December has finally started; it’s the holiday season! Enchanting as Edinburgh is, it’s the perfect destination to get in the mood for the holidays!
On the 1st and the 2nd of December we kick off with the Christmas Foodies festival. You can watch Michelin chefs in action, taste wine and food in the Edinburgh International Conference Centre to get the inspiration you need for your Christmas dinner.
Christmas markets have been a tradition since medieval times. Edinburgh hosts 4 different Christmas Markets, so you can eat your heart out!
From the 29th of November till the 4th of January you can enjoy the Highland Village Christmas Market in the East Princess Street Gardens. From Scottish treats to woolly hats and Scottish teddy bears, this market is eclectic, vibrant and fun. Scottish produce, such as a delicious venison burger, is on sale from a range of food producers and retailers are selling a range of candles, gifts, jewellery and quirky clothes. Beneath the Edinburgh Wheel and above the ice rink, the lovely location of this market makes Christmas shopping a real pleasure.
From Thursday the 29th of November till Monday the 24th of December you can visit the German Christmas Markets in the Mound Precinct. The popular market is back as always, selling a mix of classic and contemporary gifts as well as a range of German food and drink ideal for warming up the chilly bits. Tasty delights include hearty sausages, fried potato cakes, crepes and German beer and Glühwein.
And then there’s our regular Stockbridge market that has a special Christmas edition from the 21st of December till the 23rd of December and the Edinburgh Markets that have a special Christmas theme every Saturday and Sunday in December.
And straight after Christmas we are moving on to the next festival: it’s time for our Edinburgh Hogmanay Carnival that kicks off on the 27th on Market street.
During the 3 days of Hogmanay the city also has many celebrations starting with the Torchlight Procession on the 30th. The tour, which starts at 18.30 and goes from Chambers street to Calton Hill marks the beginning of the Hogmanay festivities.
And on the final day of the year you can enjoy the Concert in the West Princess street Gardens, The Keilidh in the Mound Precinct, The Candlelit Concert in St. Giles’ Cathedral and the Street Party in the City Centre.
And if that isn’t enough on the 1st day of the year we kick off with the Loony Dook, the New Years Day Triathlon and Edinburgh’s Dogmanay in Holyrood park to start the New Year in a celebratory way!
Keep an eye on our blog, website and calendar for more specific info on events. Our staff is off course happy to help you plan your stay in Edinburgh!