EDINBURGH’S CHRISTMAS IS A CRACKER

Christmas in Edinburgh is off to a flying start with crowds of people braving the winter cold to catch some festive sparkle and attractions and markets reporting record takings.

The big switch-on of the Christmas lights was watched by over 7,000 people last Thursday, with another 5000-plus crowd turning out on Saturday for a spectacular aerial performance in Leith of the popular Christmas poem, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’. Around 15,000 people skated at Edinburgh’s Christmas Winter Wonderland in the first weekend and many of the stallholders at the new Highland Village Christmas Market reported brisk trading and a requirement to replenish stock early over the opening weekend.

Producer of Edinburgh’s Christmas Nickie Gott said, “We are overwhelmed with the positive feedback and excitement that this year’s Christmas activities are producing. Christmas really has begun in Edinburgh and we have so much to offer over the next four weeks, whether it is Christmas shopping in the new Highland Village Christmas Market or running around Princes Street gardens dressed as Santa, throwing snowballs with the family or spending a romantic evening skating beneath the castle. These figures prove that Edinburgh truly does sparkle at Christmas”

Edinburgh’s Christmas offers a number of new elements this year, including a brand new ice gallery, snow slide and new children’s ice rink as well as retaining old favourites such as the Edinburgh Wheel, Santa Weekend and the Nativity Carol Concert.

For more information visit www.edinburghguide.com/christmas

Notes to the Editor
Research shows that Edinburgh’s Christmas has transformed the city at what was a traditionally quiet time of year, attracting high numbers of UK and overseas visitors to the city and offering residents a world class experience. This was reflected in the high occupancy rates for hotels in Edinburgh and Lothians for December of 64 per cent.
Edinburgh's Christmas is a City of Edinburgh Council initiative, brought to you in association with our partners and sponsors
Edinburgh's Christmas is produced by award-winning events company She’s Gott It! for and on behalf of City of Edinburgh Council
There are over 200,000 individual bulbs that light up Edinburgh’s Christmas, with over 10 kilometres of cabling.
The Edinburgh Wheel is 33 metres high and does over 2million rotations during the festive period.
More than 15,000 mugs of gluhwein – German mulled wine - are enjoyed during the Traditional German Christmas Market.
West Princes Street gardens will be home to 10 live reindeer from 15 December to 23 December. You can post your letters in his special letterbox at Santa’s Reindeer Garden.
Sponsors of Edinburgh's Christmas are the Scottish Government’s www.scotland.org and our media partners are Forth One and Forth 2
Edinburgh's Christmas would like to thank VisitScotland, Hordaland County Council, Sir Tom & Lady Farmer, Edinburgh Churches Together, Edinburgh Inspiring Capital
The charities supported by Edinburgh's Christmas are When You Wish Upon A Star and Origin Scotland

For more information contact:

Charlotte Rowland or Susannah McMicking
Email: charlotte.rowland@porternovelli.co.uk or susannah.mcmicking@porternovelli.co.uk
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John Ritchie Editor@Edinburghguide.com