Things to see & do
Christmas Shows
Map
Traverse Theatre / Thur 26 Nov, 8pm / From £5
www.traverse.co.uk / 0131 228 1404
Pool
Traverse Theatre / Fri 27 Nov, 8pm / From £5
www.traverse.co.uk / 0131 228 1404
Snapshots: Creation and Play
Traverse Theatre / Sat 28 Nov, 7.30pm / £5
www.traverse.co.uk / 0131 228 1404
Robinson Crusoe
and the Caribbean Pirates
Kings Theatre / 28 Nov–17 Jan / from £7.50
www.eft.co.uk
Peter Pan
Lyceum Theatre / 29 Nov–3 Jan
Box Office: 0131 248 4848
www.lyceum.org.uk
Dog and Luxuria
Traverse Theatre / Sun 29 Nov, 8pm / from £5
www.traverse.co.uk
0131 228 1404
The Corstorphine Road Nativity
Festival Theatre / 3–19 Dec / from £10.50
www.festivaltheatre.co.uk
Dancefest 2009
Meadowbank / Fri 4 Dec, 4pm / £5
www.fitness-scotland.com
Zorro
Traverse Theatre / 4–24 Dec / from £5
www.traverse.co.uk / 0131 228 1404
Christmas Gymnastics Display
Meadowbank / Sat 5 Dec, 10am / £5
www.edinburghleisure.co.uk
Ali Baba
Church Hill Theatre / 9–20 Dec
www.ept.org.uk
Church Services
St Giles Cathedral
Half Hour Service / Thur 24 Dec, 5.15pm
Watchnight Service / Thur 24 Dec, 11.30pm
Morning Service (Holy Communion) /
Fri 25 Dec, 10am & 11.30am
www.stgilescathedral.org.uk
St Cuthberts
Erskine Christmas Festival Service / Wed 9 Dec
Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols / Sun 13 Dec, 7pm
Community Carol Service / Tue 15 Dec, 12.45pm
Reflective Worship / Wed 16 Dec, 1pm & 7.30pm
Edinburgh Singers Concert: The Mystrey of Christmas / Sat 19 Dec, 7.30pm
Christmas Sunday Evening Worship / Sun 20 Dec, 7pm
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service / Thur 24 Dec, 11.30pm
Christmas Day / Fri 25 dec, 11am Hogmanay Celebration /
Thur 31 Dec, 11.15pm Lothian Rd /
www.st-cuthberts.net
Canongate Kirk
Lessons and Carols / Sun 20 Dec, 11.15am
Watchnight Service / Thur 24 Dec, 11.30pm
Christmas Day Family Service / Fri 25 Dec, 11am
www.canongatekirk.org.uk
St Johns Church, Princes St
Advent Carol Service / Sun 29 Nov, 6pm
Service of Light / Sun 6, Sun 13 Dec, 6pm
Advent Sunday Eucharist / Sun 29 Nov, 9.45am
Advent Eucharists / Sun 6 Dec, 10.30am, Sun 13, Sun 20 Dec, 9.45am
Advent Choral Matins / Sun 29 Nov, Sun 13, Sun 20 Dec, 11.15am
Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols / Sun 20 Dec, 6pm
CoroEdina: All this time / Tues 22nd Dec, 7.00pm
Nativity Play and Christingle / Thur 24 Dec, 4.30pm
Midnight Eucharist / Thur 24 Dec, 11.15pm
Christmas Day Eucharist / Fri 25 Dec, 9.45am
Service of Lessons and Carols / Fri 25 Dec, 11.15am
Sung Eucharist / Sun 27 Dec, 10.30am
Worship for the New Year / Fri 1 Jan, 3pm
www.stjohns-edinburgh.org.uk
St Mary’s Cathedral
Advent Carols with the Cathedral Choir / Sun 29 Nov, 6pm
Traditional Service of Nine Lessons and Carols / Tues 22, Thur 24 Dec, 7.30pm
Christmas Midnight Mass / Thur 24 Dec, 11.30pm
Christmas Morning Choral Eucharist / Fri 25 Dec, 10.30am
Choral Eucharist / Sun 27 Dec, 10.30am
Palmerston Pl / www.cathedral.net / 0131 225 6293
Greyfriars Kirk
Carol Ceilidh / Popular Christmas Ceilidh.
Sing your favourite carols and jig to reels
by the Kirk Band / Sun 13 Dec, 6pm
www.greyfriarskirk.com
Cadenza
Cadenza is a small, mixed-voice choir based in Edinburgh
01383 851279 www.cadenza.org.uk or sgoetzold@tiscali.co.uk
Edinburgh Erskine Carol Service -St Cuthbert's Parish Church - Lothian Road - Wed 9 December - 7.30 pm
All proceeds to Edinburgh Erskine for ex service men & women
Cadenza at Christmas- Polwarth Parish Church, Polwarth Terrace - Sat 12 December - 7.30 pm
An annual feast of festive music with traditional, contemporary and fun carols
Carols by Candlelight - Usher Hall - Wed 23 December - 7.30 pm
Carols and seasonal classics featuring Cadenza and the Mozart Festival Orchestra
The Sick Kids Carols for Christmas
St Cuthberts, Wed 2 Dec, 6.30pm
Tickets from Sick Kids: 0131 668 4949
or linda.cameron@luht.scot.nhs.uk
St Margaret's and St Leonard's Catholic Church
Tridentine Latin Mass
Christmas Eve, 11.30pm, Carols followed by Midnight Mass
Christmas Day, 8.30am, Dawn Mass
St Leonard's Street
Walking and Guided Tours
Rebustours: A Hidden Edinburgh
Royal Oak Pub, Infirmary St /
Sats 28 Nov & 5, 12, 19 Dec, 12pm / £10
www.rebustours.com / 0131 553 7473
Rebustours: The Body Politic
Royal Oak Pub, Infirmary St /
Sats 28 Nov & 5, 12, 19 Dec, 3pm / £10
www.rebustours.com / 0131 553 7473
Ghost & Ghouls and Ghosthunter
Mercat Cross / Daily except Christmas & Boxing Days, 7pm, 8pm, 9.45pm / from £8.50
www.mercattours.com / 0131 225 5445
The Real Mary King’s Close:
Christmas on the Close Tours
Sat 5 Dec, 6pm – Sun 6 Dec, 3pm – Sat 12 Dec, 6pm
Sun 13 Dec to Thur 17 Dec, 3pm – Sat 19 Dec, 6pm
Sun 20 Dec, 3pm / £12
www.realmarykingsclose.com
Lauriston Castle Guided Tour
Sat 5, Sun 6, Sat 12, Sun 13, Sat 19
& Sun 20 Dec, 2pm / £5 /
Cramond Road South, 0131 336 2060
lauristoncastle@edinburgh.gov.uk
Historic Kirkyard Tour
Greyfriars Kirkyard / Mon 7, 14, 21, 28 Dec, 11pm / Free
www.greyfriarskirk.com
Saints and Sinners:
Edinburgh’s New and Old Towns
Outside Ryan’s Bar / 12, 13, 19, 20, 27, 28,
29, 30, 31 Dec, 10.30am / Free
www.edinburghsaintsandsinners.co.uk
Walking Tours in Italian
Della Citta: 28, 29 Nov & 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20 Dec, 10.30am / The Mitre, High St / Free /
informazioni 07772 192755 / simona_s7@yahoo.it
Walking Tours in Spanish
En Castellano: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15 Dec, 6.30pm / Outside Ryan’s Bar / Free /
Contact no. 07999-049119
EDINBURGH parkrun
Free weekly timed 5km run, Cramond/Silverknowles Promenade. Every Saturday, 9.30am
www.parkrun.com
Exhibitions
Words by RSA Members and Scholars
RSA Friends Room, Royal Scottish Academy /
3 Oct–18 Dec / Free
www.royalscottishacademy.org
Edinburgh Art Fair
Preview Evening & Drinks on behalf of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation
Corn Exchange / Thursday 19 Nov, 6.30pm / £10 /
0131 668 4949 / Linda.cameron@luht.scot.nhs.uk
Picturing Britain: Paul Sandby
National Gallery Complex / 7 Nov–7 Feb, 10am til 5pm (Closed 25, 26 Dec) Open 1 Jan, 12pm til 5pm / Free
www.nationalgalleries.org
Sir Peter Lely: Artist & Collector
National Gallery Complex / 13 Nov–14 Feb, 10am til 5pm (Closed 25, 26 Dec) Open 1 Jan 12pm til 5pm / Free
www.nationalgalleries.org
RSA 183rd Annual Exhibition
Royal Scottish Academy / 14 Nov–20 Dec, 10am til 5pm (Mon to Sat), 12pm til 5pm (Sun) / Adults £4
www.royalscottishacademy.org
BP Portrait Awards
Dean Gallery / 12 Dec–21 Feb, 10am – 5pm / Free /
www.nationalgalleries.org
Crafts
Christmas Fair
Meadowbank Stadium / Sat 21 Nov, 11am til 3pm / £1
www.edinburghsickkids.org
Assembly Rooms, GEORGE STREET
Craft & Design Fairs / 28, 29 Nov & 12, 13, 19, 20 Dec, 10.30am til 5pm / £2
www.3d2d.co.uk / 0131 661 6600
Ethical Enterprise Fair
The Melting Pot, Rose Street / Sat 21 Nov 10.30am – 4pm
Unusual and ethically sourced goods, including chocolate, jewellery, soap and clothing.
Lauriston Castle
Family Crafts in the cosy Castle kitchen:
Enchanted Edwardian Christmas / Sat 28 Nov, 10am or 2pm / £6
Magical Advent Calendars / Sun 29 Nov, 10am or 1.30pm / £4
The Christmas Wishing Tree / Sat 5 Dec, 10.30am or 1.30pm / £4
Trinkets for the Tree / Sat 12 Dec, 10.30am or 1.30pm / £4
The Magic of Christmas / Sun 12 Dec, 11am or 3.30pm / £5
For Adults:
Fir Trees & Snowy Holly Landscapes (two day papermaking course) / Sun 15 Nov & Sun 22 Nov / 10.30am / £20
Frosty Winter Watercolours / Fri 27 Nov, 10.30am / £15
Christmas Stained Glass / Fri 4 Dec, 10.30am / £15
Beaded Bracelets & Brooches / Sun 6 Dec, 10.30am / £15
New England Country Wreaths / Fri 11 Dec, 10.30am / £15
Fresh Cranberry Wreaths / Sun 13 Dec, 10.30am / £15
A Very Sparkly Christmas / Tues 15 Dec, 10.30am / £15
Fresh Green Christmas Wreaths / Thur 17 Dec, 10.30am / £15
Cramond Road South / 0131 529 3963
Concerts and Gigs
Phamie Gow in Concert
St John’s Church, Princes St / Sat 5 Dec, 7.30pm
www.festivalofspirituality.org.uk
Martin Aelred and Friends
St John’s Church, Princes St / Sat 12 Dec – 7.30pm
www.festivalofspirituality.org.uk
Edinburgh Erskine Carol Service with Cadenza
St Cuthberts, Lothian Rd / Wed 9 Dec, 7.30pm /
sgoetzold@tiscali.co.uk / www.cadenza.org.uk
Edinburgh Bach Choir Christmas Concert
St Cuthberts, Lothian Rd / 12 Dec, 7.30pm
www.edinburghbachchoir.org.uk
Cool Yule Caberet Dinner
Prestonfield House / 16, 17, 18 Dec, 7pm / £50
www.prestonfield.com
Jubilo Christmas Concert
Greyfriars Kirk / Sat 19 Dec, 7.30pm / £9 /
tickets@jubilo.org.uk
Aleksander Kudaiczyk
St John’s Church, Princes St / Sat 19 Dec, 7.30pm
www.festivalofspirituality.org.uk
RSNO Christmas Concerts
AT USHER HALL
Beethoven & Schumann / Fri 4 Dec, 7.30pm
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto / Fri 11 Dec, 7.30pm
RSNO Christmas Concert / Fri 18 Dec, 7.30pm
Viennese Gala Concert / Mon 4 Jan, 7.30pm
www.rsno.org.uk
Usher Hall
Lesley Garrett / Mon 7 Dec, 7.30pm / from £18.50
Get Organised! / Choir and Organ Christmas Special / Tues 8 Dec, 1.10pm / from £3
Lothian Hospitals Carol Concert with Nicola Benedetti / Wed 16 Dec / 7.30pm, from £15
Bill Bailey's Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra / Sun 13 Dec, 8.00pm / from £30
Rat Pack Christmas Special / Sat 19 Dec, 8.00pm / from £23.50 + booking fee
Christmas Classics / Sun 20 Dec, 3.00pm / from £13.50
White Christmas / Tues 22 Dec, 7.30pm / from £13.50
Carols by Candlelight / Wed 23 Dec, 7.30pm / from £13.50
Glenn Miller Orchestra / Mon 28 Dec, 3.00pm & 7.30pm from £13.50
Russian Gala / Tues 29 Dec, 7.30pm / from £13.50
www.usherhall.co.uk / 0131 228 1155
Queen’s Hall
Scottish Ensemble / Winter Light / Fri 11 Dec, 7.45pm
The Kevock Choir / Sat 12 Dec, 7.30pm
Harps of Gold / Sun 13 Dec, 2.30pm
Newtongrange Silver Band / Sun 13 Dec, 7.30pm
The Heath Quarted / Mon 14 Dec, 7.45pm
Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Thur 17 Dec, 7.30pm
Faculty of Advocates Choir
Christmas Concert / Fri 18 Dec, 8pm
Carols by Candlelight / Sat 19 Dec, 7.30pm
Children’s Classic Concerts - Let it Snow / Sun 20 Dec, 1pm & 3pm
Phil Cunningham’s Christmas Songbook / Mon 21, Tues 22 Dec, 8pm
The Dunedin Consort & Players: The Messiah / Wed 23 Dec, 7.30pm
Hogmanay at the Queen’s Hall / Thur 31 Dec, 8.30pm
Clerk St / www.thequeenshall.net
Edinburgh HMV Picturehouse Concerts throughout December
www.ticketweb.co.uk / 24 hour ticket hotline:
08448 471 740 / see website for full details:
www.edinburgh-picturehouse.co.uk
The Stand Comedy Club
5 York Place
www.thestand.co.uk/ 0131 558 7272
Daily Shows
Bar and hot food available
Strictly over 18s only
The Thursday Show: 26 November; 3,10 December, doors open 7.30 pm, show 9 pm
The Friday Show: 27 November; 4,11 December doors open 7 pm, show 9 pm
The Saturday Show: 28 November; 5, 12 December doors open 7 pm, show 9 pm
Whose Lunch is it Anyway?: 29 November; 6,13, 20 December 12.30 pm free
The Sunday Night Laugh-in: 29 November; 6,13, 20 December 7.30 pm
Red Raw: Monday 30 November; 7,21 December 7.30 pm
Wicked Wenches: 1 December 7.30 pm
The Broken Windows Policy: 2 December 7.30 pm
The Midweek Comedy Cabaret: 8 December, doors 7.30 pm, show 8.30 pm
The Melting Pot: 9 December 7.30 pm
The Stand Christmas Special: 14 -19 December doors 7 pm, show 9 pm
The Best of Scottish Comedy: 22,23 December doors 7.30 pm, show 8.30 pm
Closed Thursday 24 December
Homecoming Scotland Events
RSA 183rd Annual Exhibition
2009 Homecoming
Royal Scottish Academy / Until 20 Dec, Times vary
www.royalscottishacademy.org
This Is Who We Are
Scottish Parliament / 3–30 Nov,
Times Vary (Closed Sunday)
www.culturalconnectscotland.com
Famous Scots
Scotlands People Centre /
Until 31 Dec, 9am–4.30pm
www.scotlandspeoplehub.gov.uk
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Homecoming SERIES
Sat 28 Nov, 7.30pm
www.sco.org.uk
Scotland vs Argentina
Sat 28 Nov, 2.30pm
www.scottishrugby.org
Martin Boyce: ‘What You
See is Where You’re at’
Sat 28 Nov, 10am–5pm
www.nationalgalleries.org
Official Opening of Edinburgh’s Christmas & Illuminated Art Car parade
Sat 28 Nov, 3pm & 5pm
www.edinburghschristmas.com
St Andrew’s ‘DO’
28–30 Nov, Times vary
www.scotland.org
National Museums Scotland Homecoming Finale Celebration
28-29 Nov
www.nms.ac.uk
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (SSO)
Usher Hall / Sun 29 Nov, 7.30pm
www.usherhall.co.uk
St Andrew’s Day Celebration
Playfair Library / Mon 30 Nov, Time TBC
www.ed.ac.uk
St Andrew’s Day Debating Championships
Scottish Parliament Chamber / Mon 30 Nov, 2pm
www.scotland.org
Burnsong, Scottish Parliament
Mon 30 Nov, Time TBC
www.burnsong.org
Salt of the Earth
National Museum of Scotland /
Until Jan 10, 10am–5pm
www.nms.ac.uk
Scotland: A Changing Nation
National Museum of Scotland /
Throughout the year, 10am–5pm
www.nms.ac.uk
Lectures - Lauriston Castle
Fish Knives were Bourgeois / An Insight into
Edwardian Etiquette / Tues 3 Nov, 10.30am / £8
Managing without a Maid / Tues 24 Nov, 10.30am / £8
Not Louis but Luigi / Mon 14 Dec, 10.30am / £8
Cramond Rd Sth / 0131 529 3963
Special Events
PBFA Book Fair
Assembly Rooms, George St / Sat 5 Dec / 10am
www.pbfa.org
Foodies Christmas
Assembly Rooms / Sat 5, Sun 6 Dec / 10am–6pm / £10
0871 230 5573 / www.foodiesfestival.com
Christmas Weekend Aboard Britannia
The Royal Yacht Britannia, Ocean Terminal /
Sat 5 & Sun 6 Dec / 10am–3pm
www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk
Festive Whiskies & Food
The Scotch Whisky Experience, Castlehill / Daily from Fri 11–Sun 20 Dec, from 11am to 2.30pm / £27.90
www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk
Meet Santa at the Zoo
Get a child in free with every full paying adult and enjoy loads of festive fun every weekend in December. Santa arrives on 6th Dec!
Sat & Sun in December 9am till 4.30pm with voucher downloadable from website – www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/christmas
Christmas Charity Ceilidh
Assembly Rooms (Ballroom) / Sat 12 Dec / 8pm - midnight / £9/6, Children under 5 - free
Highland Dancers, Bagpipes, free raffle, Christmas pies. Proceeds to scottish spca
www.calcadoo.com / events@calcadoo.com / 0131 473 2000
Edinburgh's Hogmanay Events
Torchlight Procession / 29 Dec / Begins Parliament Sq (see website for details)
Off Kilter / Festival Theatre / Tues 29 Dec–Sat 2 Jan / Tickets from £14.50
The Keilidh / Princes St Gdns / Thur 31 Dec, 9pm – 1am / £30
Hogmanay Street Party / City Centre / Thur 31 Dec, 9pm / £10 admin fee
Concert in the Gardens / Princes St Gdns / Thur 31 Dec, 9pm / £42.50-£37.50
www.edinburghshogmanay.com/
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