Still time to offer your views on Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals

The council has set up a consultation conducted by market researchers Progressive to ask for feedback from everyone in the city about Edinburgh’s Christmas and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay from 2022 onwards.

The council remains contractually bound to Underbelly until then who have organised both events in recent years.

Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener for City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We want to hear from the people of Edinburgh both on how our Winter Festivals should be delivered and indeed what should be delivered. Their feedback to our consultation will shape the future direction of our celebrations from 2022 onwards, when the current arrangements come to an end. This is a good time to take stock and look at what people think and what people want.

“Our Winter Festivals have grown in size and renown both at home and throughout the world. Their cultural and economic importance is well documented and through this consultation we will establish a balanced knowledge of how Edinburgh citizens regard these celebrations, both positive and negative. It is therefore important that as many people as possible make their views heard and I would urge everyone, whatever their views, to spend the small amount of time needed to complete the survey and have their say.”

Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan, Culture and Communities Vice Convener said: “We want Edinburgh’s residents and businesses to be at the heart of shaping the future of the Winter Festivals in the Capital. We are engaging in an open public conversation about the future of these events, with opportunities to respond online or in written form.

“In this consultation, residents will be asked about their experiences of Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh, as well as what activities they would like to see included in the planning and operation of the festivals in the future. We want to ensure that our future Winter Festivals achieve the right balance for those living, working in and visiting our capital city.”

The consultation will close on 19 May 2021 and the results will be presented to both the Festivals and Events All Party Oversight Group and to the Culture and Communities Committee later this year.