Fabulous hit show Swamplesque joins alpine skating rink and city’s first ice bar at Edinburgh’s Christmas

Top of a packed Assembly Hall line-up is fabulous Swamplesque, while outside is the city’s first Polar Ice Bar, the magnificent alpine ice rink and warming The Coorie Inn, plus live music and wintery workshops for Edinburgh’s Christmas.

In a gem of a line-up for Edinburgh’s Christmas, one of the Fringe’s hit shows Swamplesque returns this December for a very special festive edition.

The Shrek-inspired burlesque and drag parody show will take over Assembly Hall for a festive ‘fantasy meets fabulous’ night like no other.

Running from Thursday 5th December to Saturday 4th January,Swamplesque will feature fun Christmas-inspired twists and is set to be the perfect start to a very merry night out in Scotland’s capital, presented by Assembly Festival and Trigger Happy Productions.

With sell-out crowds and five-star reviews during Fringe, the Australian show’s ingenious re-telling of the beloved Shrek films delivers an award-winning performance that aims to empower and entertain. A riotous homage to the iconic Scottish ogre and his fantastical world, the show blends burlesque, drag and comedy, culminating in a side-splitting spectacular.

Swamplesque is set to headline the iconic Assembly Hall this Christmas season.The programme will also include a show with no comedy safety net – JasonByrne: No Show – plus an ideal counterpart to a family day at the market with The Bubble Show. See the full line-up here.

Santa Stories, maze and Christmas markets

The takeover at Assembly Hall is the latest addition to Edinburgh’s Christmas, as plans have been revealed for everything from the traditional Christmas markets in East Princes Street Gardens, a Family Festive Funfair with rides galore, outdoor ice-rink on George Street, and a brand new Christmas Tree Maze in St Andrew Square Gardens, as well as appearances from Santa himself in the ever-popular Santa Stories.

First Polar Ice Bar sculpted from ice

A brand new cold sensory experience for 2024 is the coolest new bar in town, the city’s first Polar Ice Bar. Visitors are invited to take time to chill this festive period, at the all-new ice bar where tables, chairs and glasses are sculpted entirely from ice.

This unique pop-up bar experience, created in partnership with Hamiltons Ice Sculptors, will be created on George Street and kept to a chilly -8°C. Visitors can stay cosy the whole time, with warming jackets and gloves provided on arrival.

Inside the Polar Ice Bar, guests will enjoy delicious festive alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails, served in an individual pre-carved ice glass, with your first drink included in the entry ticket. Also enjoy the bar’s beautiful, engraved ice walls and sculptures featuring winter forests and wildlife, providing the perfect insta-moment for friends and family.

Alpine ice rink and warming inn

Then returning this year is The Coorie Inn, the bar on George Street which is the place to warm up after a skate around the magnificent alpine ice rink.

Also new for this year is a programme of live music and wintery workshops.

For a full list of Edinburgh’s Christmas attractions and festive programme, visit www.edinburghwinterfestivals.com