Theatre with kids at heart

I Hope My Heart Goes First is a play devised by teenagers for teenagers, and tipped to be one of the big stories of this year's Festival Fringe. Glasgow's dynamic 20-strong company incorporates music, comedy and dance in an exploration of adult relationships and their mysteries, with plenty of humour.

For fun for all ages, from tinies to grandparents, spend an hour with one of the most likeable characters of all times in Bagpuss. All the usual suspects are making an appearance, including mice on their mice organ, Gabriel the toad, Madeleine the rag doll and Professor Yaffle.
• I Hope My Heart Goes First (edfringe.com) St George's West Church, 58 Shandwick Place, 5-24 August (times vary), £10. Bagpuss (edfringe.com), Assembly George Square, until 28 August, times vary, £12 (£6)

Play away while the kids get entertained

One of the Fringe's most iconic venues, the Pleasance Courtyard, is home to the Kidzone, a dedicated space for children with regular ukulele workshops, arts and crafts action, and the infamous Mischief Makers Protest Camp, where kids with stuff to say are encouraged to put it out there through creative installations. Check out their substantial programme of children's shows.
• The Pleasance Courtyard, 60 Pleasance, pleasance.co.uk/edinburgh/pleasance-kidzone, 5-29 August

When the festival comes to the park

The Edinburgh Mela returns to Leith Links on the first weekend of September. The programme includes an outdoor area presenting Kompany Malakhi's latest show Rotations, "a unique fusion of BMX flatlanding, breakin' (breakdancing) and contemporary dance", as well as sporting activities for children and adults, plus music, food, theatre and fashion.
• edinburgh-mela.co.uk, general admission £2 per day, kids under-12s free, show prices vary – some free, September 2-4

A very Italian Edinburgh institution – where kids eat for £1

Every family in Edinburgh has memories of Vittoria restaurant, a favourite for birthdays and wedding anniversaries. On sunny days the outside eating area is a people magnet, but the real winner here is the kid's deal; when adults order a main course from the à la carte menu children get to eat for £1.
• 113 Brunswick Street (top end of Leith Walk), 0131-556 6171, vittoriarestaurant.com

Meet the best children's authors in private gardens

Set in the leafy gardens of Charlotte Square, the Edinburgh International Book Festival is right in the heart of Edinburgh's elegant New Town. With tickets starting from just £4.50, this is the place to meet an author, get your book signed, listen to stories being read or just play around in the gardens while savouring Di Rollo's outstanding ice-cream. Entry to the gardens is free.
• edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival, 13-29 August

Darren Shan acts out all his books in two hours

Author of the Cirque Du Freak series (that's 12 entire books dedicated to all things vampiresque), Darren Shan has set himself a new challenge; to perform all of his books in under two hours. A fast-paced one-off performance in the energised style of the Reduced Shakespeare Company. Expect tarantulas, snakeboys, wolfmen and other scary stuff.
• edbookfest.co.uk, RBS Main Theatre, Sunday 21 August 10.30am-12:30pm, ages 10-15, £7

Music and light

Take the family for a picnic at the Virgin Money Fireworks Concert – a tradition for Edinburghers. Remember to pack a blanket and a basket of strawberries, choose your spot and get ready to witness the biggest and most spectacular production of classic music combined with 100,000 fireworks, tonnes of explosives and hundreds of firing sequence's launched from Edinburgh's iconic castle and intricately designed to enhance the music. There are still hundreds of tickets available for Princes Street, but for an alternative try Inverleith Park where two big screens follow the action as it's happening in the castle.
• eif.co.uk/virginmoneyfireworksconcert-gardens, Princes Street Gardens, Sunday 4 September, 9pm, £12.50

Be part of the record

This will be a hit with kids who love to talk about all things huge and bigger than the universe – a dedicated talk by the folk at the Guinness World Records about all the amazing facts and stats around anything and everything. You will get to hear how records are measured and meet some of the record holders and breakers.
• edbookfest.co.uk, ScottishPower Studio Theatre, Sunday 21 August, 2-3pm, ages 8–12, £4.50

Add a twirl and a twist to the regular zoo visit

You can't go wrong with a visit to the zoo, but what if you could grab a show as well while you're checking out the penguins? The Janis Claxton Dance Company brings new questions to our views of the animal world, by staging dance performances in animal compounds. Titled Enclosure 99 – Humans, the piece is a unique blend of movement, behaviour and cultural interaction which opens a fascinating door into the profound similarities between humans and animals.
• edinburghfestival.list.co.uk, 14-28 August, performances 10am-5pm. Regular zoo entry fee applies (134 Corstorphine Road, edinburghzoo.org.uk), £15.50 adults, £5 children

Early laughs

Comedian James Campbell has perfected a brand of humour all of his own by using the tried and tested format of stand up, but minus the rude words. A mix of genius and absurd views of the world, James masters a quality that's very child-like, the idea that imagination has no boundaries and anything is possible. Come and learn how to make parsnips interesting, how to look at a chicken in both eyes simultaneously and why owls don't like Easter.
• edfringe.com, Assembly George Square,11-14 August, 14.30, £7

For tickets, programmes and to plan your visit go to the Edinburgh Festivals, visit edinburghfestivals.co.uk