EDINBURGH’S CHRISTMAS 2018 FULL PROGRAMME REVEALED Get your Christmas groove on with Silent Light and let the festivities begin! Edinburgh’s Christmas / 16 November – 5 January / images here

@EdXmas / Facebook.com/EdinburghsChristmas /@EdinburghsChristmaswww.edinburghschristmas.co.uk

On behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council, Underbelly today announces the full programme for Edinburgh’s Christmas 2018.

Edinburgh’s Christmas 2018 takes over the Scottish capital between 16 November and 5 January with the brand-new Silent Light headlining this year’s programme, a unique silent party raising money for One City Trust. This spectacular fusion of Street of Light and Fringe 2018 hit Silent Adventures takes place on George Street up to 5 times a day.

26,000 free tickets to Silent Light to be made available to charities working for local residents in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh’s Christmas announces a major new partnership with St Andrew’s Fair Saturday, a Scottish Government and Fair Saturday Foundation pilot initiative for 2018, with all proceeds from Silent Light on 1 December going to support three charities: Deafblind Scotland, National Deaf Children Society and Royal National Institute of Blind People.

Light Night marks the opening of Edinburgh’s Christmas on 18 November with local Edinburgher and The Voice’s contestant Saskia Eng switching the Christmas lights on!

International hit La Clique, returns to the capital with La Clique Noël – Part Deux, mixing cabaret, new burlesque, circus and contemporary vaudeville, hosted by the star of Fringe hit Little Death Club, Bernie Dieter.

You Choose, an interactive family musical show based on Pippa Goodhart and Nick Sharratt’s best-selling children’s book is the highlight of Edinburgh’s Christmas 2018’s rich family offer.

A Christmas staple and voted best Christmas Market in the UK in 2017, East Princes Street Gardens Market hosts a variety of food and drink stalls to warm up your hearts and bellies as well as rides and attractions for all the family to enjoy!

Edinburgh is once again home to the ever-popular outdoor elliptical Ice Rink, the only one in the UK, wrapped around the Rekorderlig Cider Lodge in the middle of St Andrew Square.

Johnnie Walker continue their partnership with Edinburgh’s winter festivals with the Johnnie Walker Bothy Bar on the Mound.

Around the city, festive revellers get a chance to admire Edinburgh’s young artists’ talents in Winter Windows, this year themed around kindness, as well as peek behind the scenes of the capital’s key organisations and institutions in 24 Doors of Advent.

EH postcode residents once again enjoy 20% discount on selected rides, attractions and Festival Square Spiegeltent shows, La Clique Noël – Part Deux, You Choose and Baby Loves Disco.

Tickets available to book from 10am on 3 October at www.edinburghschristmas.com

Today, on behalf of City of Edinburgh Council, Underbelly announces the full programme for its sixth season of the world-famous Edinburgh’s Christmas! It takes place between 16 November 2018 and 5 January 2019 and remains one of the most popular Christmas celebrations in the UK. 2018 will see the biggest, brightest and best programme of events and entertainment to date.

A record-breaking 781,520 tickets were snapped up to Edinburgh’s Christmas 2017 rides, attractions and shows, a 13% increase on 2016’s 690,878 tickets with people from 47 countries enjoying all that Edinburgh’s Christmas had to offer. Locals got in on the action too and took advantage of their 20% discount with 142,333 tickets booked by Edinburgh residents, up 9% on 2016’s number.

This year’s Edinburgh’s Christmas lights up with the spectacular Silent Light and sparkles with La Clique Noël – Part Deux’s metres of sequins!

George Street and surrounds

Brand-new spectacular Silent Light is bound to brighten up even the Grinch’s day! In a global first, Underbelly has invited the team behind the Fringe 2018 hit, Silent Adventures, to collaborate with Edinburgh’s Christmas on a unique outdoor event for people of all ages to enjoy. Fusing the stunning hit of Edinburgh’s Christmas 2016, Street of Light with a silent street party, Silent Light was born: a festivity like no other, with people dancing and singing underneath a spectacular architectural installation of archways festooned with thousands of lightbulbs synchronised to music! Getting everyone’s Christmas groove on thanks to a rich playlist of first-class tunes, Silent Light is perfect Christmas entertainment. With 3 different themes to choose from (Santa’s Sparkles, especially suitable for families, Christmas Crackers with all your favourite festive tunes and Disco Delights for the party crowd), Silent Light takes place up to 5 times a day between 4.45pm and 10pm, each slot 20 minutes long. 50p from every ticket goes to support One City Trust, a charity fighting inequality and exclusion in the city. 26,000 free tickets are also being made available to over 50 charities working in Edinburgh to give to local people, especially those who are at risk of exclusion or deprivation. Silent Light is supported by Essential Edinburgh, The Principal Edinburgh Charlotte Square and Signature Pub Group.

St Andrew’s Fair Saturday is a mass celebration of arts and culture while supporting social causes and Scotland will be the first country to celebrate it as a nation-wide festival in 2018: St Andrew’s Fair Saturday on December the 1st. This pilot edition is a partnership between the Scottish Government and the Fair Saturday Foundation. On 1 December all proceeds from Silent Light will go to support three charities: Deafblind Scotland, National Deaf Children Society and Royal National Institute of Blind People.

Light Night is back on 18 November to kick off the Christmas season in style! Encapsulating the true spirit of festive season: family and community, this special one-off event features a special performance from Saskia Eng, a young singer from Edinburgh who was a competitor on this year’s The Voice, mentored by Tom Jones and will.i.am and who will also switch on the Christmas lights in the city! Light Night is hosted once again by Forth 1’s Arlene Stuart and features stunning fireworks as well as music and dance performances from local Scottish groups.

Ice Rink, the elliptical, frozen heart of Edinburgh’s Christmas is back this year to wrap around the Rekorderlig Cider Lodge in St Andrew Square, offering a re-energising cup of hot chocolate or hot cider!

Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without a visit to Santa! This year Castle Street becomes the new home to Santa’s Grotto during Santa’s winter residence in Scotland. The street will also host traditional children’s rides as well as food and drinks stalls offering tasty treats.

The annual outdoor Nativity Carol Concert takes place on 2 December in St Andrew Square.

East Princes Street Gardens

Princes Street Gardens’ Christmas Market – voted best Christmas market in the UK last year in a survey conducted by McCarthy & Stone – offers its visitors a wide range of local and homemade gifts as well as mouth-watering delicacies, all topped with a generous helping of Christmas spirit.

The Christmas Market also features a variety of rides and attractions for all the family to enjoy, including the Forth 1 Big Wheel and the almost 60m high Star Flyer, both offering a different view on the city full of Christmas cheer! Santa Land is back, transforming Lower East Princes Street Gardens into a magical place for families who can board the train at Santa’s train station or get lost in the enchanted Christmas Tree Maze! Visit the website for a full list of rides and attractions.

Johnnie Walker who recently announced their partnership of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay’s world-famous Street Party, continue their support of Edinburgh’s winter festivals with the Johnnie Walker Bothy Bar on the Mound.

Around the city

Winter Windows is back! This special creative project conceived by Underbelly in 2014 encourages Edinburgh’s young and budding artists to showcase their talents to residents and visitors outside of the classroom and in our streets and community hubs. In 2018, Winter Windows will be displayed in West Parliament Square outside St Giles and continue in four other locations around Edinburgh: Great Michael Rise in Newhaven, Ratho’s North Street, Royston Wardieburn Community Centre in Pilton and St Patrick Square just off Clerk Street. Each stained-glass window is designed around the theme of kindness. This year’s Winter Windows is working with the

support of St Giles’ Cathedral and the City of Edinburgh Council department of Arts and Creative Learning.

An opportunity to discover an exciting new place each day, 24 Doors of Advent is a real-life advent calendar taking audiences through a different door every day throughout December as Edinburgh offers access to the unique buildings in the city. Visit the website for full line-up.

Festival Square Spiegeltent

La Clique Noël returns home for Christmas with a new seasonal spectacular, La Clique Noël - Part Deux. Following on last year’s Christmas-season success, La Clique Noël - Part Deux has a reimagined line up of new eclectic and eccentric artists plus a few firm favourites for this year’s festive edition, including the astounding fire-eater and sword-swallower Heather Holliday, aerialist Stephen Williams with his famous bath act, hair-dangling Fancy Chance, magic and comedy master Albert Cadabra and mistress of mayhem, host Bernie Dieter who took Edinburgh Fringe 2018 by storm as Little Death Club’s MC. The show will feature a scintillating live band and the best of the best in adult, genre-bending, new variety – all in one unforgettable night! More acts still to be announced!

Edinburgh’s Christmas is the place to be for families too! This year even more so thanks to You Choose, a brand new interactive musical show for people of all ages to enjoy. Based on the brilliant book by Pippa Goodhart and Nick Sharratt, the show comes from Nonsense Room Productions whose Shark in the Park wowed Edinburgh-based and visiting families in 2017. But in this show – you choose what happens… Using the best-selling picture book as inspiration and through a series of games and challenges each show will come up with a unique story, with different characters every time. A brilliant excuse to come every day!

The legendary Baby Loves Disco returns to Edinburgh’s Christmas with only 3 dates with Christmas Cheer (9, 22 and 23 December). With its unique day-clubbing experience for parents with babies, toddlers and young children Baby Loves Disco is a perfect Christmas treat! Features include a resident club DJ spinning nostalgic party floor fillers, a licensed bar for parents, face painting, festive crafts, toddler play equipment, dress-up, dancefloor games with giveaways, bubbles, balloons and more - all included in the price. Christmas Cheer offers Christmas tunes and pressies from Santa as he struts his stuff on the dancefloor.

Christmas on Stage, brings together the ultimate guide to festive on-stage entertainment in Edinburgh. It is back with a dazzling new line-up of shows including the abovementioned La Clique Noël – Part Deux and You Choose, and also Mouthpiece, McGonagall’s Chronicles and The Gospel at the Traverse Theatre, Royal Lyceum Theatre’s Peter Pan, Doris Day Show at the Gilded Balloon, The Mother at the Pleasance and Kinky Boots at the Playhouse.

All Edinburgh’s Christmas tickets are on sale from 10am on Wednesday, 3 October on www.edinburghschristmas.com and 0844 545 8252. Edinburgh postcode residents can enjoy 20% discount on selected rides, attractions and Festival Square Spiegeltent shows: La Clique Noël – Part Deux, You Choose and Baby Loves Disco’s Christmas Cheer.

Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam, Directors of Underbelly and Edinburgh’s Christmas said: “We are so excited to be bringing Christmas cheer back into the city with one of the world’s most ambitious programmes of outstanding shows and attractions for people of all

ages to enjoy! Our headline event this year, Silent Light, is a silent disco street party like no other. Raising money for One City Trust and on 1 December taking part in St Andrew’s Fair Saturday to support 3 deaf and blind charities, this special event will put a smile on everyone’s face with a rich catalogue of top festive tunes synchronised to tens of thousands of lights! We also want to give away 26,000 free tickets to Silent Light via over 50 local charities to make sure that no-one is excluded from this only in Edinburgh event.

And don’t forget to join us and The Voice’s Saskia Eng on 18 November for Light Night – get your Christmas groove on and let the festivities begin!”

Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, Frank Ross said: “Edinburgh is one of the UK’s top destinations for winter celebrations and I’m sure this year’s fresh and exciting programme will cement the capital as the place to be at Christmas time.“It will be fantastic to see so many people enjoying Edinburgh’s Christmas this year where there really is something for everyone. Festive favourites like the big wheel, the ice rink in St Andrew Square and the Christmas market will be back and this year will see the inaugural Silent Light: a fusion between Street of Light and a silent disco on George Street – it’s the Christmas party everyone will want to join.”

Jordi Albareda, the Founder of Fair Saturday said: “We are very excited to be working with Underbelly and Edinburgh’s Christmas as part of the programme of St Andrew's Fair Saturday next December 1st. On that day, the City of Edinburgh will celebrate Christmas, Scotland's vibrant culture, its role in the positive transformation of society and the wider celebration of St Andrew's Day all across Scotland. All of this connected with hundreds of events that will be taking part in Fair Saturday worldwide. It is an honour for us to bring to Scotland a project born in the Bay of Biscay in 2014 and launch this first edition of the festival hand in hand with Edinburgh’s Christmas, proving together that arts and culture are essential in today's society.”

Roddy Smith, Chief Executive of Essential Edinburgh said: “Christmas is a special time of year when everyone enjoys our amazing city centre – be they local or one of the tens of thousands of visitors who come here over the festive period. It is also a vital trading time, particularly for our hospitality businesses and for our retailers. We are looking forward to another fantastic Christmas.

“Essential Edinburgh is delighted to be partnering with Underbelly, to bring the exciting range of activities to the city centre including for the first time, the fantastic Silent Light: a fusion between Street of Light and a silent disco party towards the west end of George Street which will undoubtedly draw large audiences to that part of our area. This will see people dancing to Christmas music playing on their headphone underneath the beautiful structure of Street of Light. We think it will be a smash hit.”

John Donnelly, Chief Executive of Marketing Edinburgh said: “There’s nowhere as magical as Edinburgh at Christmastime. Our world-class winter attractions include something for everyone – from traditional family fun, with the likes of the popular ice rink returning in St Andrew Square, to uniquely festive ways to experience our city’s attractions, with activities like the all new light display and silent disco on George Street to the spectacular Christmas market.”

Simon Beattie form Nonsenseroom Productions said: “Nonsenseroom Productions are delighted to be performing again during the Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations. You

Choose is going to be a fun-filled interactive musical adventure where the audience decide the story and each show will be a different experience. Edinburgh is such a magical city at Christmas and we can't wait to be part of the festivities.”

David Bates, the founder and owner of the Famous Spiegeltent said: “La Clique is certainly a show biz phenomenon. Intimate, adult, variety that has been copied all over. But, La Clique is still the pace-setter, the barometer and the inspiration for all the copy-cats. It’s birthplace and spiritual home is Edinburgh. We all loved last Edinburgh’s Christmas and how more beautiful the city is in winter. This season we’ve have created a brand-new show… with more risk, more danger, more shock, more awe, more fun and more grooves than ever before… La Clique Noël - Part Deux is a specially created seasonal celebration for Edinburgh... a gender-twisting, kick-arse treat for the festive season. We are tickled-pink to be back!” Saskia Eng said: “I feel absolutely honoured to be switching on the Edinburgh Christmas lights. It is not something I ever expected to be asked to do. The people of Edinburgh have always supported me and I cannot wait to be there with them all at such a special time in my home city.”

/ENDS

Notes to editors:

Facebook: facebook/edinburghschristmasTwitter: @EdXmasInstagram: EdinburghsChristmas

Tickets for all ticketed events are available from:www.edinburghschristmas.com / 0844 545 8252

For further information on Edinburgh's Christmas, please contact:Susie Gray or Magda PaduchThe Corner Shop PR07834 073 795 Susie07583 164 070 Magdasusie@thecornershoppr.com magda@thecornershoppr.com

About UnderbellyUnderbelly is a UK based live entertainment company the beginnings of which are rooted in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2000. Its events and festivals division now operates one of the largest operations at the Fringe, selling over 460,000 tickets for over 200 shows in 22 venues over 25 days in 2018.2018 is the sixth Edinburgh’s Christmas that Underbelly has produced for City of Edinburgh Council (2017/18 saw a record breaking 781,520 tickets issued to visitors from 47 different countries), and the second Edinburgh’s Hogmanay also on behalf of City of Edinburgh Council, which in 2018 welcomed 160,000 over 3 days. Elsewhere Underbelly also produces Underbelly Festival on the Southbank in London, this year in its 10th year and one of the biggest multi-arts offerings in London, Christmas in Leicester Square, Udderbelly Festival in Hong Kong, West End Live in Trafalgar Square for Westminster City Council and the Society of London Theatre. Through its Underbelly Productions arm it produces and promotes live shows in London's West End at the Edinburgh Fringe, and throughout the UK and on tour internationally.In 2017 Underbelly sold over 1.4 million tickets to its various events.

www.underbelly.co.uk

LISTINGS INFORMATION

La Clique Noel – Part Deux - Festival Square Spiegeltent

La Clique Noël returns home for Edinburgh’s Christmas with a new seasonal spectacular, La Clique Noël - Part Deux. 

Born at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2004, the multi-award winning La Clique (Olivier Award Winner 2009) has since toured the globe to international acclaim. After wowing audiences in last year’s Edinburgh’s Christmas the show returns with an all new stellar cast for La Clique Noël - Part Deux. 

La Clique Noël - Part Deux has a reimagined line up of new dysfunctional artists plus a few firm favourites for this year’s seasonal edition, including the astounding fire eater Heather Holliday and mistress of mayhem, host Bernie Dieter. The show will feature a scintillating live band and the best of the best in adult, genre-bending, new variety - in a night you won’t forget! 

A programme worth £10 included with every ticket.

Friday 16 November – Saturday 5 January Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday – 8pm Thursday – 5pm & 8pmSaturday – 6pm & 9pm Sunday – 4pm

A Private Booth £160 - £240 + booking fee (seats 8 people)Add on our bubbles package to make it extra special.

Ringside £39.50 - £50.50

Posh Seats £32.50 - £40.50

Stalls £24.50 - £35.50

Rear Stalls £14.50 - £25.50

Booking fees apply. Times and costs vary, please check website for details

La Clique Pre-Show Dining at One Square Restaurant

In the heart of Edinburgh’s Cultural Quarter, One Square Restaurant will overlook the Festival Square Spielgeltent, bursting with music, magic and fun throughout the Edinburgh’s Christmas season. Indulge in a delicious two-course lunch or dinner, without having to worry about being late to your show! With a seasonal selection of the finest locally sourced ingredients and plenty of Christmas cheer to go around, it is the perfect package to enjoy with family friends or colleagues. Our pre-theatre dining package includes a two-course menu complete with a glass of prosecco at One Square Restaurant, a ticket to the new production of La Clique Noël - Part Deux, plus car parking for up to 6 hours* whilst you enjoy the evening. With tiered packages to suit every budget, including reduced weeknight rates, book yourself in for a Christmas treat! Sunday Lunch at One Square is the perfect finish to the weekend. The laid back lunch features hearty local favourites as well as a one of a kind dessert station which includes a DIY ice cream cart and popcorn cart and not to forget the ever popular chocolate fountain.  Sip on a glass of prosecco and relish in the sounds of live gypsy jazz band, Viper Swing.

Sunday Lunch Is available 12:30pm – 2:30pm, includes a glass of prosecco and complimentary car parking up to 6 hours.

Ringside Package£66 - £80Posh Package£59 - £80Stalls Package£51 - £65 Rear Stalls Package£41 - £55

Parking and One Square Restaurant is located at the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa

Booking fees apply. Times and costs vary, please check website for details

You Choose – A Different Story in Every Show - Festival Square Spiegeltent

Based on the brilliant book by Pippa Goodhart and Nick Sharratt Nonsense Room Productions (Shark in the Park and Hairy Maclary Shows) bring you a brand new interactive musical show for all the family.  But in this show – YOU CHOOSE what happens!   Using the picture book as inspiration and through a series of games and challenges each show will come up with a unique story, with different characters every time! For ages: 2 – 7 years

Friday 30 November – Saturday 6 January 11am & 1pm

Full Price Tickets £12 - £15

Concession Tickets£10 - £12

Family Tickets£10pp - £11.50pp

Booking fees apply. Times and costs vary, please check website for details

Baby Loves Disco’s Christmas Cheer - Festival Square Spiegeltent9, 22 & 23 December1pm For ages 0 – 6 years

The legendary Baby Loves Disco returns with its unique dayclubbing experience for parents with babies, toddlers and young children. With the resident club DJ spinning nostalgic party floor fillers, a licensed bar for parents, face painting, festive crafts, toddler play equipment, dress-up, dancefloor games with giveaways, bubbles, balloons and more - all included in the price. There will be a short interlude with Christmas tunes and pressies from Santa as he struts his stuff on the dancefloor.

£9 + booking feeBabes in arms are free

Light Night - George StreetSunday 18 November3pm – 5pm Free Event

We celebrate the official opening of Edinburgh’s Christmas and the switch on of the city’s Christmas Lights!

A fantastic free event, where the local community comes together to showcase the very best choirs and dancers from Edinburgh and across Scotland, as we light up George Street with fireworks. Hosted by Forth Radio’s Arlene Stuart, against the backdrop of the magical new Silent Light feature on George Square.

Please note that this event is expected to be very busy, so please leave plenty of time to arrive, and travel by public transport if at all possible to avoid congestion in the city centre.

We are delighted to welcome our special guest Saskia Eng who competed on this year’s The Voice to switch on the city’s Christmas lights. Saskia attended City of Edinburgh Music School from the age of 11 and has performed in front of many large crowds across the country. During The Voice Saskia was mentored by legendary Tom Jones and reached the Knockout stage of the competition.

Silent Light – George Street19 November – 1 January 16.45pm – 10pm

Brand-new spectacular Silent Light is bound to brighten up even the Grinch’s day! In a global first, Underbelly has invited the team behind the Fringe 2018 hit, Silent Adventures, to collaborate with Edinburgh’s Christmas on a unique outdoor event for people of all ages to enjoy. Fusing the stunning hit of Edinburgh’s Christmas 2016, Street of Light with a silent street party, Silent Light was born: a festivity like no other, with people dancing and singing underneath a spectacular architectural installation of archways festooned with thousands of lightbulbs synchronised to music! Getting everyone’s Christmas groove on thanks to a rich playlist of first-class tunes, Silent Light is perfect Christmas entertainment. With 3 different themes to choose from (Santa’s Sparkles, especially suitable for families, Christmas Crackers with all your favourite festive tunes and Disco Delights for the party crowd), Silent Light takes place up to 5 times a day between 4.45pm and 10pm, each slot 20 minutes long. Silent Light is supported by Essential Edinburgh, The Principal Edinburgh Charlotte Square and Signature Pub Group.Doors open 30 minutes prior for the collection of headphones. Please enter through the location given to you on your ticket.

£4.5050p from every ticket sold will be donated to One City Trust.

A group discount for 5 or over will apply, please see website for details. 

No shows 25th, 30th & 31st Times, dates and themes may vary. Please check the Edinburgh Christmas website for more details.

Show Times16.4518.00/18.1519.3020.30/20.4521.40

Between 2 and 4 shows a day from Monday 19 November and Tuesday 18 December with the 4 shows taking place at the weekend. Wednesday 19 December – Sunday 30 December 3 – 5 shows a day to tie in with school holidays over the Christmas period.

Santa’s Grotto – Castle StreetSaturday 17 November – Monday 24 December10.30am – 8pm

Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without a visit to Santa… A chance for children to meet Santa Claus, hear a festive tale and receive a wee gift.

Visits are in groups and begin every 30 minutes. Tickets must be purchased for a specific time slot before entering Santa’s Grotto. Visits last up to 25 minutes. £8.50 per child

Each child can take in 2 adults, first adult goes free with second adult paying £5

Add to the magic of visiting Santa at Castle Street with a ride on one of our traditional children’s attractions, warm up with some mulled wine or hot chocolate and tasty Christmas teat.

Times may vary so please check the Edinburgh’s Christmas website for details.

Star Flyer – East Princes Street GardensSaturday 17 November – Saturday 5 January We dare you...! At nearly 60 metres high, the Star Flyer is truly awesome. Take your seat and view Edinburgh like you’ve never seen it before... you’ll fly past the magnificent gargoyles of the Scot Monument and have the best views over all of Edinburgh’s Christmas. Aw at the 360 degree views over the rooftops of Edinburgh…even if your eyes are firmly shut! 10am – 10pm (last admission 9.45pm) tickets are date-specific but there are no set time slots - admission is on a first come, first served basis. Please allow extra time if you plan to attend during busy periods. £7.50 You must be at least 1m tall to ride the Star FlyerUnder 11’s must be accompanied by a paying adult

The Forth 1 Big Wheel – East Princes Street GardensSaturday 17 November – Saturday 5 January

Our observational Big Wheel has 36 enclosed, weather-proof pods, each seating six people, and showing unrivalled views of Edinburgh. Enjoy your ride alongside some of the radio Forth 1 DJ’s. One ride on the Big Wheel won’t be enough!

10am – 10pm (last admission 9.45pm) tickets are date-specific but there are no set time slots - admission is on a first come, first served basis. Please allow extra time if you plan to attend during busy periods.

£9 (£6 concessions)Family ticket £25 (admits 4, with a maximum of 2 adults)

Under 13’s must be accompanied by a paying adultIf you can toddle you need a ticket, if you can’t you go free

Johnnie Walker Bothy Bar - East Princes Street GardensSaturday 17 November – Saturday 5 January 7 days a week 10am – 10pm (Times may vary)

The Johnnie Walker Bothy Bar will open its doors this winter to immerse locals and visitors to Edinburgh’s Christmas into the world of whisky.  Situated across a two floor bar on the Mound, the bothy will serve a variety of whisky cocktails and hot toddies to surprise and delight, showcasing the unique flavours from the four corners of Scotland that go into creating the Johnnie Walker blend.  Keep Walking.

Christmas Markets – East Princes Street Gardens7 days a week 10am – 10pm

Princes Street Gardens’ Christmas Market has been voted best Christmas market in the UK last year in a by McCarthy & Stone.

The traditional Christmas market offers its visitors a unique festive shopping experience with something for everyone. There are a whole host of local bespoke and homemade gifts as well as mouth-watering delicacies, all topped with a generous helping of Christmas spirit.

Santa Land – East Princes Street GardensSaturday 17 November – Saturday 5 January

Come and see what new festive fun is to be had in Santa Land this year. Lower East Princes St Gardens is once again transformed into a magical festive place for all the family, with a host of rides and attractions to enjoy. For a full list of all the rides in Santa Land, please visit edinburghschristmas.com

Opening hoursSunday - Wednesday: 10am - 8pm Thursday - Friday: 10am - 9pm Saturday: 10am - 10pm *These vary on occasional days, check the website for up to date info.

Christmas Tree Maze Prepare to get lost in our magical Christmas Tree Maze! A joy for children and adults alike - can you make your way to the centre and back again? Discover the Elves’ workshop, where Santa’s little helpers will be waiting for you with a treat.

£4

Under 13’s must be accompanied by a paying adultBabes in arms go free

Santa Train Board the train at Santa’s train station, and then it’s all aboard for an exciting ride round Santa Land. Look up at the Castle, the tree on the Mound, the Big Wheel, the Market, and wave to the crowds as Santa sounds the bell.

£4

Children under 1m tall must be accompanied by a paying adultBabes in arms go free

Ice Rink - St Andrew’s SquareRekorderlig Cider Lodge Friday 16th November – Saturday 5 January 10am – 10pm

Get your skates on and glide all the way round the Rekorderlig Cider Lodge in St Andew Square on our beautiful elliptical ice rink.

Day slots start every 45 minutes from 10am to 1pm, and then every 30 minutes until 9:30pm. The ice rink is cleared completely for cleaning up to twice a day so please check the website or at the box office for up-to-date timings.

Adults £9 - £12.50Children (4 - 15 years) £5 - £8Family ticket £20 - £35 (admits 4, maximum 2 adults)

Under 11’s need to be accompanied by a paying responsible adultNo babes in arms

Please arrive 20 minutes before the scheduled start time to collect your skates (5 minutes before, for 10am sessions). Skating aids are available. Time slots may vary so please see online for further details.

Winter WindowsSaturday 17 November – Wednesday 26 DecemberFree Entry

The Winter Windows form a magical pathway from West Parliament Square – outside St Giles to Newhaven. Each stained-glass window is designed by a budding young artist from Edinburgh’s schools to the theme of Kindness. This year’s Winter Windows is working in conjunction with St Giles Cathedral.

Winter Windows will be popping up at the following locations:

West Parliament Square – St Giles CathedralGreat Michael Rise – NewhavenNorth Street – RathoRoyston/Wardieburn Community Centre – PiltonSt Patrick Square – Nicholson Street