Scottish Christmas Events Guide 2022

Lost Map’s Christmas HUMBUG!

The Old Hairdressers + Summerhall, Glasgow + Edinburgh, 16 + 17 Dec
Every year, indie record label Lost Map throws a big Christmas party with some of the biggest and best of Scottish music drawn from their incredible lineup. Catch them in The Old Hairdressers in Glasgow this year with the likes of Maranta and Lost Map DJs, or in Edinburgh’s Summerhall with Susan Bear, Alliyah Enyo and others.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Tron Theatre, Glasgow, until 8 Jan 2023
Head down the yellow brick road like you’ve never seen it before with this hilarious pantomime production of the L.F. Baum classic. There’s a Scarecrow with too many Insta-sham followers, a heartless Tin Wummin’ who maybe works for the council, and the usual scared lion - get your boos and hisses ready and waiting and be prepared to be blown away.

Christmas at the Botanics

Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, until 30 Dec
A stunning series of installations that cast the magnificent gardens and greenhouses of the Edinburgh Botanics in a, quite literally, whole new festive light, Christmas at the Botanics is now in its sixth year and is only getting more spectacular. This year promises hundreds of red glowing flowers lighting up the paths on the Chinese Hillside, floating feathers in the trees, and a gorgeous recreation of the Aurora Borealis.

Endless Love Creative Makers Market

Fruitmarket, Edinburgh, 4 Dec, 10am
A curated Christmas market from Endless Love Creative, this is a chance to pick up some beautiful and unique gifts – think prints, ceramics, and jewellery – from local artists in the beautiful gallery space of Edinburgh’s Fruitmarket. True to the profoundly creative streak of the market and its venue, there are also a couple of fun illustration and embroidery workshops to break up the day.

A stall at the Endless Love Creative Makers Market. Photo: Endless Love

Hoolie in the Hydro

SEC, Glasgow, 17 Dec, 6:30pm
The biggest night of Scottish traditional music to ever take place, Hoolie in the Hydro – organised by Scottish music legend Gary Innes – offers the ceilidh of a lifetime. Head to the Hydro, Glasgow’s enormous concert venue on the banks of the River Clyde, for a night with the likes of Dougie Maclean, Mànran, Sharon Shannon Band, Trail West and Skerryvore.

Hogmanay Summerhall 2022

Summerhall, Edinburgh, 31 Dec, 9pm
See out the year in an old, probably haunted, vet-school-turned-arts-venues? We can’t think of a better way. Summerhall is one of our favourite places in the capital, offering a year round programme of stunning art, performance and music. Their first Hogmanay celebration since 2019 (RIP 2020/2021), this night sees live music from The Soul Foundation, DJs playing throughout the night, with more stellar artists to be announced soon.

Sprog Rock

Tramway, Glasgow, 10-18 Dec
A festive gig for the little ones (think under-fives, and any and all willing adults), Sprog Rock are teaming up this year with beatboxer Bigg Taj for an extra special high-energy, high-fun celebration. Fully interactive and relaxed, this is the kind of live music experience which encourages participation: sing, dance, or sit quietly and let the fun wash over you.

Optimo (Espacio) Hogmanay 2022

Room 2, Glasgow, 31 Dec, 11pm
Beloved Scottish legends Optimo (Espacio) return to their hometown for an incredible New Year’s Eve blowout. The duo have been spinning the decks in Scotland since the 90s with their irresistible brand of house - we can’t guarantee how the rest of 2023 will go, but its first few hours, we can promise, will be in the safest of hands.

RSNO Season 22-23 Christmas Concert featuring The Snowman

Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 18 Dec, 3pm
Join the Royal Scottish National Orchestra for their annual Christmas concert, packed full of carols and familiar festive tunes, perfect for getting into the spirit of midnight mass without the midnight or the mass. This year sees a live orchestral playing of the beloved Christmas classic The Snowman, narrated by the original singer of Walking In the Air, Aled Jones.

RSNO performing the soundtrack to The Snowman. Photo: Drew Farrell

Tea Green Festive Market

V&A Dundee + Kibble Palace, Dundee + Glasgow, 25-27 Nov + 10-11 Dec, 10am
There are so many Christmas markets on this festive season that it can be hard to know which ones to prioritise, but somewhere like Tea Green Festive Market, that skips over the usual Christmas tat for really creative pieces from local artists. There’s gorgeous art, handmade homeware, and striking accessories that are perfect for gifts for others and yourself.

Samedia Shebeen Hogmanay Tropical Soundclash

La Belle Angele, Edinburgh, 31 Dec, 11pm
For a Hogmanay celebration that eschews standing out in Princes Street in the cold for a much more heated vibe, head to Samedia Shebeen’s Hogmanay Tropical Soundclash. One of Edinburgh’s most beloved club nights, Samedia Shebeen play everything from Latin and Afrobeats to Arabic electro – this NYE celebration sees them joined by Los Chichanos, playing live chicha and psychedelic cumbia, and dancehall and amapiano DJing from Strawberry Jam Soundsystem.

Maw Goose

Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling, 2-31 Dec
It’s a fairy-tale bonanza in Stirling this year with this panto production of Maw Goose, written by award-winning playwright Johnny McKnight. Follow our hero as she faces eviction after failing to pay Panto Tax and loses track of her son Jack, who has fallen for girl-next-door Jill, all while Bo Peep and Little Jack Horner try to form a band and Lucy Goosey gets eyed up for Christmas dinner. It’s the kind of chaos that’s perfect for the whole family.

Double Door Studios Festive Boutique

Double Door Studios, Dundee, until 22 Dec
Every year, small independent jewellery design studio Double Door Studios opens up its eponymous doors on certain Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays to dozens of artists and craftspeople for a one-of-a-kind Christmas market right in the heart of Dundee. Find sustainable homeware, sculptures and ceramics, bookbinding, and handcrafted knitwear on show - perfect for a bit of ethical Christmas shopping.

Scottish Ballet’s The Snow Queen

Festival Theatre + Theatre Royal, Edinburgh + Glasgow, until 8 Jan
Scottish Ballet have been killing it in recent years with jaw-dropping, universally acclaimed productions of The Crucible and a postmodern retelling of Coppelia. They are going a little more traditional, but still groundbreakingly good, with the classic tale of The Snow Queen – last shown to rave reviews in 2019. Frosty, magical, and set to the stunning music of Rimsky-Korsakov, this is the perfect winter ballet.

Kayla-Maree Tarantolo and Constance Devernay in Scottish Ballet's The Snow Queen. Photo: Andy Ross

Bowhouse Christmas Market Weekend

Bowhouse, St Monans, 10 Dec, 10am
Tucked away on the stunning coast of Fife, just a couple of hours north of Edinburgh, Bowhouse is a monthly market held in the picturesque Balcaskie Estate, which seeks to connect people with local growers and producers and create a shorter, farm-to-table, local supply chain. The Christmas edition of their market features food and drink gems perfect for making Christmas dinner extra special, as well as an array of arts and crafts traders.

The Santa Experience

Archerfield Walled Garden, Dirleton, until 23 Dec
Just a short drive or bus ride away from Edinburgh on the scenic (and admittedly blustery in December) East Lothian coast, Archerfield Walled Garden manages to be beautiful whatever the season, featuring carefully sculpted walled and herb gardens that feed directly into their gorgeous, airy cafe. Clearly Santa thinks so, too: catch him at the Gardens this December complete with presents and a North Pole letter writing experience.

Beecraigs Festive Forest

Beecraigs Country Park, Linlithgow, 2-23 Dec
With gorgeous panoramic views over the Forth bridges, the Lothians and even across to Fife, Beecraigs National Park is a beautiful spot to take in a part of Scotland that is easily accessible, but feels outside of the main cities. Their Festive Forest features an illuminated trail, Santa’s Grotto (what can we say, he’s everywhere), a funfair and plenty of festive food and drink stalls for warming up.

Dundee Christmas Market WinterFest

Slessor Gardens, Dundee, until 1 Jan
Live your best Weihnachtsmarkt life at Dundee Christmas Market WinterFest. Launching for the first year in Dundee, this head-to-toe festive experience has an ice skating rink perfect for romantic - and wobbly - skating, an authentic Bavarian tavern, and a vintage funfair. Held in the city’s Slessor Gardens, you can drop in or book ahead to avoid disappointment in the busy festive season.