SCOTLAND STREET SANTA SCHOOL
■ GLASGOW Scotland Street School Museum, Sun 18 Dec, glasgowlife.org.uk
Learn some crucial Santa skills, just in case there’s a Christmas emergency. Make your own Santa beard, learn how to shake your belly like a bowl of jelly, learn how to control a sleigh and make some yummy reindeer food for Rudolph and the gang. All participants get a certificate.
THE ETHICAL CHRISTMAS FAIR
■ DUNDEE City Square, Sun 18 Dec, handupevents.co.uk
Feel extra smug by not only giving gifts, but making sure they’re ethically sound.
SANTA’S SECRET FOREST
■ LARGS Kelburn Castle and Country Centre, Sun 18 Dec, kelburnestate.com
Visit the Christmas village, home to Santa’s grotto, an elf workshop, craft stalls and festive food. Ticket includes entry to the country centre and Christmas village, the Elf Workshop where children can make a tree ornament and Santa’s grotto with a gift for every child aged 2–14.
SCOTTISH CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL
■ EDINBURGH The Biscuit Factory, Sun 18 Dec, scottishchocolatefestival.co.uk
A festival for the sweet toothed with kids activities, workshops, a chocolate Santa’s grotto, a chocolate cocktail bar and a hot chocolate bar.
LITTLE BIRDS INDOOR MARKET
■ ST ANDREWS The Vic Pub Kitchen and Social Club, Sun 18 Dec, littlebirdsmarket.co.uk
Over 20 stalls featuring a range of goodies, with vintage and antique fashion, accessories, cakes and crafts too.
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THE YULETIDE GAMES
■ EDINBURGH Summerhall, Wed 21 Dec, yuletidegames.co.uk
Yuletide Games Christmas party takes in the likes of quizzes, art, buggy racing and mini golf across five rooms.
SANTA’S ENCHANTED VILLAGE
■ BALLOCH Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre, until Sat 24 Dec, santavillagelochlomond.co.uk
Meet Santa and his elves, see Rudolph’s den, and hang out with some actual owls.
CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND
■ MUSSELBURGH The Brunton, until Sat 24 Dec, funbox.co.uk
Family Christmas show from Funbox. The gang are off to the North Pole on an Arctic adventure packed with songs, silliness and snow.
MEET FATHER CHRISTMAS AT HAMLEYS
■ GLASGOW Hamleys Toy Store, until Sat 24 Dec, hamleys.com/mfc
Hang out with Santa and his elves to hear stories, sing songs and enjoy Christmas games.
STREET OF LIGHT
■ EDINBURGH George Street, until Sat 24 Dec
An architectural installation featuring over 60,000 lights, stretching along George Street, set to music from a selection of Edinburgh choirs and Scottish bands. Part of Edinburgh’s Christmas.
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MAGICFEST CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: COLLECTION OF WONDERS
■ EDINBURGH George Square Theatre, Tue 27–Fri 30 Dec, magicfest.co.uk
A festive magic show production from the Edinburgh International Magic Festival.
GEORGE SQUARE CHRISTMAS MARKET
■ GLASGOWGeorge Square, until Thu 29 Dec
Not content with one Christmas market Glasgow opens a second in George Square. Shop for handcrafted gifts and enjoy live entertainment and funfair rides.
EDINBURGH’S HOGMANAY
■ EDINBURGH Various venues, Fri 30 Dec–Sun 1 Jan, edinburghshogmanay.com
Edinburgh’s world-famous Hogmanay celebration ushers the new year in with a bang. A Torchlight Procession winds through the historic Old Town and onto a son et lumiere on Calton Hill on 30 Dec, a massive street party with live music that culminates with Midnight Fireworks from the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle and ‘Auld Lang Syne’ on 31 Dec, and for those brave souls still wanting more, there’s the Loony Dook (in the River Forth) on 1 Jan. See feature in this section.
ABERDEEN’S HOGMANAY
■ ABERDEEN Various venues, Sat 31 Dec, aberdeeninvestlivevisit.co.uk
Popular Hogmanay street party with live music.
ABERDEEN WINTER FESTIVAL
■ ABERDEEN Various venues, until Sat 31 Dec, aberdeenchristmas.co.uk
Aberdeen City hosts a range of festive events and activities to get your bells a-jingling this winter, with markets, concerts, pantos, exhibitions and entertainment to see you through the winter months.
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HOGMANAY CEILIDH
■ HELENSBURGH Victoria Hall, Sat 31 Dec, victoriahall.org.uk
Dancing, food and drink at this New Year’s celebration. There’s a first foot performance from Helensburgh Clan Colquhoun Pipe Band at midnight, plus a charity raffle with some groovy prizes.
HOGMANAY
■ PERTH Perth Racecourse, Sat 31 Dec, perth-races.co.uk
A traditional buffet and a night of ceilidh and disco dancing to bring in 2017.
STIRLING’S WINTER FESTIVAL
■ STIRLING City Centre, until Sat 31 Dec, stirlingwinterfestival.com
Stirling greets the winter with a programme of events from St Andrew’s Day to the other side of Hogmanay, including a Santa Parade, festive film screenings and a Resolution Run on 1 Jan.
STONEHAVEN FIREBALLS
■ STONEHAVEN Various venues, Sat 31 Dec Traditional fiery street parade.
See feature in this section.
COMET AND BLITZEN POP UP BAR
■ EDINBURGH Old Bank Building, until Sat 31 Dec
A Christmas themed pop up bar in the heart of Stockbridge offering fondue, small plates, cakes, beer, wine and winter cocktails.
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ELGIN ICE FESTIVAL
■ ELGIN Plainstones, until Sun 1 Jan, elginicefestival.com
Glide on the ice with family and friends at the Elgin Ice Festival. Ticket price covers one hour of ice skating and skate hire. Private hire sessions are available each morning before 11am and at various times throughout the event. Christmas Day is only available for private bookings.
FIRE AND ICE
■ FALKIRK The Helix, Sun 1 Jan, thehelix.co.uk/all-events/fire-and-ice-2017
Celebrate New Year’s Day with a 3km walk in The Helix Park, Home of the Kelpies. The park is illuminated with light and fire. Look out for a lantern installation, a giant Jack Frost, fire dancers and a fire breather. Walks start every half an hour from 5pm to 6.30pm.
EDINBURGH’S CHRISTMAS
■ EDINBURGH City Centre, until Sat 7 Jan, edinburghschristmas.com
Six weeks of winter wonderland. The centre of Edinburgh is transformed by a fairground, a host of colourful lights and the fabled European Christmas market with dozens of stalls selling traditional trinkets and crafts (and, of course, glühwein).
MORGAN & WEST: A (SORT OF) CHRISTMAS CAROL MAGIC SHOW!
■ EDINBURGH Festival Square, until Sat 7 Jan
Magic show for ages 5+ based on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Part of Edinburgh’s Christmas.
GLASGOW LOVES CHRISTMAS
■ GLASGOW Various venues, until Sat 14 Jan, glasgowloveschristmas.com
Festive celebrations in Glasgow city centre. Enjoy the spectacle of Glasgow’s Christmas lights, race 5k dressed as Mr Claus at the Santa Dash and enjoy not one but two festive markets.
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FOKUS: FILMS FROM GERMANY
■ SCOTLAND Various venues, until Sat 28 Jan
A Scotland-wide event showcasing innovative, inspiring and challenging films from Germany.
More reviews and listings at list.co.uk