Edinburgh’s Christmas has returned, bringing holiday happiness to the city’s heart.

The city’s much-loved Christmas ice rink, sponsored by Lidl GB and supported by Essential Edinburgh, is returning to its new location on George Street this year and debuts on the 19th of November.

One of the UK’s most popular Christmas Markets is back at East Princes Street Gardens. The amazing festive market will have a broad variety of European and local foods, drinks, and crafts that are sure to put you in the holiday spirit. The Forth 1 Big Wheel, as well as the Star Flyer, will be returned, all set against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. On the 20th of November, Edinburgh’s Christmas at East Princes Street Gardens will open.

The city’s magnificent Santa’s Grotto in West Princes Street Gardens will be an unforgettable spectacle for Edinburgh’s Christmas season. The flower gardens will be turned into Santa Land, complete with a Christmas Tree Maze and market stalls brimming with seasonal snacks and presents. On November 19th, Santa Land will open.

The Edinburgh Christmas website now sells tickets for ice skating, Santa’s Grotto, The Forth 1 Big Wheel, and the Star Flyer. Tickets for those with an EH postcode are discounted by 20%.

This year, Edinburgh’s Christmas is going contactless, with a new ‘tap and ride’ programme that allows you to pay your ticket at each ride rather than at the usual box office.

The following items have been added to the programme:

The subject for this year’s Winter Windows is “Connections and Kindness,” and it will be displayed around the city. This unique creative endeavour allows Edinburgh’s young and aspiring artists to perform in front of locals and visitors outside of the classroom. Schoolchildren are asked to create their stained-glass windows that will be displayed in our streets and community gathering places. The subject this year invites Edinburgh’s students to reflect on the relationships they established and the compassion they received and contributed throughout the worldwide epidemic.

This year’s Nativity Scene has been relocated to St Andrew Square. The Nativity Carol Concert, co-hosted by Edinburgh Churches Together, will take place in St Andrew Square on November 28.

Following the success of the Light Night rainbow display on the Mound in 2020, Edinburgh’s Christmas is collaborating with Hannah Ayre, an Edinburgh-based artist who will create a stunning modern art piece that will illuminate the Mound with cascading geometric snowflakes. This installation will replace the Light Night event and will sit near Edinburgh’s Christmas tree, which was provided by the Hordaland County Council in Norway. From November 20th, the Mound installation will be lighted.

In 2021, the Neighbourhood Market will return, providing free listings for local Edinburgh companies and attractions to promote their wares. On Edinburgh’s Christmas website in 2020, 207 local Edinburgh companies presented their items.

Underbelly is glad to provide sensory kits to children and adult guests with special needs to make Edinburgh’s Christmas as pleasurable as possible for everybody. These will be free to use and will include a fidget toy, earplugs, a water bottle, a stress reliever, and ear defenders. These things are intended to assist consumers in relaxing in stressful situations. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society devised and generously donated the sensory packets.

Underbelly is methodically designing Edinburgh’s Christmas with Covid-19 in mind and is committed to making the 2021 Christmas celebrations a safe and enjoyable experience. Underbelly has devised an outstanding Christmas programme in collaboration with the City of Edinburgh Council and Essential Edinburgh, aiming to enhance domestic tourism and revitalise Princes Street and the surrounding neighbourhoods. Edinburgh’s Christmas is intended to help the capital’s economic recovery by increasing foot traffic in the city centre and delivering much-needed pleasure and happiness to both locals and visitors.

This year’s celebrations will also benefit the OneCity Trust, Edinburgh’s social inclusion organisation, with donations accepted at point of sale on Edinburgh’s Christmas website and collecting stations at pubs.