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Edinburgh's Christmas Wonderland
Overview
Winter Wonderland
The city's winter festivities traditionally draw hundreds of thousands to Edinburgh and feature the iconic Big Wheel, ice skating and Christmas markets.
Ferris wheel
This year Edinburgh’s Hogmanay will run from Monday 30 December to Wednesday 1 January 2014, and is expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors from around the world.
Edinburgh's Christmas events run from 22 November 2013 to 5 January 2014.
The three day Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Festival, produced on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council, will kick off with the popular Torchlight Procession on Monday 30 December which is supported by EventScotland. With a new start time of 7.00pm, and a new start location on George IV Bridge, this event is expected to attract over 7,500 torchbearers and 20,000 participants who will join the procession winding through the city centre to the finale. During the Son et Lumière finale Edinburgh’s Hogmanay will launch ‘Scotland’s Hogmanay’ – the celebration of 2014, Scotland’s Big Year – with the viewing preview of the
‘2014 Moment’ which will be seen around Scotland at 8.14pm on Hogmanay night. This year access to Calton Hill will be exclusively available for torchbearers and their accompanying friends and family.
Ice rink
The flagship Concert in the Gardens on Tuesday 31 December will be headlined by Pet Shop Boys with special guests The 1975 and Edinburgh’s own Nina Nesbitt. and will be opened by The 10:04’s. Tickets for The Enclosure have already sold out; there are limited tickets available for The Gardens. The world famous Street Party offers an uniquely Scottish line up across three stages with performances from Django Django, Chvrches, The Rezillos and William Douglas on the Waverley Stage; King Creosote, Treacherous Orchestra and Fiddlers’ Bid on the Scottish Stage in Frederick Street.
Ice Skaters
The spectacular midnight fireworks rising from Edinburgh Castle and Calton Hill will be set to music and, together with the displays in Stirling and Inverness, will contain the 2014 bespoke sequence to celebrate Scotland’s Hogmanay and Homecoming Scotland. Free bus transport home throughout the city will be available for revellers at the Street Party, supported by Lothian Buses and Diageo, the drinks company. Countdown fireworks will lift from Edinburgh Castle at 9.00pm, 10.00pm and 11.00pm.
Helter skelter
For the first time, St Andrew Square becomes a major arena for the Christmas Event. It will host the magnificent 635-seat Paradiso Spiegeltent, which will present LIMBO, the international circus sensation, direct from Australia and London’s Southbank before it heads on an international tour in 2014.
The Paradiso Spiegeltent will also host some of the most exciting family entertainment on offer in Edinburgh at Christmas.
Market
Other highlights of St Andrew Square include:
- The Scottish Market: shortly before 2014 - the year in which Scotland will build its international reputation as 'A Land of Food and Drink', the Scottish Market brings to Edinburgh’s Christmas some of the very finest local cuisine, including offerings from the Scottish Cafe at Edinburgh's Christmas, Susie's Diner, Spencerfield Spirit’s Edinburgh Gin, Chocmotif, the Eden Brewery and the Wild Game Company.
- The Children's Market: featuring a range of hand-crafted toys and other unique gifts in a fun, safe environment which gives kids an exciting, independent craft making and shopping experience, including Imagination Workshop’s Christmas craft workshop, a Gingerbread decorating workshop, Toys Galore of Edinburgh and personalised Santa gift sacks and Christmas stockings.
- The Star Flyer: on the south side of St Andrew Square, the Star Flyer, a 60 metre free-standing ride, provides heart-stopping thrills for the adventurous and the not-so-adventurous alike. See Edinburgh as you have never seen it before... (maybe) with your eyes closed.
Market at night
Carousel
Festive scene
View to Castle
