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.