Christmas cheer set to be sprinkled across the capital to close 2020 on a high
Bringing much-needed merriment to round off a tough year for all, the twinkling trail will be one of the few festive activities happening in the capital this year thanks to its outdoor setting and a series of stringent health and safety measures to protect visitors.
These include regulated entry time slots, limited capacities, reduced dwell times, contactless ticket scanning and a one-way trail route.
Attendees must book their tickets online in advance of their visit and follow the lasted Scottish Government restrictions on travel and meeting others.
Delivering a dazzling display of lights, projections and lasers, the one mile long after-dark extravaganza will welcome back some of the Garden’s most popular installations including the Cathedral of Light and Laser Garden.
For those who are on his ‘good’ list this year, Santa Claus will make an appearance outside on the trail to greet visitors at a distance, while several new installations include a projected light show on the Garden’s modernist Front Range Glasshouses and Starfield – a display of 20 giant LED twinkling stars – are also set to be firm favourites for 2020.
In line with Scotland’s new Covid-19 local protection levels and travel restrictions, this year the trail’s success is dependent on support from the residents of the City of Edinburgh local authority area.
Simon Milne MBE, Regius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, said: “We are calling on the people of Edinburgh to show their support by visiting Christmas at the Botanics.
“By coming to the trail not only will visitors enjoy a wonderful festive experience but also help us and our work enormously. Profits from the trail go to help finance our important and innovative plant research and conservation programmes in Scotland and around the world.
“Never has our work been more crucial as we face the interrelated challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, biodiversity loss and climate change. This has been a hugely difficult year for us all. At the Botanics, we want to end the year by creating something very special for the City and we hope everyone will come and enjoy some festive fun.”
The 2019 trail welcomed 76,000 visitors during its five-week run – and the 2020 event promises to be equally as popular.
Jonathan Marks, Chief Development Director at Raymond Gubbay, a division of Sony Music, which promotes the event, added: “Christmas at the Botanics has established itself as a truly uplifting experience that helps the capital kick off the festive season in style, and it’s never been more needed than in 2020.
“A lot of work has gone into making the trail Covid-safe so that our customers can visit with confidence. I am thrilled that the team has made it happen. The fusion of the beautiful natural setting of the Garden combined with the striking, modern art created by the lights provides a deeply atmospheric and magical setting and we can’t wait for visitors to experience it for themselves.”
Due to Covid-19 ALL tickets must be pre-booked for the trail in advance online. For ticket information, pricing and timings, please visit the website below and follow @mychristmastrails #ChristmasAtTheBotanics
https://christmasatthebotanics.seetickets.com/timeslots/christmas-at-the-botanics/
Christmas at the Botanics is one of seven illuminated trails by leading events promoter Raymond Gubbay Limited, a division of Sony Music, in partnership with the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh and creative producer Culture Creative.
More information on the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh health and safety measures can be accessed here: https://www.rbge.org.uk/visit/visiting-us-during-covid-19/
PICTURES: Phil Wilkinson
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