Christmas is back at the Botanics – and it’s brighter than ever!

New Christmas surprises unveiled on the festive trail 

Christmas at the Botanics opened today [25 November] unveiling brand new sparkling light installations that will be sure to enhance the festive cheer. 

Returning for its fifth year, the shimmering trail is set to be better and brighter than ever, bringing in more stunning installations and surprising us with a new festive finale. 

Attendees must book their tickets online in advance of their visit and enter the trail during their  allocated time slot. A one-way trail route is in place and tickets are contactless to ensure safety  measures are in place. 

Showcasing a dazzling display of lights, music and projections, the one mile long after-dark  spectacular will also welcome back some of the Garden’s favourite installation, including ‘Christmas  Cathedral’ and ‘Fire Garden’.

A new finale for 2021, ready to create a glittering spectacular display, is ‘Sea of Light’ – which is set  to impress guests with an enthralling mix of sound and light technology from award-winning company ITHACA.

Used by Coldplay during their Glastonbury 2021 performance, the display cascades across the Garden’s landscape like glittering waves. 

Visitors can stroll through an enchanting forest with the brand new installation ‘Fireflies in the  Woods’. Produced by Electric Foundry, 100 points of LED lights tangle through the trees above,  creating a twinkling hidden wonderland. 

Rest assured your umbrella won’t be needed for this display: ‘Digital Rain’ by Bespoke lighting and  video is an immersive installation of LED lights that ‘rain’ down on guests below to create a  shimmering shower that is bound to dazzle! 

Rounding off the new installations of 2021’s Christmas spectacular is ‘Aquastell’ by PITAYA, which  has large looping arches with beams of light flashing along, like shooting stars across the sky. 

This year, there will continue to be health and safety measures in place to ensure that visitors follow  Scottish Government guidance on Covid-19 so everyone can enjoy their experience.

Reduced  capacity of attendees, a one-way system, a request to make space for others and the mandatory  wearing of face coverings in indoor areas. These measures will be monitored and visitors kept  informed of any changes to guidance during the run.

Kari Coghill, Director of Enterprise and Communication at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburghsaid: “This year’s trail is one of the most spectacular yet.  We are really looking forward to welcom ing visitors to the Garden over the coming weeks.

“Those who attend directly contribute to our wider  work, with profits from ticket sales helping to support our vital research and conservation efforts in  Scotland and around the world. At a time when the impact of the climate on biodiversity is high on  the agenda globally, our work is more important than ever.” 

Jonathan Marks, Chief Development Director at Raymond Gubbay, a division of Sony Music, which  promotes the trail, added: “Christmas at the Botanics is a huge draw within the Capital’s festive cal endar.

“We are extremely pleased with the breadth of artists and installations that are part of this  year’s trail and I am sure that the experience will be as magical as ever.”

Christmas at the Botanics runs for 32 nights on selected dates from 25 November – 2 January.  Tickets are on sale from www.rbge.org.uk/christmas.  

Tickets prices range from:  Adult £20, Member £17, Child (4-16) £14, Family £66 and carers and children under 4 go free. 

See booking website for calendar, prices and all ticket information. All tickets are subject to a single  transaction charge.

Christmas at the Botanics unveils more surprises for festive trail

The winter spectacle, Christmas at the Botanics, has confirmed more installations for this year’s trail when it opens on 25th November, including a new festive finale.  

Running for 32 nights at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, friends and family will be able to come together to explore 15 dazzling installations along the one-mile route and experience the outdoor twilight trail.   

The latest installations confirmed for this year include Digital Rain, Fireflies in the Wood and the cascading Sea of Light (above) which will feature as the festive finale:  

  • Digital Rain – is an immersive installation by Bespoke Lighting and Video, featuring LED pixels that ‘rain down’ on those below to create a shimmering shower of light.  
  • Fireflies in the Woods – is an enchanting installation from Electric Foundry, containing 100 points of light that twist through the tress to create a magical woodland wonderland.  
  • Sea of Light – brings an enthralling mix of sound and light technology, from award-winning company ITHACA, that flows across the landscape in spectacular, glittering waves.  

To meet current Scottish Government guidelines, reduced capacities and a one-way system will be in place for the comfort of visitors coming together to celebrate the festive season. Health and safety measures, in place to protect visitors, will be monitored throughout the run. 

Simon Milne, Regius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, said: “This year’s trail promises the arrival of new, exciting and atmospheric installations enabling visitors to enjoy the Garden landscape in a completely different way.   

“As we begin our landmark restoration programme, Edinburgh Biomes, we greatly appreciate the contribution that the trail makes to funding our plant research and conservation projects. By coming to the trail, visitors help to support our important work in Scotland and around the world. 

“I look forward to welcoming visitors from within the capital, Scotland, the UK and overseas to the Garden to experience this magical moment in Edinburgh’s festive calendar.” 

Jonathan Marks, Chief Development Director at Raymond Gubbay, a division of Sony Music, which promotes the event, added: “This year’s easing of restrictions will allow more people within Edinburgh and beyond to safely visit this enchanting spectacle.

“We are excited to welcome new artists and a brand-new festive finale that is bound to impress. There is so much to look forward to and we can’t wait for people to visit this magical winter experience.”  

Tickets for this year’s show are on sale now. For further ticket information, pricing and timings, please visit www.rbge.org.uk/christmas.

A timed entry system will remain for the trail this year with visitors encouraged to book now to avoid disappointment.  

Christmas at the Botanics is one of 15 illuminated trails staged across the UK by leading events promoter Raymond Gubbay Limited, a division of Sony Music. Christmas at the Botanics is presented in partnership with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and the trail is created by Culture Creative.   

For more details visit https://mychristmastrails.co.uk/ and follow @mychristmastrails on Facebook and Instagram.