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Edinburgh's Christmas line-up announced!
Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations have announced the line-up for this year with old favourites back and new events planned!
The celebrations kick off with Light Night on Sunday November 17 when Santa will make a “flying” visit to Edinburgh’s Christmas and the Royal Mile. Before Santa’s visit, there will be performances on the Royal Mile including a special appearance from Ama-zing Harmonies, a choir created through the work of Transit into Confidence, a charity supported by OneCity Trust, Edinburgh’s Christmas official charity partner.
Hosted by Forth 1’s Arlene Stuart, Light Night will take place between 3.30pm and 5pm and will also feature the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh’s community choir, fresh from their preparations for An Edinburgh Christmas Carol, Little Voices, Big Stars, the Edinburgh singing group for children between 4 and 16 year olds, Intercultural Youth Scotland, a movement for positive impact in the lives of intercultural young people whose Light Night performance will feature rap and poetry and Rock Choir Live. Audiences up and down the Mile will be able to enjoy the event thanks to three giant screens located in key spots on the street.
At 5pm a spectacular pyrotechnics display will mark the official switch on of Edinburgh’s Christmas lights with Santa’s “flying” visit. OneCity Trust will be bucket shaking at the event.
New this season is Community Christmas, a free, fun celebration. Community Christmas sees 12 buildings across the city come alive with festive projections over 12 consecutive nights, a new building every night. Each event also features a different local choir performing some of the best-loved festive tunes alongside the projection. The locations are: Abbeyhill Primary School, Sandy’s Community Centre in Craigmillar, Drumbrae Library and Community Hub, Corstorphine Community Centre, Gilmerton Community Centre, Pentland Community Centre in Oxgangs, Westside Plaza in Wester Hailes, Granton Primary School, Inch Community Education Centre, The Crags Centre by Holyrood Park, Craigentinny Community Centre and Broomhouse Community Hub.
Once again East Princes Street Gardens hosts a Christmas market; rides include, for the keen little travellers, Santa Train.
In a new partnership for 2019, 25p from every ticket sold to the family favourite Christmas Tree Maze will be donated to Edinburgh and the Lothians Greenspace Trust’s Tree Times project which replants or plants new trees in Edinburgh. Castle Street once again becomes Santa’s Edinburgh base this Christmas with his Grotto welcoming naughty and nice children every day from 16 November until Christmas Eve.
The Nativity Scene moves this year to the Mound beneath the Christmas Tree donated by the Hordaland County Council in Norway. The Nativity Carol Concert, organised in conjunction with Edinburgh Churches Together, takes place at 3pm on 1 December on Mound Place.
Edinburgh’s Christmas favourite, Baby Loves Disco returns with Christmas Glitter Ball, and a top-class selection of festive pop tunes to get families into the party mood! The event is aimed at parents and carers with babies, toddlers and young children (up to 6 years old) and features real club DJs mixing the best tunes of the last five decades, all at a baby-friendly volume! The fun beyond the dancefloor continues with face-painting, play tents, arts and craft zone and many more, all included in the entry price. The show takes place at Assembly Rooms, twice daily on 15 and 21 December.
Free of charge sensory packs to children and adult visitors with additional needs will be available to hire free of charge from the main Edinburgh’s Christmas Box Office and will contain a fidget toy, earplugs, water bottle, stress reliever, ear defenders and an Edinburgh’s Christmas brochure including an easy to navigate map. These items are designed to help users relax in situations they might find stressful. The sensory packs are designed and kindly provided by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society.
For more info visit edinburghschristmas.co.uk