It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas …….

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Yay !! The nights have got darker, Jack Frost has made a few appearances, the night is full of twinkling nights and there is a hint of magic around the corner…..

It’s one of my favourite times of the year – Edinburgh lends itself perfectly to the magic of winter and the anticipation of the Christmas season is almost unbearable, not just for children !! Luckily, this weekend marks the beginning of all things that glitter – Edinburgh’s’ Christmas is about to open with the wonderful celebration of Light Night…

Light Night is on this Sunday, the 17th November starting at 3.30pm – it takes place along the Royal Mile.

This free event will feature performances before Santa’s visit by Edinburgh’s Little Voices Big Stars, Rock Choir Live, the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh’s Community Choir, Intercultural Youth Scotland and  Ama-zing Harmonies.

The finale of the afternoon will be a pyrotechnics display marking the official switch on of Edinburgh’s Christmas lights with Santa’s “flying” visit.

Other free events to look out for over the Christmas period are listed here – our picks are :

24 Doors of Advent – Explore some of Edinburgh’s hidden gems through the doors of our real-life Advent Calendar. Each day throughout Advent, a unique Edinburgh location will open its doors to the public.  Don’t miss your chance to discover locations like Mansfield Traquair, Custom House, BT Murrayfield or the Anatomical Museum.

 

Community Christmas – This Christmas join your neighbours and come together for a special local festive celebration!  Edinburgh’s Christmas magic will be heading to twelve locations over twelve nights around Edinburgh, bringing a building to life in each locality for one night only with winter projections accompanied by local choirs performing some of their best-loved festive tunes for their local community.

Night Walk For Edinburgh -The image of the street comes up on the screen you are holding. It appears that it has been shot in the exact location that you are standing in, almost as if it is in real time. The sounds from the headphones are startlingly three-dimensional, further merging the two worlds in front of you. A female voice close behind you says: ‘so here I am in Edinburgh… As you listen, she begins to tell you where you are – – and what you should do – now let’s turn around… and go up the stairs.

Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller’s Night Walk for Edinburgh, one of the biggest hits of the Edinburgh international Festival 2019, takes you for a walk through Edinburgh’s Old Town, with an artist’s voice in your ears and magical scenes on a screen in your hand. Pick up a screen and a pair of headphones from Bookmarket, the Fruitmarket’s pop up shop and event space in Waverley Mall, and set off for an hour’s adventure.

 

Edinburgh Mela 2019

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No photo description available.So, the Fringe festival may be over, but this weekend we have another bright, colourful, loud festival in the form of the Edinburgh Mela on Leith Links.

On both Saturday 31st August and Sunday 1st September from 12 – 8pm, the Mela features lots of food stalls, music stages, shopping stalls and a kids area with inflatables and trampolines.

 

Portobello Big Beach Busk 2019

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So, the festival is almost at an end…what better way to get out of town and relax by the sea and be reminded of all the homegrown Edinburgh talent we have!….the Portobello Big Beach Busk is back and is happening on Saturday 31st August..

Here’s everything you need to know…

1 – The Busk is always the last Saturday of August.

2 – The Busk starts at Noon and finishes around 6pm

3 – Anyone can join in. You don’t need to ask.

4 – It doesn’t have to be music but try to make it entertaining.

5 – An EH15 postcode will get you here. Try to come by bus, by bike or by foot. Parking’s tight.

6 – Be kind and considerate to buskers, residents and visitors.

7 – Busk for charity or Busk for yourself. It’s up to you.

8 – Businesses are perfectly welcome. You’ll need to sort out your own license with the council.

9 – Have fun.

 

Festival Fireworks 2019

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It’s that very sad time in August when we have to say goodbye to all the festival fun for another year. The fiery finale in the form of the Fireworks concert brings the Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh’s summer festival season to a luminous conclusion.

This year the fireworks will be on Monday 26th August, set against the iconic backdrop of Edinburgh’s historic Castle, this event brings together stirring orchestral music from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and magnificent pyrotechnics, specially choreographed by international fireworks artists, Pyrovision.

Over 400,000 fireworks launched from the Castle make this one of the biggest fireworks concerts in the world. Edinburgh-born mezzo soprano Catriona Morison, winner of BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2017 — the world’s most prestigious vocal competition — joins the SCO for a selection of vocal and orchestral music from Bizet’s Carmen.

After the dazzling colours of Glinka’s Ruslan and Ludmila Overture, get set for a thrilling ride into a world of musical magic and mystery. Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice was made world famous in Disney’s Fantasia. Berlioz’ Symphonie fantastique closes with a fiery finale.

The event starts at 9pm, the first half of this will be without fireworks.

Children are welcome in the gardens. Children under 5 are free but ticketed. Standard price tickets are available for children over that age.

You can enjoy the fireworks from other vantage points around the city though, including the links, Meadows and the various hills around Edinburgh too !!!

 

 

 

Hidden Gems…

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The last weekend of the Fringe is fast approaching and you still have time to get out there and explore all the corners of the festival and everything out there ! There are some unique venues this year that we have loved visiting –  two hidden gems that are well worth a visit if you can are :

ImageSwallow The Sea Caravan Theatre – Finishing up on Sunday 25th , this delightful little caravan is not to be missed. Parked up in the Summerhall courtyard, bringing you an escape from the hecticness of the festival and plunging audiences into a different world entirely. Shadow and tabletop puppetry, object theatre, poetry, installation and live soundscape give a rare opportunity to experience intimate all-immersive theatre in the tiniest of settings with the smallest of audiences. It is totally worth going to Summerhall just to see the caravan – make sure you book tickets in advance as seats are limited !

Image result for pianodromePianodrome – Also finishing up on the 25th August is the incredible Pianodrome – if you have never visited this amazing venue before – don’t miss out. The biggest small venue in town. This year their majestic 100-seater amphitheatre made entirely from upcycled pianos goes wild downtown in a post-industrial warehouse in Leith. Join them for new music, new writing, street food and drinks. All singing, all dancing, all welcome. Intimate. Epic.