Santa's Grand Arrival
Friday 2 December 2011
Santa Claus is coming to town!
Santa will arrive in Edinburgh in style this weekend when he makes his first visit to the capital on a sleigh drawn by live reindeer.
On Saturday (3 December), Santa, accompanied by his elves, will guide his reindeer-drawn sleigh on a route from the Mound to the west end of Princes Street where he will meet and greet the crowds. Santa will then make his way back to the Edinburgh’s Christmas site at East Princes Street Gardens.
The build up to Santa’s arrival begins at 4 pm with a live performance by the 250-strong Edinburgh Rock Choir in front of the German Market. Then searchlights will sweep the street encouraging visitors to spot Santa, before his sleigh magically appears before the crowds and he joins the ‘Hog the Street’ stage at the West End for an official Christmas greeting.
When the parade ends, the reindeer will be in their pen at the bottom of The Mound until 6 pm for visitors to take a closer look, while Santa mingles with Christmas shoppers.
Santa will return on Sunday 4 December at 11am and 4 pm to collect his mail from the postboxes at the Highland Market and the ice rink, followed by storytelling in the National Galleries Complex. From 10 December through to Christmas Eve, Santa will visit daily at 11 am and 4 pm, giving everyone a chance to meet him.
In addition to the Santa activities, The Real Scottish Christmas Fair will open on Princes Street (Castle Street junction) and run until Thursday 8 December. This popular market is the place to go for inspiration for quirky and lovely Christmas gifts as well as some tasty treats to try.
The new bands competition, ‘Hog the Street’, run by Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, will be adding to the Princes Street atmosphere when it takes to the stage at the west end of Princes Street from 1 pm until 4.45pm on 3 December. The line-up includes an eclectic mix of indie, hip-hop, folk and soul to entertain the crowds, as well as Santa’s Christmas greeting at the end. Scotland’s best new acts will be busking it out for the chance to kick off the world’s greatest New Year party, with the winners set to open the Concert in the Gardens, ahead of headliners Primal Scream and special guests Bombay Bicycle Club and Sons & Daughters.
