Tag: Christmas Experience

New Lanark announces the ultimate Christmas experience for all the family

New Lanark World Heritage Site has announced the return of its magical Christmas Experience, launching November 24, 2023 and running until January 7, 2024, with booking now open.

The historic location will be transformed into a Scottish winter wonderland filled with an array of special events, attractions, activities and magic for families of all ages.

This year, a brand-new ice rink will be erected alongside the banks of the picturesque River Clyde, which runs through the attraction, so visitors can glide through the festive season while taking in the sights.

Santa Claus will be back in his enchanting Grotto, where every child will receive a special gift and get the chance to share their Christmas wishes.

Elsewhere there will be Santa’s elves, games in the grounds, as well as regular showings of movies in the New Lanark theatre showing a series of classic and feelgood films such as The Snowman.

The New Lanark indoor Christmas Market will also make a return where, in the countdown to Christmas, visitors can browse a range of treasures and treats for gifting from over local vendors. The market will be open every weekend from Saturday 25th November.

Opening from Friday, 24th November, New Lanark’s Christmas Experience will be open most days between 10am-5pm. Ticket prices start from £5. Car parking is available, and the site will also be offering free shuttle buses from Lanark train station.

This year, the attraction has launched the ‘Christmas Experience’ package, where visitors will get full access to the site including The Annie McLeod Christmas Ride, Robert Owen’s School, Robert Owen’s House, the Millworker Housing, and 360 degree view Garden Roof Terrace, as well as the ice rink and Santa’s Grotto. Tickets for under 16s are £19.00.

Andy Cuthbertson, Heritage and Engagement Manager, New Lanark added: “We are delighted to bring back our Christmas Experience to New Lanark, bigger and better than ever before with the exciting addition of a brand-new ice rink.

“Christmas at New Lanark presents the perfect opportunity for family and friends to come together and make cherished memories and create new traditions, over the festive season. We look forward to extending our warmest welcome to our visitors.”

New Lanark is one of six UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Scotland. Located in the heart of Lanarkshire, under an hour from Glasgow and around 70 minutes from Edinburgh, it is a showcase of Scottish history and innovation, with archives and attractions which show the transformation of the mill village over centuries.

Today, it has been transformed to pay homage to its heritage alongside some of the finest walkways in the country.

Additional information:

  • Christmas Experience opening times – 10am – 5pm
  • Full experience tickets – Adult £14.00, Under 16s £19, under 2 £5.00
  • Ice Rink opening times Wednesday, Thursday 10am – 5 pm and Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10am – 8pm from 24th November
  • Ice rink tickets – Adult £10.00, Child £8.00
  • The indoor Christmas Market will be open to the public every Saturday and Sunday from 25th November
  • Christmas Experience and Ice Rink close at 4pm on Christmas Eve
  • Ice Rink will be open from 12pm until 4pm on Boxing Day

For further information on New Lanark, visit:  https://www.newlanark.org 

Coca-Cola truck brings Christmas spirit to Fort Kinnaird

Shoppers at Fort Kinnaird were treated to a very special visit from the Coca-Cola Christmas truck on Sunday as part of its tour of the UK.

The festive experience offered a whole host of fun for all the family, including ‘elfie selfie’ photo opportunities, food huts serving delicious seasonal tastes and the chance to get a personalised Coca-Cola drink.

Visitors were also able to get their all-important photo in front of the famous truck, with the iconic image of Father Christmas on the side.

Picture – Chris Watt Photography 07887554193 info@chriswatt.com www.chriswatt.com

Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “For many, the festive truck signals that ‘the holidays are coming’. With only a few days left to go until the big day, we hope families and friends enjoyed the experience and it helped them get into the festive spirit!”

Find out more about Christmas at Fort Kinnaird here: 

www.fortkinnaird.com/christmas.

Picture – Chris Watt Photography 07887554193 info@chriswatt.com www.chriswatt.com

Santa’s flying visit marks the start of the Conifox Christmas Experience

The spectacular sight of a flying visit from Santa marked the start of Conifox Adventure Park’s magical festive extravaganza. 

Leaving Rudolph and the other reindeer to rest, he hitched a lift and was helicoptered into the park, at Kirkliston near Edinburgh, by helpers Adventure001 Experiences, specialists in Edinburgh sightseeing trips. 

Santa’s arrival kicked off this year’s popular Conifox Christmas Experience which is now even better than ever as Conifox has partnered with events specialists 21CC Productions which is also providing amazing lighting and effects. 

From now until Christmas Eve, families can enjoy a carnival of festive fun, immerse themselves in the world of Santa Claus and all their favourite festive characters, enjoy a Christmas Funfair, in partnership with Taylor’s of Edinburgh Funfair, and an outdoor Christmas Market supporting local Scottish traders. There will also be various food vendors and a bar available for evening refreshments.   

Among many attractions, they can visit is Whoville – look out for the Grinch! – the Magic Forest, Mrs Claus’ Kitchen, the Elf Disco Village and Reindeer Flying School, Santa’s Sweet Shop and the Naughty or Nice Scanner. 

Santa will also be back in his sitting room to welcome every child who will receive a Golden Christmas Coin to exchange in the Toy Workshop for a gift of their choice. Then as darkness falls the winter wonderland lights up with 21CC’s amazing effects.

James Gammell, Managing Director of Conifox Adventure Park, says: “With the arrival of Santa the countdown to Christmas has well and truly begun and we’d like to thank Adventure001 Experiences for whisking him in to get the celebrations started. 

“This year, we’ll also be supporting local charity Kids Love Clothes with their Christmas Toy Appeal and to show our support, we will be donating two hundred toys as well as using our Activity Centre as a drop-off point for any new toy donations.  

“With your support, we can reach families who are struggling to look forward to Christmas this year so please support by dropping off a new toy whilst you are here.” 

The Conifox Christmas Experience runs on selected dates until December 24, with entrance times at 15-minute intervals. Admission to the indoor Activity Centre and Adventure Park is not included with the tickets purchased for Christmas Experience Days or Nights, but they can be booked online. 

To book tickets and for full terms and conditions, please visit: 

www.conifox.co.uk/whats-on 

For more information about Conifox Adventure Park please visit: 

www.conifox.co.uk/ 

Conifox customers dig deep to bring Christmas joy to children

Last chance to donate toys

Generous visitors to Edinburgh’s Conifox Adventure Park are digging deep to bring the joy of Christmas to youngsters in need of a little extra festive cheer. 

Customers enjoying the Park’s Christmas Experience and other attractions have been giving Santa a helping hand by donating new toys for local children. There is still time to gift presents to make Christmas morning special for youngsters who might otherwise miss out. 

The initiative is part of Conifox’s mission to develop a reciprocal relationship with the community and is led by Deborah Gammell, working in partnership with the KidsLoveClothes Team.

Deborah said: “Children are at the heart of our business. We are a family-owned company, and with young children ourselves, we recognise that the well-being of local children is shared priority. Our collaboration with KidsLoveClothes for their Christmas Toy Appeal is a perfect way for us make a contribution. 

“Christmas is a time where some families will need a little extra support, especially within the more recent pressures of the pandemic. KidsLoveClothes is a fantastic charity with an established network which ensures donations go to those most in need.

“We have received lots of wonderful new toys within the Conifox Activity Centre already and hope our campaign gathers momentum in the final days to Christmas. Every gift received is guaranteed to go to a local child in need.  

“As a mum, I know how much this will mean to the parents too. If you are planning to visit, please consider donating a new toy to our appeal, it will be very gratefully received.” 

This year the Lothians-based charity KidsLoveCLothes, which provides items of clothing for youngsters in need all year round, has already provided gifts from Conifox, for almost 400 children, aged 0-12, but more are needed. 

Founder Fiona Shapcott says: “The demand for Christmas gift bags is high but sadly we know there are children we are unable to reach which is heart-breaking. Local businesses and individuals have been incredibly generous but we would love to do more and are hoping visitors to Conifox will make Christmas dreams come true for many more youngsters this year.” 

Conifox Adventure Park, at Kirkliston on the outskirts of Edinburgh, is currently running its Christmas Experience with a host of festive attractions. It is open until December 23 and will be delighted to accept toy donations until then. 

To find out more and to book tickets, visit the Conifox Adventure Park Facebook page @conifoxadventurepark or www.conifox.co.uk.  

To find out more about KidsLoveClothes visit: https://www.kidsloveclothes.co.uk 

It’s beginning to look a lot like …

Conifox Adventure Park’s Christmas Experience! 

Festive walk-through event with new Christmas markets featuring local produce – from 26th November to 23rdDecember 

Local businesses reminded to book stall space early to avoid disappointment  

‘Family run, for family fun’, Conifox Adventure Park announces the return of its sell-out Christmas Experience, which the big man himself has said will be ‘bigger, better and merrier than ever’!  

Here to sleigh, the festive fun returns in the shape of a walk-about winter wonderland which will have kids of all ages meeting their favourite Christmas characters and collecting stamps in their Christmas passport as they visit each of the sparkling shows. But beware, Santa and his elves will be inspecting the list (and checking it twice!) to see who has been naughty and who has been nice… 

Speaking of the red velvet suited, snow-white bearded, gold-belt wearing icon … well, what is Christmas without him?

Kids big and small alike are invited to visit him in his magical living room, where you can remind him what you want for Christmas (as if he doesn’t already know), meet his trusted elf Buddy and maybe even take home a little gift. You don’t have to worry that no one will believe you met him, you can take a photo as evidence!  

Running every 15 minutes, once you have seen Santa you might want to visit the four magical shows which will really get you (and mum, dad and granny too!) in the spirit.

Meet Postman Pete in the North Pole Post Room where you can write and post your letter for Santa to read, visit Patch and Jolly in the Toy Workshop as they make toys to fill Santa’s present sack and then take in the sweet smell of ginger and cinnamon as you enter Mrs Claus’s Kitchen, before helping her to decorate a gingerbread man to take away and eat. 

After all that, make sure you take time to venture outdoors to the forest to see the tree-mendously spectacular lights in the Elf Disco Village and show off your dance moves with cheeky elves Sparkle and Waffle.

Reindeer Flying School is also back again this year with Rudolph’s cousins, Floss and Flurry and Floss is trying to learn how to fly in time for Christmas Eve. Will you help her graduate with flying colours?  

Finally, NEW for 2021, the must-visit Conifox Christmas Market will be open!

Included in the ticket price, there will be plenty of stalls selling, crafts, food and more from local traders. What’s more, Conifox Adventure Park is still inviting local traders to book a stall, so make sure to be quick if you want to snap up one of the remaining few!  

James Gammell, director of Conifox Adventure Park, is ready to wrangle the reindeer: “Is it really the most wonderful time of the year again? It must be, because the staff here are buried deep in baubles and getting tangled in tinsel!

“We can’t wait to see you again this year and hope you will love the shows and markets as much as we do. Remember, after all the fun has been had, just before you go home to hang up the stockings and jingle the bells, why not stop by our shop and pick up a real Christmas tree or beautiful wreath? Its surely not Christmas without those either. Ho-ho-hope to see you soon!” 

For mummies and daddies … Please allow approximately 2-hours to catch all the Christmas Experience shows and take some extra time to browse the Christmas Market. Tickets are non-transferrable please ensure you check your booking time before confirming tickets. 

Beautifully bespoke gifts and family favourites, plus food, drink and live bands for you to enjoy whilst you take in the festive atmosphere. What more could you ask (Santa) for? 

From 26 November – 23 December: 26 – 28 November, 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 21-23 December 

2pm – 8pm. Child £19.95 Adults £14.95 plus booking fee. 

To find out more and to book tickets, visit the Conifox Adventure Park Facebook page @conifoxadventurepark or www.conifox.co.uk.