Monday October 28th 2024
Photo credit: Robin Mair
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Luke Jackson
Edinburgh’s Christmas will spread further festive cheer this year by offering more tickets than ever before to local community groups and charities.
Everyone deserves to share in the Christmas magic, and this year tickets for Edinburgh’s Christmas attractions – including the Ice Rink, Santa’s Stories, West Princes Street Gardens Funfair Ride, the Christmas Tree Maze and Big Wheel – will be gifted to local community groups and charities to ensure everyone can join in the festive fun.
Applications are now open with local groups and charities who work across the community encouraged to claim tickets for rides and attractions at this year’s event which will bring festive goodwill to the Scottish capital from 15 November 2024 and 4 January 2025.
Last year, Edinburgh’s Christmas issued over 7,500 tickets to 90 local Community Groups and Charities across the city including its official Charity Partners. Building on last year’s success, Edinburgh’s Christmas aims to offer more tickets to communities and charities than ever before, ensuring everyone can join in this year’s festivities.
Donations and money raised across both Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay festivals will this year also be split across local charities Social Bite, When You Wish Upon A Star, One City Trust and Simon Community Scotland. Charity donations can be made on-line when purchasing tickets and also at fundraising points around Edinburgh’s Christmas.
The annual Winter Windows schools competition will return this year with 24 winners. School children have submitted artworks representing their idea of winter and the festive season with winners to be selected for display along walkways in West Princes Street Gardens. The winners’ artworks will also be showcased on Edinburgh’s Christmas social channels.
Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations will include open access to the iconic Ross Bandstand in West Princes Street Gardens which will host a programme of free and ticketed community-focused events in association with various local charity partners. A programme of festive fun awaits offering families colour and joy through the Light Night Concert (Sun 17 Nov), St Andrew’s Day Ceilidh (Sat 30 Nov), Nativity Carol Concert with Edinburgh Churches Together (Sun 1 Dec), and this year When You Wish Upon A Star celebrates 20 years of the Santa Run (Sun 8 Dec), with another spectacular fundraising event, giving kids of all ages a chance to join in the festive fun.
The spirit of giving and community continues with Social Bite’s Festival of Kindness, which includes the 10m tall Kindness Tree and Gift Donation point on Castle Street, dedicated to spreading goodwill to those who need it most. Donations can be made to help provide thousands of Christmas dinners, food packs and gifts to homeless and vulnerable families, children, and individuals, or for shelter to those without a roof over their heads this winter.
Residents with an EH postcode are eligible for a 20% discount on tickets to all of Edinburgh’s Christmas events. For further information, visit the edinburgh-christmas.com website.
Culture and Communities Convener Cllr Val Walker, said: “I’m delighted that Edinburgh’s Christmas is once again focused on community spirit and inclusivity. This year, we’re offering more tickets to communities and charities than ever before, ensuring everyone can experience the joy of the festive season. I encourage organisations to apply for tickets, helping us create a magical and accessible Edinburgh’s Christmas for all.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the Winter Windows artwork on display along the walkways of West Princes Street Gardens, and I encourage residents and visitors alike to take some time to see the pieces too.
“The iconic Ross Bandstand in West Princes Street Gardens will also have a variety of free and ticketed community-focused events taking place in collaboration with local charity partners. It promises to be the most wonderful time of the year in Edinburgh.”
Unique Assembly, producers of Edinburgh’s Christmas said:
“We’re thrilled to announce the return of our Community Tickets initiative providing free tickets to community groups across the city, with the belief that festive cheer should be spread far and wide.
“This initiative is one of our most exciting offerings, allowing us to give back to the community in Edinburgh and support charities doing some of the most important work in our city right now.
“Whether you’re applying for tickets for your own organisation or want to support our wonderful charity partners with a donation, we encourage everyone to get involved this year.”
Deadline for application submissions is 23:59 on Sunday 10 November. Applicants will be informed of the status of their requests by Wednesday 13 November. Successful applicants must then book by Friday 22 November. More information and Terms and Conditions can be found on the edinburgh-christmas.com
To apply, please complete and submit the application form, CLICK HERE
Applications can also be made via email at communities@unique-assembly.co.uk. Tickets will be limited per applicant/group, and applicants will be asked to include details of their organisational aims and how they would like to use the tickets. Event producers invite applications from charities and volunteer organisations, including from those who work with refugees, people with disabilities, young carers and other disadvantaged groups, so that we can create a magical and accessible Edinburgh’s Christmas for as many as possible this festive season.
Edinburgh’s Christmas attractions are open daily except Christmas Day, with varying opening dates and times available at the official website. For further information and to buy tickets, go to edinburgh-christmas.com
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