New Ice Adventure and Giant Advent Calendar Part of Edinburgh’s Christmas Festival 2017

Edinburgh’s Christmas runs from Friday 17 November 2017 to Saturday 6 January 2018 and this year the refreshed celebration will expand across the city from East to West, North to South and into community hubs outside the city centre.

Edinburgh’s Christmas is one of the most popular Christmas celebrations in the UK. 2017 will see the biggest, brightest and best programme of events and entertainment to date.

Ice Adventure – a Journey through Frozen Scotland

A new feature, Ice Adventure – a journey through frozen Scotland comes to the west end of George Street offering residents and visitors a stunning new attraction made of snow and ice.

This arctic installation at the west end of George Street is an immersive walk-through experience filled with spectacular ice and snow sculptures to take your breath away. The event is produced by Underbelly and Hamilton Ice, producers of the Ice Kingdom at London’s Winter Wonderland – that event’s most popular and pre-booked attraction. Supported by Shackleton Whisky, this attraction will also feature an ice bar.

Take a tour of Scotland with life-like ice sculptures of Vikings, fairies and Kelpies, Highland cows, eagles and Dolly the Sheep, Robert the Bruce, Mary Queen of Scots and Greyfriars Bobby, and of course the Loch Ness Monster!

George Street. Tickets £10 (£7)

Friday 17 November to Sunday 24 December

Santa’s Grotto 

The ever-popular Santa’s Grotto is moving to join Ice Adventure on George Street.

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

George Street. Tickets £8

Saturday 18 November to Sunday 24 December

Edinburgh’s Giant Advent Calendar

Another new offering this year is Edinburgh’s Giant Advent Calendar, this free attraction, created by Double Take Projections, will be projected nightly onto General Register House, with 25 glimpses of Edinburgh winters from years gone-by, one revealed each day.

In Edinburgh’s Giant Advent Calendar archive of the city dating back to the 1700s supplied by partners including Historic Environment Scotland, National Library of Scotland, and National Records of Scotland will be animated and set to a soundscape reflective of that year, supporting the end of 2017 as the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology. Edinburgh’s Giant Advent Calendar will be visible on General Register House at varying times from 5pm to 10pm every day.

General Register House. Free to access.

Friday 1 – Monday 25 December.

Edinburgh’s Christmas Tram

In a partnership with Edinburgh Trams, Edinburgh’s Christmas has invited schoolchildren from across the city to design a special Christmas and Hogmanay tram to brighten up the city’s streets this winter.

Christmas Entertainment

The Festival Square Spiegeltent pops up on 17 November outside the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa on Lothian Road, with a dazzling new show from the internationally famous La Clique …. La Clique Noël proudly presented by Edinburgh’s Christmas, David Bates and Spiegeltent International.

This very special seasonal treat sees the outrageous and unforgettable theatrical phenomenon La Clique coming home for Christmas with their trademark inspirational mix of cabaret, new burlesque, circus and contemporary vaudeville in a new, sexy, dangerous show! Presenting Scotty The Blue Bunny, Heather Holliday and Vicky Butterfly, among others, this special night will also showcase the talents of Dannie Bourne and The La Clique Palace Orkestra featuring… Kelly Wolfgram!

Festival Square Spiegeltent. Tickets starting from £19.50 weekdays, from £24.50 weekends (from £14.50 previews)

Friday 17 November – Saturday 6 January

For those looking to get their dancing shoes on, family favourite Baby Loves Disco offers little groovers who might not even have found their feet yet a chance to dance the day away.

Festival Square Spiegeltent. Tickets £9

Friday 17 November – Saturday 6 January

Winter Windows

In partnership with the National Galleries of Scotland, Winter Windows sees schools in Edinburgh take part in the creative project conceived by Underbelly in 2014 to embrace the talents of the city’s young people and showcase them to residents and visitors out of the classroom and onto the street. During the autumn term, each school will work with pupils to design stained glass windows with the theme of 2050 Edinburgh City Vision, highlighting the City of Edinburgh Council’s campaign to engage everyone in imagining the City’s future.

This year up to 50 windows will be displayed across the city. In West Parliament Square the Winter Windows designs from each school will be displayed outside St Giles just off the Royal Mile to be seen by the thousands of visitors to Edinburgh’s Christmas, giving local schoolchildren a great way to get involved in the festivities and show off their artistic talents.

In 2017, this will expand into communities outside the city centre with windows popping up in Leith’s Kirkgate Plaza, Craigmillar Library Plaza, Drumbrae Plaza and Westerhailes Plaza.

Various locations. Free to access.

Friday 17 November to Monday 25 December

24 Doors of Advent

24 Doors of Advent returns to Edinburgh’s Christmas Festival allowing residents and visitors to peep behind usually closed doors across the city throughout advent. In 2017, working with Historic Environment Scotland, 24 Doors of Advent opens many new doors for you to explore including Trinity House, Lauriston Castle and Mansfield Traquair.

Various locations. Free to access.

Friday 1 – Sunday 24 December

Light Night

Sunday 19 November is Light Night in Scotland’s capital city when the Christmas lights are switched on across the city. This year Light Night will again be hosted by Forth One DJ Arlene Stuart and will showcase the Edinburgh’s best amateur choirs and dance groups, including Little Voices Big Stars, Edinburgh Rock Choir and Edinburgh Ballet.

George Street. Free to access

Sunday 19 November, 3-5pm

Edinburgh Residents Discount

2017 also sees the return of the popular Edinburgh resident’s 20% discount across all shows, rides and events. In 2016 130,663 tickets were sold to Edinburgh residents accessing their 20% off tickets, providing a total saving of over £199,000 to residents across the city.

All the fun of the fair at Princes Street Gardens

East Princes Street Gardens remains a centre point for families with Santa Land’s Christmas Tree Maze providing lots of Christmas magic to kids aged 1 to 100+. Favourite rides including the Star flyer, traditional double Carousel and the Forth One Big Wheel return. The Gardens throw open their gates on Saturday 18 November.

East Princes Street Gardens. Free to access.

Saturday 18 November – Saturday 6 January

The Scottish Market will join together with the European market, seeing over 130 craft, food and drink stalls pop up across the Gardens. Free to access.

Edinburgh’s Christmas Ice Rink

The elliptical ice rink in St Andrew Square is always a popular draw and a much-loved part of Edinburgh’s Christmas, set next to the Christmas Nativity scene in the gardens.

17 November 2017 until 6 January 2018

10am – 9.30pm, slots 45 minutes

Nativity Carol Concert

In conjunction with St Andrews and St Georges West and Edinburgh Churches Together, at the start of Advent, a carol concert will take place around the Nativity Scene in St Andrew Square, generously donated to Edinburgh by Sir Tom Farmer.

St Andrew Square. Free to access.

Sunday 3 December, 3pm, St Andrew Square

For more info on Edinburgh’s Christmas visit: www.edinburghschristmas.com

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