Willowbrae Church
The Jock’s Lodge Community Trust say that WIllowbrae Church is to be put on the market for sale soon.
The organisation want to preserve it for use as a community space, and are looking for public support.
Fair Saturday
A Taste of Scotland & St Andrew’s Day Ceilidh at Edinburgh’s Christmas
On 29 and 30 November from noon to 6pm at the
Ross Bandstand, in West Princes Street Gardens
Free, unticketed
The Ross Bandstand sparked festivities on Sunday with its opening Light Night Concert, and now has a jam-packed Scottish weekend in store of free events in honour of St Andrew’s Day.
The weekend’s programme kick-starts with A Taste of Scotland on 29 November 12-6pm, where world famous bagpiping icons Red Hot Chilli Pipers will take centre stage to get celebrations underway in true rousing Scottish style.
Renowned across the world for their signature “bagrock” sound, the group’s high-energy performances fuse traditional pipes with rock anthems, promising to round off the day in the most memorable way.
Earlier on in the afternoon, explore stalls from Scottish makers in recognition of Fair Saturday, celebrating artists, cultural organisations, and social projects, accompanied by live music from local performers. Not to mention Highland dancers, hearty stovies and much more – it’s the perfect way to celebrate Scotland’s creativity, culture and community spirit!
Then, in celebration of St. Andrew’s Day, Ross Bandstand comes alive on 30 November with a special free Family Ceilidh at 2:30pm and 4:30pm. This year, The Sensational Jimi Shandrix Experience takes to the floor who are renowned as one of the top ceilidh acts in the world. With a caller to teach the steps, it doesn’t matter whether you are a dab hand at the Dashing White Sergeant or a first time Highland Flinger, you are sure to have a joyous whirl!
Sunday also brings back the local makers’ mini market (12-6pm) and delicious food stalls from the day before, offering another chance to browse unique crafts and enjoy a taste of Scotland’s finest fare.
Fair Saturday was established by Spaniard Jordi Albareda who founded Fair Saturday as an alternative to Black Friday and all its emphasis on consumerism.
At the Festival Theatre
Scottish Ballet: The Snow Queen
27 November to 7 December 2025
Festival Theatre
Dance
This glittering production is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale – which was also the basis for Frozen. Choreographed by Christopher Hampson and designed by the award-winning Lez Brotherston, this story of love and friendship is a delight for the whole family.
Scottish Ballet The Snow Queen (capitaltheatres.com)
Jack and the Beanstalk Pantomime 2025
From 13 December to 11 January 2026
Festival Theatre
Family
Join Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young for the GIANT of a pantomime we’ve all BEAN waiting for. Jack and the Beanstalk will be spectacularly brought to life by sensational song and dance numbers, fantastic special effects, magic beans and bundles of audience participation in this giant of a pantomime!
Jack and the Beanstalk (capitaltheatres.com)
We met up with the panto cast who are ready to start rehearsals ahead of the panto run which begins in two weeks.
And Grant Stott who is always the baddie told us where he gets his inspiration from and about panto rituals.
The panto cast start rehearsals tomorrow and Grant Stott gave us some insight into panto rituals
— The Edinburgh Reporter (@edinreporter.bsky.social) 26 November 2025 at 16:57
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https://bsky.app/profile/edinreporter.bsky.social/post/3m6kd7d6r2s2g
Charity Concert
There will be a charity concert organised by Spiders for Ukraine held at Greyfriars Kirk on 12 December from 6pm to 9pm.
Funds raise will support humanitarian relief in Ukraine. All proceeds will go to those directly affected by the ongoing war.
Written in Light will have live music, theatre food and cultural workshops.
Spiders for Ukraine is an Edinburgh charity which creates camouflage nets here in Edinburgh which are then transported to the war zone.
Scottish–Ukrainian Concert & Carolling: Local Scottish musicians will perform alongside Ukrainian artists, weaving Scottish folk traditions together with Ukrainian Christmas carols.
Life in One Suitcase: A moving play about displacement and the choices people make when they are forced to leave their homes behind.
Food Stalls & Craft Workshops: Visitors can try homemade Ukrainian dishes and take part in hands-on workshops that introduce traditional Ukrainian crafts.
Tickets: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/spidersforukraine/1947500
At St Mary’s Episcopal Church Palmerston Place
Ringing the Changes is a dramatic art installation on display at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral.
This site-specific project combines art, architecture, music and performance, and is based on traditional bell ringing practices. It took a year to plan and install, and was commissioned by the Cathedral to coincide with the summer’s Edinburgh Festival. Since then it has formed the centrepiece of the church’s own Summer Festival of art, music and performance.
The installation is free to visit and will continue to form the backdrop to the Cathedral’s daily services, Choral Evensong tradition and a full calendar of musical events and performances throughout Christmas and into the New Year.
If you’re interested in featuring the project – which might also help publicise the Cathedral’s amazing series of winter events – I’d be happy to supply more photos and information.
The images would make a striking visual statement in themselves, but the ideas behind the piece and the challenges to realise it in this historic setting are also fascinating.
What’s On | St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral Edinburgh
