What’s on Scotland: Edinburgh’s feast of festive events will help your Christmas sparkle

Edinburgh is set to sparkle with a feast of Christmas events for all the family | submitted

Christmas is about festive fun, feasts, family and enjoying special times with the ones we love – and what could be more Christmassy than glorious Edinburgh?

There’s a certain type of magic at this time of year, the twinkling lights, the festive cheer, the anticipation … and here in Edinburgh the Christmas elves have been busy, busy, busy to create a glittering programme of festive events to make the city sparkle.

There is so much going on in and around our capital, from festive family shows to glittering ice rinks, Polar ice bars to lantern parades, you’ll be spoiled for choice.

But with one handy website, bringing together all the details and how to book, you can easily plan your festive treats from home to make sure you don’t miss a thing.

The site covers events for Edinburgh’s Christmas, Edinburgh’s Winter Festival and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, and all include full details in an easy-to-follow guide to ticketed events.

We selected a few of our favourites, and unwrap them here, to give you a flavor of the gifts that await.

Ice, ice baby

George Street will glisten with winter sparkle as it hosts the Uniqlo Ice Rink, Polar Ice Bar and Coorie Inn.

The Polar Ice Bar is a first for the city. You’ll be invited to settle down in ice-sculpted seat with a glass made from ice in your hand and marvel at the engraved ice walls and sculptures featuring winter forests and wildlife. These will be instagrammable moments you’ll want to treasure.

The unique pop-up bar experience, created in partnership with Hamiltons Ice Sculptors, is kept to a chilly -8°C but visitors stay cosy the whole time, with warming jackets and gloves provided on arrival.

Enjoy delicious festive alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails, which are served in an individual pre-carved ice glass – and your first drink is included in the entry ticket. But do book your seat, because they sell out fast!

Is anything more evocative for Christmas than skating on ice? Indeed, one of the most iconic skating images is the famous 18th Century painting by Sir Henry Raeburn “Skating on Duddingston”, which hangs in our very own Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh. This perfectly –poised skater is thought to be the Reverend Robert Walker, minister of the Canongate Kirk and a member of the Edinburgh Skating Society club - the oldest club of its kind in Britain.

In those days the Edinburgh skaters met on the frozen lochs outside the city but today you can enjoy a much safer experience skating around George Street's Uniqlo Ice Rink.

And afterwards how about a drink at the Coorie Inn? Warm up with a hot chocolate or a mulled wine, a wee dram or a rum – the perfect place to gather and cosy up after a skate or the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping. The Coorie Inn will also host a number of festive events throughout the month, including workshops, whisky tastings, and weekly live music and quizzes.

It’s a kind of magic

For children Christmas can truly be a magical time. Let them lose themselves in the Christmas Tree Maze at St Andrew Square. This is one of the UK’s largest illuminated Christmas Tree trails, and a much-loved festive attraction. It’s the perfect photo opportunity – and pictures of your little angels, eyes sparkling under those lights will be ones to treasure for years to come.

And for kids it just wouldn’t be Christmas without a visit to Santa and he’s back at St Andrew Square too! Santa’s Stories is perfect for kids. Elves will be on hand to help you to your seats for a special Christmas show, lasting about 20 minutes, then each child will have the chance to meet the big man himself and receive a gift (suitable for their age range).

Rocking around the Christmas tree

The Ross Bandstand is a focus for some wonderfully warming traditional Christmas events and a place to take some time-out from the more frenzied festive activities and appreciate the true meaning of Christmas. There are concerts from local choirs and singing groups, the Edinburgh Nativity Blessing from Edinburgh Churches Together, and the city’s much-loved annual Carol concert, where you can join in and sing along.

The show must go on

And there are shows for children and adults at Assembly Hall if you are looking to give a fun touch to your holiday plans.

The five-star Fringe hit is back with fun Christmas-inspired twists and promises a very merry night out and a touch of the risqué that’s sure to put you on the nice list! The Australian show’s re-imagining of everyone’s favourite ogre delivers a riotous homage to the iconic Scottish ogre and his fantastical world. The award-winning show blends burlesque, drag and comedy, resulting in a side-splitting spectacular.

Also starring in the Assembly Hall this Christmas is a show with no comedy safety net – Jason Byrne: No Show – as well as a great family favourite The Bubble Show.

See the full line-up of events across Edinburgh for Christmas and Hogmanay here.