Tag: Big Wheel

Sparkling Streets and Festive Treats as Edinburgh’s Christmas Begins

  • Family favourites in East Princes Street Gardens including the Traditional Christmas Markets, LNER Big Wheel, Around the World Starflyer, and the Festive Funfair in West Princes Street Gardens open today!
  • George Street’s popular covered Ice Rink opens Friday 22 November
  • Santa’s Stories and Christmas Tree Maze transform St. Andrew Square from Saturday 23 November
  • The brand-new Polar Ice Bar opens on George Street Monday 25 November and promises to be the coolest venue in town
  • Assembly Hall brings an exciting programme of shows from Thursday 5 December

The wait is over… Edinburgh’s Christmas opens today, featuring a jam-packed programme of festive family fun!

Get ready for bright lights, Christmas tunes and mulled wine as the festive season kicks off!  Located in Edinburgh’s historic city centre, Edinburgh’s Christmas offers a winter wonderland experience like no other.

Edinburgh’s Christmas transforms the city into a festive haven for all the family, with Traditional Christmas Markets, funfair rides, spectacular live outdoor events, delicious food and drink, plus so much more.

Opening today (Saturday 16 November), Edinburgh’s East Princes Street Gardens brings the capital’s famous Christmas festivities to the heart of the city. Running until Saturday 4 January 2025, the market is filled to the brim with the finest local and international producers to find that perfect Christmas gift. East Princes Street Gardens also boasts the famous 80m Star Flyer, LNER Big Wheel and more daring fairground rides.

Just along the street, West Princes Street Gardens’  Festive Funfair is also opening today (12noon), complete with thrilling rides, fairground games, food & beverage, light installations and ticketed illumination events every evening. Families are welcome to join the fun until Saturday 4 January 2025.

Time to lace up your skates! Edinburgh’s premier outdoor Ice Rink opens on George Street from Friday 22 November 2024 and runs through until Saturday 4 January 2025. With a covered rink, it’s the perfect festive activity, rain or shine.

Santa Claus and his elves are ready to welcome families at St. Andrew Square where they can find Santa’s Stories, a letter writing station and a post box with a direct line to Santa’s workshop. Santa’s Stories begins Saturday 23 November in the Piccolo Spiegeltent, with each visit ensuring kids get the opportunity to meet Santa himself before the big day, and take home their own present.

Also in St. Andrew Square, the all-new Christmas Tree Maze opens on Saturday 23 November, until 24 December. This immersive holiday experience, with tickets from £5, offers one of the UK’s largest illuminated Christmas Tree walks.

Brand new this year, the Polar Ice Bar on George Street is crafted from crystal clear ice made from recycled rainwater, opens on Monday 25 November. The Polar Ice bar promises to be the coolest spot in town to enjoy a festive drink! Warm-up afterwards in George Street’s Coorie Inn, a brand-new Edinburgh’s Christmas attraction hosting a programme of live music, events, and festive workshops.

Our favourite ogre is back with a holiday edition of the Fringe smash-hit show, ‘Swamplesque’ – a burlesque and drag parody show. The festive ‘fantasy meets fabulous’ performance takes over Assembly Hall from Thursday 5 December until Saturday 4 January (ages 16+).

One of the foremost bubble artists in the world is coming to Assembly Hall on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 December with The Bubble Show! Whether you’re a wide-eyed child or a child at heart, prepare to be captivated by the spellbinding wonder of bubbles!

There’s no show like a Jason Byrne NO SHOW! NO SHOW is a show with no comedy safety net. Witness Jason use his infamous audience interactions with a sprinkle of props, both on and off stage, to create NO SHOW. Limited shows on Saturday 6 December and Sunday 7 December, you don’t want to miss this once in a lifetime show or NO SHOW (ages 14+).

Book lovers can join Val McDermid and Nicola Sturgeon for a special festive in-conversation event on Sunday 15 December at Assembly Hall, for In the Company of Books. The two will be joined by special guests to explore the joys of reading, and a few glasses of mulled wine (ages 12+).

Celebrating its 20th anniversary the Edinburgh Santa Fun Run and Walk on Sunday 8 December, invites Santa’s elves to run, jog or walk around the 2.5km circuit, while raising funds for When You Wish Upon A Star.

Unique Assembly, producers of Edinburgh’s Christmas said: “Edinburgh’s Christmas is finally here, and with a seven-week programme packed full of family favourites, this year promises to be one of the biggest and best ever.

“Whether sipping on cool cocktails in our brand new Ice Bar, enjoying a festive treat at the Coorie Inn or showing off your skating skills on the Ice Rink, there’s something for everyone at Edinburgh’s Christmas.”

Edinburgh’s Christmas and LNER invite visitors to take a spin this festive season

  • Edinburgh’s Christmas welcomes LNER to present the LNER Big Wheel as part of a new three-year partnership
  • Located in East Princes Street Gardens, the LNER Big Wheel will tower above the Edinburgh skyline at 46m tall, providing passengers with a unique perspective of the city, lighting up the City Centre from Friday 15 Nov 2024 to Saturday 4 Jan 2025
  • A specially recorded soundtrack will also provide passengers in the wheel’s 36 weather-proof pods with information on the key landmarks and attractions visible across the City Centre
  • EH postcode residents can enjoy a 20% discount on the LNER Big Wheel
  • Edinburgh’s Christmas Trailer

Edinburgh’s Christmas is delighted to announce that the LNER Big Wheel will be coming to East Princes Street Gardens this festive season as part of a new, three-year partnership with the train operator.

The LNER Big Wheel will tower above the Edinburgh skyline at 46m tall, providing passengers with a unique perspective of the spectacular city with incredible views of its historic Old Town, Edinburgh Castle and Arthur’s Seat, as well as sparkling evening views of Edinburgh’s Christmas attractions. 

Open from 10am – 10pm, the LNER Big Wheel will light up the City Centre from Friday 15 Nov 2024 – Saturday 4 Jan 2025.

With 36 enclosed weather-proof pods, families can enjoy a ride on the attraction whatever the weather. A specially recorded soundtrack will also provide passengers with information on the key landmarks and attractions visible across the City Centre. 

LNER, which connects millions of customers to the Scottish capital with ease every year, will sponsor the Big Wheel at Edinburgh’s Christmas for the next three years. 

Today, construction work to raise the LNER Big Wheel has begun. The wheel is set to be a focal point of Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations and a welcome sight to visitors arriving by train into Waverley Station. 

The Big Wheel welcomed more than 210,000 visitors last year to enjoy stunning winter views of the capital and the sparkling evening illuminations. 

EH postcode residents can also enjoy a 20% discount on the LNER Big Wheel with details available via edinburgh-christmas.com 

David Flesher, LNER’s Commercial Director, said: “We are thrilled that LNER will play such a key part in celebrating Christmas in Edinburgh this year.

“As the main train operator on the East Coast Main Line, we connect millions of customers each year with this historic city, and we can’t wait to provide thousands of people with the opportunity to see the sights of Edinburgh in this unique way.”

“Our Christmas tickets are on sale now giving customers the opportunity to plan the perfect trip away and to get into the festive spirit in Scotland.”

Unique Assembly, producers of Edinburgh’s Christmas said: “We are delighted to be working with LNER to light up Edinburgh’s Christmas this year.

“The Big Wheel is a major focal point of Edinburgh’s Christmas festivities and will give thousands of people the chance to enjoy a unique view of the city’s many iconic and historic landmarks and attractions, all lit up for the festive season.

“We look forward to welcoming people from near and far to take a spin very soon.”

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Tickets are on sale now here

5000 tickets for Edinburgh’s Christmas offered to community groups

Everyone deserves to share in the magic of Christmas, and this year 5000 tickets for Edinburgh’s Christmas attractions – including the Alpine Ice Rink and Big Wheel – are being gifted to local community groups and charities to ensure those who are less fortunate can join in the fun as the city comes to life with the festive spirit.  

UniqueAssembly, who produce Edinburgh’s Christmas on behalf of City of Edinburgh Council, today announced that applications are now open for local groups and charities who work with disadvantaged people in the community to claim tickets for rides and attractions at this year’s event – which will take over the Scottish capital from Friday 17 November 2023 until Saturday 6 January 2024.  

Applications can be made via the form on Edinburgh’s Christmas website, or via email at communities@unique-assembly.co.uk. 

Tickets will be limited per applicant/group, and applicants will be asked to include details of their organisational aims and how they would like to use the tickets.

Applications are now open and will close midnight Sunday 5 November, with decisions to be made by Friday 10 November. Event producers invite applications from charities and volunteer organisations, including young carers, refugee groups, and others in the community who need support.  

Another uplifting Christmas initiative is the return of the annual Winter Windows schools competition, which will be even bigger this year with the number of winners doubled to 24.

School children from across Edinburgh are encouraged to submit an artwork that represents their idea of winter and the festive season to be selected for display along walkways across the city. The winners’ artworks will also be showcased on Edinburgh’s Christmas social channels. Contact your school for more information. 

Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations will also include open access to the iconic Ross Bandstand in West Princes Street Gardens which will host a community-focused programme of events in association with various local charity partners.

Running for four weekends 18 November – 10 December, there will be a mix of free and ticketed events that touch upon some of the pillars of Christmas – Light, Music, Dance, and Santa.  

Some of the partners that Edinburgh’s Christmas are supporting this year include Edinburgh Diwali on Sunday 19 November, a St Andrew’s Day Outdoor Ceilidh on Sunday 26 November, Nativity Carol Concert with Edinburgh Churches Together on Sunday 3 December, and the 19th annual Santa Fun Run with When you Wish Upon a Star on Sunday 10 December.

More details will be available on the Edinburgh’s Christmas website in coming weeks.  

The spirit of giving and community continues with Social Bite’s Festival of Kindness, which includes the 10m tall Kindness Tree and Gift Donation point, dedicated to spreading goodwill to those who need it most.

Donations can be made to help provide thousands of Christmas dinners, food packs and gifts to homeless and vulnerable families, children, and individuals, or for shelter to those without a roof over their heads this winter. 

Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations will run from Friday 17 November 2023 – Saturday 6 January 2024, including the free-to-enter markets and ticketed attractions which are now available for purchase online.

The city centre will form a circuit of Christmas cheer with four zones to explore – a Festive Family Funfair in West Princes Street Gardens, the East Princes Street Gardens Christmas Market, Santa’s Workshop and Social Bite Festival of Kindness at St Andrew Square, and the Alpine Ice Rink and LocalMotive Castle Street Christmas Market on George Street West and Castle Street. 

Residents with an EH postcode are eligible for a 20% discount on tickets to all of Edinburgh’s Christmas events.

For further information, visit Edinburgh’s Christmas website:  

edinburgh-christmas.com.  

It’s beginning to look a lot like … Edinburgh’s Christmas is back!

On behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council, Underbelly announces that tickets for Edinburgh’s Christmas 2021 are now on sale.

–          Tickets on sale for selected rides and attractions.

–          The much-loved ice rink returns, sponsored by Lidl GB and partnered by Essential Edinburgh.

–          East Princes Street will see the return of festive food & drink and the Christmas Market.

–          West Princes Street will include Santa Land, featuring the magical Santa’s Grotto and family friendly attractions.

–          EH postcodes receive 20% discount.

Edinburgh’s Christmas is back and set to bring festive cheer to the heart of the city.

This year we see the return of the city’s much-loved Christmas ice rink, sponsored by Lidl GB and partnered by Essential Edinburgh, in its new home on George Street. The firm favourite will include a first for Edinburgh’s Christmas, skate up festive food and drink offerings alongside family sessions. Lidl on Ice will open on 19 November.

Once again East Princes Street Gardens hosts one the UK’s favourite Christmas Markets. The fantastic festive market will offer a wide range of European and local food, drink and crafts which are bound to get you into the Christmas spirit. 

The Forth 1 Big Wheel will return, alongside the Star Flyer, all against the backdrop of the iconic Edinburgh Castle. 

Edinburgh’s Christmas at East Princes Street Gardens will open on 20 November.

In a first for Edinburgh’s Christmas, those looking to get to the top of the nice list will find the city’s magical Santa’s Grotto in West Princes Street Gardens.

The lower gardens will be transformed into Santa Land featuring family friendly attractions including the Christmas Tree Maze and market stalls, full of festive treats and gifts. 

Santa Land will open on 19 November.

Tickets for Ice Skating, Santa’s Grotto, The Forth 1 Big Wheel and Star Flyer are now available to purchase through the Edinburgh’s Christmas website. Those with an EH postcode receive 20% off their tickets. 

This year, Edinburgh’s Christmas is going contactless and introducing a new ‘tap and ride’ scheme, rather than purchasing tickets from the traditional box office you will be able to purchase your ticket at each ride.

Further additions to the programme include:

Winter Windows will return throughout the city, and this year’s theme is “Connections and Kindness”. 

This special creative project encourages Edinburgh’s young and budding artists to showcase their talents to residents and visitors outside of the classroom. School pupils are invited to design their own stained-glass window to be displayed in our streets and community hubs.

This year’s theme allows Edinburgh’s school children to reflect on the connections made and kindness that they received and gave during the global pandemic.

The Nativity Scene, which this year moves to St Andrew Square. 

The Nativity Carol Concert, organised in conjunction with Edinburgh Churches Together, takes place on 28 November in St Andrew Square.

Following on from the success of the Light Night rainbow installation on the Mound in 2020, Edinburgh’s Christmas is working with Edinburgh based artist Hannah Ayre who will produce a beautiful contemporary art installation, illuminating the Mound with cascading geometric snowflakes.

This installation will sit alongside Edinburgh’s Christmas tree donated by the Hordaland County Council in Norway and will replace the Light Night event. 

The Mound installation will be illuminated from 20 November.

The Neighbourhood Market will return in 2021 and offer free listings for local Edinburgh businesses and attractions to showcase their products. In 2020, 207 local Edinburgh businesses showcased their products on the Edinburgh’s Christmas website.

To make sure Edinburgh’s Christmas is an experience as enjoyable as possible to all, Underbelly is pleased to be offering sensory packs to children and adult visitors with additional needs.

These will be available to hire, free of charge, and will contain a fidget toy, earplugs, water bottle, stress reliever and ear defenders. These items are designed to help users relax in situations they might find stressful.

The sensory packs are designed and kindly provided by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society.

Underbelly is meticulously planning Edinburgh’s Christmas with Covid-19 in mind and is dedicated to creating a safe and fun environment for the 2021 Christmas celebrations.

Working closely with the City of Edinburgh Council and Essential Edinburgh, Underbelly has created an unmissable festive programme, helping to boost domestic tourism and reinvigorating Princes Street and the surrounding areas. 

Edinburgh’s Christmas is designed to support economic recovery across the capital, driving footfall to the wider city centre area, bringing some much-needed cheer and happiness to both residents and visitors to Edinburgh.

This year’s festivities will also support Edinburgh’s Social Inclusion charity, the OneCity Trust with donations being taken at point of sale on the Edinburgh’s Christmas website and collection points at bars.

Underbelly Co-Directors, Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam said: “The Underbelly team has been working tirelessly to create a bespoke Edinburgh’s Christmas programme that not only provides unforgettable memories and experiences, but also makes visitors feel safe and at ease at all times.

“It’s been a very challenging couple of years for everyone but our proposed plans for Christmas are designed to support economic recovery throughout the capital, and to help Edinburgh be together again.”

Roddy Smith, Chief Executive and Director of Essential Edinburgh said: “We’re delighted to be able to partner with Underbelly to restore Edinburgh’s world-renowned festive celebrations for 2021.

“This year’s event has been designed to provide a much-needed boost to local business by supporting footfall throughout the wider city centre, providing more businesses with the chance to reconnect with residents and visitors to our spectacular capital city. 

“We are especially pleased to support the fantastic ice rink on George Street which I am sure will be a great hit with everyone.”

Edinburgh’s Lord Provost and President of the OneCity Trust Frank Ross, said: “The festive season is a very special time for our city and our communities and I’m sure this year’s programme will be warmly welcomed by residents and visitors.

“Whilst the safety of everyone remains a priority it will be fantastic to see people coming together again and enjoying Edinburgh’s Christmas this year where there really is something for everyone.

“Festive favourites like the big wheel and the Christmas market will be back and it’s great that the fun is spread out a bit further this year, with Santa Land in West Princes Street Gardens and a magical festive ice rink at the west end of George Street. It promises to be a cracking Christmas party for everyone to enjoy.” 

Commenting on the partnership with the OneCity Trust, he added: “After months of lockdowns and social distancing, tackling the challenge of social isolation and inequalities has never been more pressing.

“Partnerships such as this with Underbelly and Edinburgh’s Christmas are crucial to our work. Not only will the return of Edinburgh’s Christmas help bring people back together and promote social inclusion, but the money raised will be a vital lifeline for so many community projects across Edinburgh through our main grant funding programme.”

LISTING INFORMATION

Edinburgh’s Christmas 2021
19 November – 4 January

Facebook: EdinburghsChristmas
Instagram: EdinburghsChrsitmas
Twitter: EdXmas
Website (and to subscribe to the Edinburgh’s Christmas newsletter): www.edinburghschristmas.com

Prices start from £6. EH postcodes receive 20% off

Edinburgh’s Christmas, East Princes Street Gardens
20 November – 4 January

Santa Land, West Princes Street Gardens
19 November – 4 January

Lidl on Ice, George Street
19 November – 4 January

Winter Windows around the city centre
19 November – 4 January

Edinburgh’s Christmas Neighbourhood Market Place
20 November – 4 January

Underbelly applies for planning permission for Winter events

Underbelly, the producers of Edinburgh’s Christmas on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council, have officially submitted planning applications for the Capital’s 2021 Winter Festival.

The new application includes complimentary additions to the already granted planning application for Edinburgh’s Christmas at East Princes Street Gardens and The Mound. The updated 2021 application also incorporates West Princes Street Gardens and George Street into the festive mix.

This year, 62 trading stalls and four attractions will pop up in East Princes Street Gardens. The Big Wheel, which has become a firm favourite in Edinburgh’s festive skyline, will also make an appearance in the east end of the city.

Additionally, at the west end, revellers can expect to see a further 15 stall concessions and 11 attractions including the Christmas Tree Maze and a Santa’s Grotto.

For the first time since 2018, Underbelly is seeking permission to reinstate a firm favourite to the Christmas programme, an ice rink. The magical ice rink will have a brand-new location at the westerly end of George Street between Charlotte Square and Castle Street.

Underbelly is meticulously planning Edinburgh’s Christmas with Covid-19 in mind and is dedicated to creating a safe and fun environment for the 2021 Christmas celebrations. Working closely with the City of Edinburgh Council and Essential Edinburgh, Underbelly has taken on board feedback from previous years to create an unmissable festive programme.

Boosting domestic tourism and reinvigorating Princes Street and the surrounding areas, Edinburgh’s Christmas is designed to support economic recovery in the city centre, driving footfall to the wider city centre area, and to bring some much needed cheer and happiness to both residents and visitors to Edinburgh.

More information on the programme and what can be expected for this year’s Edinburgh’s Christmas will be announced shortly. Please make sure that you are signed up to the mailing list via the Edinburgh’s Christmas website.

Underbelly Co-Directors, Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam said: “The Underbelly team has been working tirelessly to create a bespoke Edinburgh’s Christmas programme that not only provides unforgettable memories and experiences, but also makes visitors feel safe and at ease at all times.

“It’s been a very challenging couple of years for everyone but our proposed plans for Christmas are designed not only to support economic recovery in the city centre, driving footfall to both the East and the West end of the City, but to also bring some much needed cheer and happiness to both residents and visitors.”