A new free event called Community Christmas will spread festive cheer all over the city with projections and singing involving local talent staged at a dozen locations.
Around 31% of visitors to Edinburgh’s Christmas last year were local residents of Edinburgh and the Lothians, enjoying the 20% discount on prices for locals with an EH postcode.
Brand new this season Community Christmas will be a free, fun celebration to bring local Edinburgh communities together.
It is presented in collaboration with Double Take Projections, Underbelly’s partners on Message from the Skies in 2018 and 2019.
12 locally significant buildings, across all four of Edinburgh’s localities, will come alive with festive projections over 12 consecutive nights – a new building every night.
Each event also features a different local choir performing some of the best-loved festive tunes alongside the projection.
The locations are: Abbeyhill Primary School, Sandy’s Community Centre in Craigmillar, Drumbrae Library and Community Hub, Corstorphine Community Centre, Gilmerton Community Centre, Pentland Community Centre – Oxgangs, Westside Plaza – Wester Hailes, Granton Primary School, Inch Community Education Centre, The Crags Centre by Holyrood Park, Craigentinny Community Centre and Broomhouse Community Hub.
Winter Windows is also back showcasing the work of schoolchildren in places other than just the city centre. This year the theme is A Festive Welcome. In 2018 over 1600 schoolchildren took part designing their own stained glass window.
As before Winter Windows will be on display in West Parliament Square on the High Street and at four other city locations : White Park Gorgie, Great Junction Street by Leith Library, Main Street Kirkliston and Goodtrees Community Centre in Gilmerton.
As well as this there are some buildings which will open their doors to the public during 24 Days of Advent. These include BT Murrayfield Stadium, The Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Centre, a centre for spiritual and mental wellness named in honour of the famous writer and the iconic Robin Chapel in Craigmillar with its stunning stained-glass windows.
Visit edinburghchristmas.com for the full line-up.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.