Le marché de Noël d’Édimbourg
© VisitScotland / Peter Dibdin
If you’re looking for the best Christmas events and winter festival activities to enjoy in Scotland, look no further. When it comes to festive celebrations, Scottish cities know how to stand out from the crowd. Here is just a flavour of what events to look forward to and what the cities have in store.
EDINBURGH
Edinburgh's Christmas usually takes place from November - January.
Previous years have featured festive favourites, including the Edinburgh Christmas Markets, Forth 1 Big Wheel, George Street ice rink, the Christmas Tree Maze, toe-tapping concerts, merry carolling and much more for the whole family to enjoy.
Watch Edinburgh Castle transform into a winter spectacle with the Castle of Light. The event is a great way for the whole family to get into the Christmas spirit with enchanting installations, twinkling lights and colourful displays galore.
Welcome in the New Year with Edinburgh's Hogmanay, jam-packed with celebrations, parties, live music, traditions and much more to get involved in.
Find more things to do in Edinburgh this winter
GLASGOW
The festive season kickstarts in Glasgow with the annual Christmas Lights Switch On at George Square in November.
Previous years have seen a month full of jam-packed fun before the countdown to Christmas starts including a day out at the Irn-Bru Carnival, Europe’s largest indoor fun fair.
Find more things to do in Glasgow this winter
Find more magical events and festive experiences on the Glasgow Life website
Inverness Town Centre, illuminated with Christmas decorations
© VisitScotland / Paul Tomkins
DUNDEE
It’s time to celebrate the festive season in Dundee. Enjoy lots of fun activities for the whole family to enjoy, from Christmas maker markets, festive lights to meeting Santa himself.
PERTH
The city of Perth is a place with lots of sparkle and will be ready to welcome you in 2024 with its charming markets and great family events! From Santa’s Grotto, festive farmer’s markets and it’s cracking panto for 2024, Mother Goose! You’re in for a right Christmas treat.
INVERNESS
Christmas is a time of goodwill and Inverness' warm and merry welcome is sure to bring some festive cheer. Whether you're planning to hit the town and experience the city's wonderful shopping options, or you're planning a festive city break, you'll have lots of things to look forward to.
Light up your winter nights with Brodie Illuminated. Take an awe-inspiring walk around the Brodie estate and follow the lit-up pathways that take you through the Victorian shrubbery, around the outside of the castle and along the magnificent West Avenue. You’ll see this garden with its many towering trees and plants in a whole new light!
Enjoy the magical family-friendly pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk at Eden Court this Christmas. It will have everything you have come to expect from the Eden Court pantomime with a hilarious comic, an outrageous dame, a delightfully wicked baddie, marvellous musical numbers and tons of slapstick fun. Get your tickets now for what will be the most spellbinding pantomime in the Highlands this festive season!
Aberdeen Christmas Village
© @aisleigh
STIRLING
Enjoy Stirling’s festivities with markets, Christmas theatre shows, family-friendly events, Santa’s Grotto and much more. Make sure you stay in the city to experience the Hogmanay celebrations too!
ABERDEEN
There's no stopping you from getting into the seasonal spirit in the city of Aberdeen. The popular Aberdeen Christmas Village features an exciting line up of events and festivities. Make sure to stay that wee bit longer and bring in the New Year at the Beach Ballroom.
DUNFERMLINE
Dunfermline will be hosting its own variety of events over the festive period with lots of events taking place that the little ones will love.
MORE EVENTS ACROSS SCOTLAND
Head to Oban for a series of winter activities, films and light shows to celebrate the festive season at Oban Winter Festival.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Scone Palace. Enjoy candlelit tours and see the staterooms beautifully decorated for Christmas, listen to your favourite Christmas carols from the Fair City Singers or get hands-on at the Walled Garden Winter Workshop led by Head Gardener, Brian Cunningham.
Another festive market day to add to your list is Solsgirth Home Farm in Dollar. You’ll be able to buy food and drink, arts and crafts, hand-made products and tasty street food, from the local area, the Hillfoots, Fife, and across Scotland. The kids will also get to tell Santa what’s on their Christmas wish list.
