1. STEP back in time this week at Scotland’s first and only festival celebrating silent film and live music. Hippfest is back again at Bo’ness’s Hippodrome, considered to be the country’s most beautiful cinema. Wednesday features William Kellino’s 1922 version of Rob Roy while armchair detectives will love Holmes of the Movies and Hound of the Baskervilles Encore on Thursday. A full programme on Friday and Saturday includes Paul Leni’s 1927 take on The Cat and Canary and Harold Lloyd’s The Freshman, all with live musical accompaniment.

2. THE Glasgow International Comedy Festival is now in full swing. The line-up includes Jerry Sadowitz, Reginald D Hunter, Janey Godley, Jasper Carrott, Russell Kane, Al Murray, Elaine C Smith, Phil Kay, Michelle McManus, Des Carke and Rich Hall. On Wednesday at Oran Mor, Robert Florence will be Biscuity Boyle for the evening and is tempting punters with the news that the Burnistoun’s character real name may be revealed during the show.

3. GIVE peace a chance and pop along to Edinburgh’s International Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace Festival which gives an alternative to the often negative images of the region which regularly feature in the news. The festival draws together people from a wide range of cultures, spiritual backgrounds, traditions and communities to celebrate mutual understanding and peace via cultural, spiritual and educational events. The 2019 programme includes a Mindful Peace Walk and wellbeing workshops.

4. WITH Line of Duty back on our screens this month, it’s a good time to find out a bit more about forensics. At Caithness International Science Festival on Friday night, Detective Chief Superintendent Gary Flannigan, recently retired head of major crime for Police Scotland, will give an insight into how forensic science including DNA analysis and fingerprint analysis is used as forensic evidence to solve crime in an illustrated talk with humorous case studies. A family fun day on Saturday at New Wick High School ends the festival.

5. Do your bit for charity and update your wardrobe at the same time next weekend at the sale of new and nearly new clothes and accessories in Dundee. All proceeds are donated to Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) and is a repeat of a very successful event in 2017, where £6700 was raised. Organisers have that sum in mind as the minimum target this year and are hopeful of reaching it as the sale includes High Street and designer brands, as well as some very expensive, brand new, Mother of the Bride outfits which will be sold at a massive discount. It takes place at the Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce.

6. ONE of Scotland’s most popular literary offerings is now running in Glasgow until the end of the month with the topical theme of Brexit. Headliners at Aye Write! include Captain Corelli’s Mandolin author Louis de Bernières, journalist and triathlete Louise Minchin and musician Tracey Thorn. Events also include Gina Miller, Lionel Shriver, Alexander McCall Smith, Kamal Ahmed and Alan Johnson. And of course no Scottish book festival would be without a touch of Tartan Noir with Val McDermid among the writers who will be chatting about their books.

7. IT’S St Patrick’s Day today so why not celebrate our Celtic connections at Edinburgh’s Festival of Ireland, a multi-arts, family-friendly celebration with music, storytelling, comedy and dance. There’s a St Patrick’s Pageant this afternoon at Portobello Promenade, a family ceilidh at Lauriston Hall and a music session at Captain’s Bar. Other events include a talk on Tuesday at Augustine Centre on Belfast’s 1919 General Strike which united the workforce across sectarian lines and lasted longer than the parallel strike on Clydeside. The festival runs until Saturday.