THE LAUNCH OF EDINBURGH’S CHRISTMAS WILL TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2015 FROM 1.30PM ONWARDS.
GEORGE STREET IS THE CENTRE OF EVENTS with the first performance at 2:00pm and fireworks at 4.50pm.
- Susan Boyle, global superstar will switch on Edinburgh’s Christmas Lights
- A FREE event for all the Edinburgh Community
- The largest FREE community event in Edinburgh
- 53 local community groups performing
- Over 1,250 performers from across Edinburgh on 7 stages
- The official switching on of Edinburgh’s Christmas lights
- All in aid Cancer Research UK Kids and Teens
Light Night returns to George Street with an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza not to be missed. This year the organisers say they are delighted to welcome the global superstar and the pride of Bathgate, Susan Boyle to the Gold Stage, now situated at the West End of George Street, to switch on this year’s Christmas lights.
On stage, Susan will be joined by Gracie Linn representing Cancer Research UK, Kids and Teens, whose fantastic work Edinburgh’s Christmas is very proud to support. Gracie Linn is a recipient of Cancer Research UK’s Kids & Teens Star Award for bravery. The Edinburgh youngster was the goalie with Hibernian Football Club’s Under 13 girls’ Team when she diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in March this year. She spent several months in isolation and received more than 25 blood transfusions as well as chemotherapy. Now Gracie who celebrates her 11th birthday on December 8 is clear of cancer, back at school and looking forward to celebrating the best Christmas ever with her family.
Susan Boyle, said: “I am thrilled to have been asked to switch on the Edinburgh Christmas lights this year. I have travelled to Edinburgh to see the lights every year so to be in charge of switching them on is a real honour and I’m very excited to be taking part.”
Light Night will be hosted once again by one of Edinburgh’s most familiar voices, Arlene Stuart from Forth One. Last year, over 29,000 people took to George Street to celebrate the official start of Edinburgh’s Christmas.
Edinburgh’s Lord Provost, the Rt Hon Donald Wilson, said: “Light Night marks the start of Edinburgh’s official countdown to Christmas and as ever, it’s going to provide a spectacular, lively and colourful start to the season.
“Featuring hundreds of local performers, it is the largest free event of its kind in the city and raises much needed funds for charity. It really is so important to celebrate community at this time of year and Light Night does exactly that.
“Please do dress for the weather, take to George Street on Sunday to show your support, and get ready for another magical Christmas in the Capital.”
With seven stages set along the length of George Street, this event is all about community. We have 53 school, community and other local groups with an estimated total of 1,250 performers, each performing an act, a dance, a song or a piece of music inspired by Light. Light Night remains the largest FREE community event staged in Edinburgh. Dance groups, community choirs, drama clubs and schools from across the city will perform on the theme of LIGHT, each putting their own unique spin on the theme. Light Night is an event free for all to enjoy, one which encapsulates the true spirit of the festive season: family and the community.
Charlie Wood, director of Underbelly and Edinburgh’s Christmas and the Light Night event, said: “This is the third year of our re-imagined Light Night on George Street and we’re so delighted with the relentless and continued enthusiasm of groups from across the City who are so keen to come and sing, dance and perform for the people of Edinburgh. This year, we’re delighted to be joined by the brilliant Susan Boyle, who will be lighting up Edinburgh and honoured to be raising money for Cancer Research UK Kids and Teens, Edinburgh Christmas’s charity partner.”
Selected highlights from across the seven stages include:
- Siamsoir Dance Academy will grace our stage with their own unique and festive take on traditional Celtic dance moves where Christmas tunes mash up with Irish Dance.
- The Sick Kids Community Choir was founded to bring together people and staff from all across this much loved and respected Edinburgh provider of care. Be ready to be captivated by this ever-cheerful institution.
- Edinburgh Ballet School will offer us a graceful set of performances throughout the day featuring an interpretation of Twinkle, Twinkle along with other beautiful performances to songs incorporating ‘Light’.
- St Mary’s Music School, their jazz ensemble will get the crowds swaying with their very own spin on those fab-u-lous Duke Ellington classics.
- Loud and Proud, will add an extra bit of extra sparkle to the day as they celebrate their 10th anniversary, with a classic a capella festive choral performance. Expect the unexpected.
- Stenhouse Primary School, over 50 pupils will take to the stage to perform a selection of Gaelic, Gospel and much loved pop songs all on the theme of Light.
Roddy Smith, Chief Executive of the city centre Business Improvement District company Essential Edinburgh, said: “Light Night is a highlight of Edinburgh’s Christmas, bringing the city’s communities together in a free event that is big, bold and terrific fun. The city centre’s business community is delighted to support Light Night.”
John Donnelly, Chief Executive of Marketing Edinburgh said: “Light Night kicks off another jam-packed programme of festive activity for Edinburgh’s city centre. It puts the city’s residents and community at the heart of the celebrations, encouraging them to go to town and enjoy all that Edinburgh’s shops, attractions, bars and restaurants have to offer in the run up to Christmas.”
With an expected audience of over 30,000 people, Light Night culminates with Midlothians’ very own global superstar, Susan Boyle switching on of the Edinburgh Christmas lights attended by the Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh and the County Convener of Hordaland County Council, Norway. As Susan presses the button, look to the skies and witness a spectacular firework display in the very heart of our iconic City.
Please note that this event will be very busy, so please arrive in plenty of time, travel by public transport if at all possible to avoid congestion in the city centre and dress accordingly.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
