1 IPC Swimming Championships

Tollcross Swim Centre, Glasgow, until Sun

Relive the thrills of Glasgow 2014 as 650 athletes from nearly 70 countries converge on Tollcross this week for the biggest event in the para-swimming calendar outside of the Paralympics. A major step on the way to the Rio 2016 games, international stars competing include GB’s Ellie Simmons, the USA’s Jessica Long and Australian Jacqueline Freney - along with Scottish hopefuls Andrew Mullen and Scott Quin. Action has been under way since Monday, with tickets still available for the weekend from £10, with all under 16s free. www.ticketmaster.co.uk/Glasgow2015

2 Spartan Race Scotland

Spittal Farm, Nine Mile Burn, Midlothian, Sat-Sun

One for slightly more adventurous fitness fans, this outdoor obstacle course race comes custom-designed to challenge the strength, agility and resilience of participants, who can look forward to facing fire, water, barbed wire, and lots of mud. The Spartan Sprint, Saturday’s ‘beginners’ option, is a 5k run plus 15 obstacles. The more hardcore can sign up for Sunday’s Spartan Super, a punishing 13k course featuring 20 obstacles. There are also junior races on both days, while spectators can cheer on the action free of charge. Entry is £78-£90. www.spartanraceuk.uk

3 Heavy Horse Show

National Museum of Rural Life, East Kilbride, Sun

An annual event with its roots in Lanarkshire’s industrial and agricultural past, the National Museum of Rural Life’s summer show features more than 100 horses, ponies and donkeys - including dozens of Clydesdales, the iconic breed once used to haul coal and heavy farm equipment. With a range of agility and show classes in the main ring, animal lovers can also saddle up for rides, make rosettes and meet Mairi and Anna, the museum’s resident working horses. Open from 10am to 5pm, entry is £8 (£4.50 children). www.nms.ac.uk/rural

4 Run Or Dye

Scone Palace, Perth, Sat

The Scone Estate is set to be a busy and active place this weekend. The first of two events we’re flagging is billed as the world’s most colourful 5K run, where participants wear white and assent to being splattered with a brightly coloured powdered dye at every kilometre. Since the main object is to get as messy as possible, elite fitness levels are not an overriding prerequisite, making for a fun and accessible day out for all. If you can’t make along, there’s another Run Or Dye near Edinburgh in October. www.runordye.co.uk/uk-locations/perth

5 Macmillan Cycletta Scotland

Scone Palace, Perth, Sun

Now in its third year in Scotland, this women only bike ride offers an inspirational excuse to stretch the legs and soak up the spectacular scenery of the Perthshire countryside. Aimed at all ages and abilities, there are four different distances available - 20km, 50km, 100km and a newly introduced 150km, while entertainment for spectators includes a mini triathlon for kids aged four to eight. Although online registration is now closed, entries are still being taken on the day itself - prices range from £33 to £52 (plus £5 admin fee). humanrace.co.uk/events/cycletta/cycletta-scotland

6 Edinburgh Jazz Festival

Across Edinburgh, from Fri

The UK’s oldest jazz festival returns with 150 concerts over 10 days from Friday. With swing, delta blues, afrobeat and New Orleans-style trad rubbing shoulders with the best from the contemporary Scottish European and New York scenes, highlights include appearances from George Benson and Jools Holland - plus tribute shows celebrating Frank Sinatra and Willie Dixon. Unsure where to start? Two great free option are the Grassmarket’s free Mardi Gras on Saturday, and Sunday’s Edinburgh Festival Carnival, which brings 700 musicians and carnival performers to the city centre for a huge parade. www.edinburghjazzfestival.com

7 The Big Picnic

New Lanark, Sun

Pack a bite to eat and your favourite teddy for an afternoon of fun and entertainment in the lush surroundings of Robert Owen’s Garden at New Lanark. As well as face painting, storytelling, balloon modelling and birds of prey, visitors can explore a new fairytale-style play and picnic area and enjoy a mini-beast hunt with the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Free of charge, the event runs from noon until 4pm - with complimentary entry to the exhibits of the New Lanark Visitor Centre for under 12s on the day too. www.newlanark.org

8 Bute Fest

Meadows Park, Rothesay, Isle of Bute, Fri-Sun

A new weekend arts festival mixing a glorious Clyde island setting with a live line up of folk-infused music, food and drink workshops, and family-friendly entertainment. Along with the likes of Skerryvore, Peatbog Faeries and Treacherous Orchestra, performers include mad science demonstrator Professor Pumpernickel, vagabond troubadour Gacko, and storyteller Ian Douglas. With free camping included in the price of a three day ticket (£65, kids £30), a regular ferry service from Wemyss Bay to Rothesay means no T In The Park-style infrastructure hassles either. www.butefest.co.uk

9 Taste Angus Food Festival

Drovers Inn, Angus, Sun

A free day out for families and foodies, aiming to bring together the best local produce and culinary talent from around Angus - along with a wealth of local produce including seafood, meat, confectionary, ales, whiskies, cheeses and preserves. Attractions include a kids’ corner, a butcher’s barbecue, a seafood and crustacean bar, a gardeners question and answer session, and a chef’s cook off event. There are also demonstrations with some of the region’s top chefs, revealing the secrets of Scottish seasonal cookery and tips on how to prepare specialty dishes. www.tasteangus.co.uk

10 Loch Lomond Highland Games

Moss o’ Balloch, Sat

One of the west of Scotland’s largest outdoor summer events, this annual gathering on the banks of Loch Lomond features wrestling, cycling, tossing the caber, and tug-of-war, and the Scottish Highland Games Association World Heavyweight Championship. Facing off for bragging rights and a share of a £15,000 prize fund will be the best locals athletes competitors from Poland, Ireland and the USA. The event’s spectacular finish will see a mass Pipe band march through the main street in Balloch. Running from 9am to 5pm, tickets are £3-£5. www.llhgb.com

Don’t Miss

Royal Pursuits

Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, Sun

Discover how newly-weds Mary Queen of Scots and Lord Darnley might have relaxed at this free Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink-endorsed celebration, where visitors can sample tasty local produce, hear listening to Renaissance-era music and try everything from hobby horse jousting to games and archery. www.historic-scotland.gov.uk