This week's new events

Let's Play: Edinburgh's Hogmanay Edinburgh's NYE blowout again features a sold-out Concert In The Gardens, but if you can't sneak in to see Primal Scream you can join in a whopping version of Auld Lang Syne – the world's biggest. Before that is Friday's torchlight procession from Parliament Square to Calton Hill, in the lead-up to a firework display. Meanwhile, the local area can also be admired on screen, with a variety of films set in and around the city showing at the Filmhouse , from The 39 Steps to Trainspotting. Fri 30 to New Year's Day Teri Grenert Open-Air Swims, Nationwide For those who favour extreme cold over excess consumption, there are festive swims at which to abandon clothing – and common sense. On Christmas morning, watch the Peter Pan Cup race at London's Serpentine – a competitive, 100m crawl through fresh water – or brave the waves at Crooklets Beach, Bude, where everyone from kids to "senior splashers" join a madcap mosh in the icy Atlantic, with prizes for the best Crimbo headgear. Alternatively, plunge in with 1,000 others at Porthcawl, Glamorgan, serenaded by carollers and brass bands. You can also shrink your nether regions (or, if you're female, just swim) to raise money for a children's cancer charity at the Boxing Day dip in Prestwick, or celebrate New Year's Day in the North Sea at Whitley Bay. Visit serpentineswimmingclub.com , budeslsc.co.uk , christmasswim.org , www.clicsargent.org.uk , whitleybayonline.com Colette Bernhardt Pagham Pram Race, nr Bognor Regis The ultimate event for nappy fetishists, this bonkers Boxing Day bash – which, at 65, is Britain's oldest pram race – sees up to 30 pairs of "babies" and "pushers" racing prams and raising pint-glasses (of booze, not milk) around the village's three pubs. Cooed on by hundreds, the first duo to complete the course – and the requisite amount of ale – wins a prize, as does the most bizarrely bedecked buggy. Rules forbid entrance by under-18s, as well as running, missiles and "undue spillage". There are no stipulations, however, on how soon after the event bibs and bonnets must be removed. Pagham Road, Boxing Day CB Out & About New Year's Day Parade , London, New Year's Day This event is themed for the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee, so we hope to see shot-putting Queen lookalikes among the parading cheerleaders, dancers, marching bands and all the Queen's horses. From Piccadilly at Berkeley Street, 11.45am, finishing at Parliament Street, 3pm Toy Collectors' Fair , Birmingham, Tue 27 Santa forgot to bring you the model trains on your wish list? Plenty to choose from at over 600 stalls here. There's a smaller fair at the Reebok Stadium, Horwich, on Thursday 29. NEC The Christmas Adventure , Wetherby, Tue 27 to 8 Jan Where you can walk through the Enchanted Forest or get even more adventurous on ice skates and a Nordic ski trail. Stockeld Park, Yorkshire The Haxey Hood , Haxey, Fri 6 A bit like rugby crossed with a pub crawl, this traditional procession – dating back to the 14th century – is led by The Lord Of The Hood in costume. From Carpenter's Arms, 12.30pm