkins at the Park is a new and exciting seasonal offer that promises wholesome pumpkin fun! There’s lots to do with themed photo opportunities, a spooktastic children’s trail, farmyard play, hot drinks and sweet treats from our kiosk. You’ll also have the chance to pick your own pumpkin.

Please note, Pumpkins at the Park is situated outside the pay barrier into Highland Wildlife Park. Entry tickets to Pumpkins at the Park do not include entry into Highland Wildlife Park, however a 20% discount will be applicable if visiting Highland Wildlife Park on the same day as your Pumpkin at the Park tickets.

Pumpkins are sold separately and will be priced according to size.

Capacity is limited, so we’d recommend booking a slot in advance to avoid disappointment. Parking is free and in our Learning Hive car park.

Orienteering event around Aviemore. Use your course map to find the controls. Good fun for locals and visitors.
Two course options – one around 5km and one around 3km. Families welcome. All children under 16 must be accompanied on their course.
Some getting started support for newcomers / returners.
Pre-enter to guarantee a map. Some limited entry on the day available.

Uisge Spè [River Spey]: Where Water Shapes a Nation, by Ed Smith. Exhibition launch evening at Eleven41 Gallery, Kingussie.

‘Uisge Spè’ is a long‑term photojournalistic study of one of Scotland’s most important rivers, tracing its 170‑kilometre course from the Monadhliath Mountains, through the central and eastern Highlands to the Moray Firth. Supported by The Cairngorms Trust, this is the first public launch of the exhibit, which will then move through at least four other venues within the River Spey catchment over the coming months.

More than a scenic backdrop, the Spey is portrayed as a living system where environment, culture, industry, and history converge. The project explores how climate change, fluctuating water levels, and land management threaten salmon, settlements, and whisky production, even as local communities and conservationists fight to protect its biodiversity. It examines the river’s role in shaping identity and belonging, from local students to global whisky branding, and connects visible historical traces to ongoing struggles over land, labour, and power. Through sustained, seasonal visual reporting and multiple canoe descents of the river, the work reveals the Spey as a microcosm of global tensions between heritage and globalisation, economic survival and environmental responsibility.

We are so excited to bring another baby/toddler/kids special to our wee community here this time in partnership with Roots and Shoots.

Starting in the woods at 9.30am, just behind the cinema, we will meet for a one-off Roots and Shoots, a nature play session that provides opportunities to learn, play and explore our surrounding woodlands. This is open to all, so come along before the cinema to enjoy fresh air activities!

We will then head into the cinema to watch “The Magic Faraway Tree” from 11am. A film about a series of fantastical worlds that await at the top of a magical tree hidden within an enchanted wood – based on Enid Blyton’s beloved books “The Faraway Tree”.

Thanks to Spotlight Legacy Fund/Film Hub Scotland we have support to offer the Roots and Shoots session for free.

Then tickets for the film are £5 – but free for under 5’s.
Buy online or on the door.
macdonaldspeyvalleycinema.co.uk

A day to celebrate the community and heritage of Braemar with performances and displays from different community groups. A Fun day for all the family!

The day includes a dog show, a teddy zipline, stalls from local businesses, hand-on crafting sessions, displays from dancers, pipers and traditional crafters, a march from the Invercauld and Duff Highlanders.

An hour of theatre and comedy with author and Mountaineer John D. Burns
In a remote Highland bothy, a traveller finds shelter from the storm. In his rucksack he has coal for the fire, candles to ward off the darkness, and a little whisky to bring some cheer. The wanderer invites you into his world.
In a unique piece of theatre, John tells stories of his wild journeys among Scotland’s mountains. There are near death adventures on ice wreathed cliff faces. Tales of dark deeds in distant bothies and even a brush with royalty. Yet in the heart of so much beauty there is conflict. Hear how working-class folk have fought to establish their right to wander the hills.
Come and join John, smell the woodsmoke and be transported to a world where all you have is what is packed on your back and the dreams that you follow.
John D. Burns is an award-winning mountain author and his books, Bothy Tales and The Last Hillwalker, have become acknowledged as classics among those who enjoy the outdoors. You can hear more of John and his wonderful guests on his podcast, Outdoors in Scotland.

Will you be able to spot our life-size wild brick sculptures nestled around Highland Wildlife Park this spring?

Perfect for families, brick fans and animal lovers alike, this exhibition offers a chance to marvel at the artistry, take fun photos and explore the park in a whole new way.

Celebrate the holiday with our brick sculpture experience which inspires creativity and wonder – one brick at a time!

A live musical performance tracing the emergence of dragonflies from water to air — including a guided RSPB site visit.

Almanac: Part 1 (Emergence)
Boat of Garten Community Hall, Saturday 13 June 2026

Almanac is a new large-scale project by composer Thomas Butler, commissioned by Red Note Ensemble, using contemporary musical performance to mark events in the natural world.

Across four seasonal, immersive works presented in locations throughout Scotland over 12 months, the project brings together ensemble, voice, electronics and field recording to explore ecological cycles, seasonal change, and the disruption of natural rhythms in a time of climate crisis.

Almanac: Part 1 (Emergence)
The first chapter of Almanac focuses on the emergence of dragonflies and damselflies as they transition from water to air. This new performance combines live music with flute, clarinet, viola and percussion, and field recordings to trace this moment of transformation, shaped by ecological research and the surrounding landscape.

Each ticket includes
• A guided site visit to a nearby bog with an RSPB guide to observe dragonflies and damselflies (transport provided by bus)
• A live performance of Emergence
• A Q&A with composer Thomas Butler