Six of the best: Where to live your best festive life in November & December
PANTO SEASON: OH, YES IT IS!
Book tickets for a family trip to the panto. Check for local amateur productions, or splash out with a trip to Sleeping Beauty at HMT (2/12-7/1), Rapunzel at Inverurie Town Hall (9-24/12), Freezin’ at the Tivoli Theatre (27/12-6/1) or Aberdeen Arts Centre’s production of Rapunzel (1-24/12). Alternatively, the Lemon Tree has The Gift, a production for kids from 18 months to 8, that’s lots of fun!
VILLAGE LIFE: ABERDEEN WINTER VILLAGE
The Winter Village is back and bigger than ever at Broad Street and in the
quad at Marischal College. It opens on 16 November and runs throughout December. Expect local food producers and crafters, a funfair and festive food stalls as well as weekend events in Union Terrace Gardens.
LIGHT UP YOUR NIGHT: CHRISTMAS AT THE CASTLE
The illuminated woodland and garden trail, complete with performers,
hot chocolate and marshmallows, a festive gift market and the chance to meet Santa returns to Crathes Castle from 8-24 December. There are plenty of festive events at other NTS properties, such as wreath making sessions, or head up to Dalgatie Castle near Turriff for their Victorian Christmas Weekend. It runs on the last weekend in November and first two weekends in December.
Artists and makers across the city and shire fling open their studio doors from 9th-17th September. You’ll find everything from traditional crafts to fashion, painters, ceramicists, sculptors, furniture makers, jewellers and leather workers. It’s never too early to start your Christmas shopping! Plan your trip at northeastopenstudios.co.uk
FAYRE GAME: FAYRES & SEASONAL SHOPS
It’s just wouldn’t be the festive season without a visit to a Christmas Fayre, whether it’s at your local primary school or a more upmarket venue. Try Trend’s own Christmas Fayre at the Marcliffe on November 5th from 12-4, with free entry. Exclusively Highlands bring their Christmas Fayre featuring Scottish Goods to Crathes Castle on November 3-5. Alternatively, visit your favourite garden centre, or pop down to The House of Farnell which opens its delightful seasonal Christmas shop near Brechin from November 2 to December 17.
IN GOOD VOICE: CAROL CONCERTS & SING-A-LONGS
There are plenty of local carol concerts and Christmas sing-a-long events if you can hold a tune. The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra’s annual Christmas Classics concert’s at the Music Hall on December 22, or there’s
Grampian Hospitals Christmas Carol Concert on the 12th. For something more secular, try Madness at P&J Live on November 30th or the Abbamania Christmas Party at the Music Hall on December 2.
MEET & GREET PAY SANTA A VISIT
It’s Santa’s busiest time of year, but he always finds time to make some appearances locally. He’ll be at the Bon Accord Centre on behalf of Charlie House, may well make an appearance on Deeside Railway’s special Santa train rides, will be popping into Grampian Transport Museum every weekend from 2-24 December making appearances at lots of parties and local events.
