Edinburgh’s Christmas got off to a spectacular start last night, as the city marked the beginning of the annual countdown to Christmas. This year, the first of two shows created especially for Edinburgh by performing arts company, Emergency Exit Arts, opened the Christmas celebrations. The second show will be on Andrew’s Day evening Friday 30 November, on the Castle Esplanade.
The giant Santa Claus led an assortment of characters up The Mound, ready for a magical journey through the Christmas Dream Machine – a bespoke show which revealed the dreams of a child at Christmas. The performance included illuminations, aerial performances and pyrotechnics, culminating in the lighting of Edinburgh’s Christmas Tree – a gift from the people of Hordaland in Norway.
After all the excitement on The Mound, a Christmas Brazilian Samba Band played and danced its way along Princes Street to St Andrew Square Garden where an after show entertained late night shoppers and revellers. The show featured the finalists of Edinburgh’s Got Talent, the speed painting talents of Jon Hicks, comedy from Bread and Butter, new girl group Gurlesque, the cast from Dirty Dancing, dramatic performances from the pipes and drums of Clanadonia, and a fire spectacular from Flame Oz.
Lord Provost, Rt Hon Donald Wilson, welcomed the start of the festivities, saying: “The Light Night ceremony shows Edinburgh at its best and this spectacular evening is always a fantastic way to mark the start of six weeks of Christmas celebrations. This is a very special time of year for Edinburgh and its residents and we are immensely proud that so many people choose to share their Christmas with us and enjoy everything our wonderful city has to offer.”
Light Night marks the start of the city’s exciting six week festive programme, with events taking place across the weekend, to get locals and visitors alike into the festive spirit.
On Friday 30 November, Edinburgh Castle will become the focus of celebrations to mark St. Andrew’s Day. Produced in association with Scotland’s Winter Festivals, lantern making workshops will take place at the Castle during the day, with a specially created show – Carnival at the Castle – at 7pm on the Esplanade. The performance will start with children marching in procession with their lanterns from Parliament Square, while the air is filled with the sound of pipes and drums.
The show will be woven around the myths and stories of how St. Andrew became Patron Saint of Scotland and how the Saltire became the national flag, along with a celebration of Scotland’s great thinkers, inventors, artists and sporting heroes. The story will be told through a high energy, imaginative mix of dance, music, projections, illumination and fireworks, transforming one of Scotland’s most iconic buildings, Edinburgh Castle, into an even more magical place.
This spectacular event will be one of the highlights of the Scotland’s Winter Festivals programme of events, which will include Hogmanay on 31 December and culminate with Burns Night on the 25 January 2013.
Rounding off the weekend of celebrations, the traditional Nativity Carol Concert will take place in St. Andrew Square Garden on Sunday 2 December, from 4pm. All are welcome to come along and mark the first Sunday of Advent by singing carols around Tim Chalk’s much-loved Nativity Scene, kindly commissioned and donated to the city by Sir Tom and Lady Farmer. The concert will be conducted by Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien and ‘Edinburgh Churches Together’, with singing led by Exile Gospel Choir, accompanied by St Peter’s Primary School Choir.
Andy Neal, chief executive of Essential Edinburgh, said: “The experience of being in Edinburgh is always special, but at this time of year, the atmosphere in the city is unique and inspirational. Visitors and locals alike can get their Christmas off to a magical start by coming into town to eat, drink and shop, with the brilliant array of Christmas events giving people even more reason to visit.”
Nickie Gott, managing director of She’s Gott It!, Edinburgh’s Christmas producers, commented: “Light Night this year has been really special, with a show full of wonder and excitement. Throughout the Christmas season this year we are bringing plenty of the old favourites, but also lots of new and exciting things, with something that will pretty much suit everyone.”
Edinburgh’s Christmas is a highlight of the Winter in Edinburgh marketing campaign and is supported by City of Edinburgh Council, Essential Edinburgh, Marketing Edinburgh and Edinburgh Evening News, with the programme produced by She’s Gott It!. Full details of all events, along with timings and prices, can be found at www.edinburghschristmas.com
