Arcadia Scotland

Art and Culture

200th Anniversary of Battle of Waterloo: 18 June, The Gordon Highlanders' Museum

To mark 200 years since the Battle of Waterloo, this exhibition showcase the Gordon Highlander's involvement.

Medieval & Prehistoric Origins Tour: 19 June, Aberdeen Maritime Museum, 7.30pm

Starting at Shiprow, Aberdeen’s oldest named street, we follow the medieval roads to the Green and the Denburn Valley, crossing the route of the famous Bow Brig, reaching the Corbie Well, the water supply for the lost community of Mutton Brae, where missionary, Mary Slessor was born. Entering Gilcomston, we view the Spa Well and the site of the Play Green, instituted by local portrait painter, George Jameson, we learn of the Celtic/Pictish subjects of Gillecoaim MacMurdeach who gave his name to the area.

Burkers and Bodysnatchers: 26 June, Marischal College, 7.30pm

Hear gruesome tales of stolen corpses and the dirty doings of surgeons, students and resurrectionists.

Music, Comedy and Dance

Aberdeen and North East of Scotland Music and Drama Festival: 1-5 June, Various venues and times

Aberdeen's oldest and original music, drama and dance Festival. Running since 1909, this summer festival features competitions in story telling, classical music performance and choral singing.

Reginald D Hunter: In the Midst of Crackers: 13 June, Music Hall, 8pm

The self-proclaimed 'comedian, swashbuckler and scientist' takes his latest and no doubt controversial show on the road.

Scottish Opera: II Trovatore: 11-13 June, His Majesty's Theatre, 7.30pm

Verdi's Il trovatore is a story of family revenge with more twists and turns than a strand of fallen spaghetti, but it's all tied together with Verdi's powerful music. This revival of the 2001 production features Roland Wood, Anne Mason, Claire Rutter, Gwyn Hughes Jones and Matthew Best, and is directed by Peter Watson, with Tobias Ringborg conducting.

Velocity: 18-20 June, His Majesty's Theatre, 7pm

Following previous success performing with Kevin Bridges at Glasgow Comedy Festival, Wasasa bring a unique fusion of Zambian and Glaswegian humour. Using humour to bring people together and prizing originality over all else, an evening of Wasasa's thought provoking comedy is not to be missed.

Lectures, Sports and Local Festivals

City of Aberdeen Highland Games: 21 June, Hazelhead Park

Watch as men in kilts through heavy things through the air. Events also include running, solo piping, light field and Highland dance competitions.

Color Me Rad: 6 June, Beach Esplanade, 10am

We all know 5Ks are incredibly boring – all that stomping along with nothing to distract your mind. Color Me Rad aims to put a stop to this – by blasting participants with shedloads of neon paint as they run. Think of it as a rave, just with more jogging.

An Evening with David Sedaris: 14 June, Music Hall, 6pm