Social enterprise, Great Scottish Events organises the Christmas Charity Festival and this year the organisation has had a huge boost with lead sponsorship from Farmer Autocare.
Great Scottish Events do all the hard work and the charities turn up to take a stall in the big tent. This fun and festive two day event is held at Inverleith Park and runs from 9.30 till 5.00pm each day.
It will be the ninth fundraiser and the work that GSE does ensures that 100% of the donations go to the charities involved. There is a Carol Service on Saturday afternoon at 3pm, you can meet Santa in his Grotto if you book early and you can enjoy what might be the first mulled wine and mince pies of the festive season. Put it in your diary now!
The guarantee is that you will have a good time at the event which begins with the Santa Parade on Saturday morning at 10am. Santa drives his sleigh through Stockbridge with the Stockbridge Pipe Band and his elves in attendance.
The event takes place at Inverleith Park on 2 and 3 December 2017, and combines live reindeer with Santa in what will be a warm up for the main event a few weeks later.
Terry Crossley the co-founder of GSE told us at the launch: “I founded this way back in 1968 when the Edinburgh Evening News Walk was first started. We organise the Edinburgh Charity Festival on behalf of any charity who wishes to participate and raise funds. We are delighted to have sponsorship from Farmer Autocare.”
Edinburgh Christmas Festival in Inverleith Park sponsored by Farmer Autocare 2 & 3 Dec Terry Crossley explains what it’s about @GSECharity pic.twitter.com/UTdmqT13tG
— Edinburgh Reporter (@EdinReporter) October 26, 2017
You can also keep warm by taking part in the 5K and 10K as well as bringing your smaller members of the family to take part in the toddle before they go to see Santa in his grotto.
If 10K is just too far for you to contemplate during the Christmas party season then there is a Golden Tinsel Mile Walk which you might prefer.
The Edinburgh Christmas Walk on Saturday follows a route through the Botanics and along the Water of Leith.
Sir Tom Farmer who owns Farmer Autocare is a well-known Edinburgh philanthropist who supports many causes from the National Gallery to St Columba’s Hospice, and of course Hibs. In recognition of his involvement in civic life he received the 2015 Edinburgh Award.
As well as going along to the Festival you might consider becoming a volunteer and give up just a few hours to help those who are walking and running to raise much needed charity funds. Find out more about becoming a volunteer here.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
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