Festive celebrations will get underway in Aberdeen next month with the opening of the Christmas Village and lights switch-on.
The village on Broad Street will be officially opened on Thursday, November 17 and promises to light up the long winter nights.
The event is being arranged by Aberdeen City Council in partnership with Codona’s Amusement Park and Aberdeen Inspired.
The popular open-air Curated in the Quad market will open up at the quadrangle in Marischal College each weekend from Friday until Sunday, in the lead-up to Christmas.
Charlie House and Aberdeen Inspired will showcase a unique line-up each week of locally produced crafts, arts and gifts, as well as food and drink.
What is there to enjoy?
Visitors will also be able to enjoy a range of activities and events across the city centre, including:
- Christmas tree lights switch on – Thursday, November 17
- Christmas lights switch-on parade – Sunday, November 20
- Christmas Sculpture Trail – Thursday, December 1 to Saturday, December 24
- Nativity scene – Monday, November 28 to Thursday, January 5, 2023 (blessing event – 28 November)
- Carol concerts – Saturday, December 17
- Hogmanay – Saturday, December 31
Aberdeen’s Christmas tree, a Norwegian fir gifted by twin city Stavanger in Norway, will also be lit up on Thursday, November 17.
The ceremony is being carried out by the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, David Cameron and the deputy mayor of Stavanger.
12 Days of Christmas Sculpture Trail
Tutti Voice from Aberdeen Performing Arts will entertain the crowd alongside the Salvation Army Band, accompanied by the Street Pastors.
They plan to play Christmas carols to get people in the mood for the season.
Also returning is the 12 Days of Christmas Sculpture Trail.
Participants will be able to enjoy a new twist on the challenge, with QR codes being found on each one of the city’s sculptures in the trail.
The codes will reveal hidden characters.
A new prize draw has also been launched for those taking part.
The festive period will finish with this year’s Hogmanay celebrations in the city centre featuring live music on stage at Schoolhill.
‘Allow people some enjoyment and peace’
Aberdeen City Council education convener, Martin Greig said: “This has been a challenging year for many, so it seems even more appropriate than usual to take time at Christmas to celebrate and reflect.
“I hope we can offer the right kind of opportunities to allow people some enjoyment and peace.”
Chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, Adrian Watson said: “We all understand how difficult things are at the moment, but this events programme will help provide some much-needed festive cheer and bring many in from across the city and wider north-east at a time when our city centre businesses have never needed it more.
“These events provide an opportunity for people to visit the wider retail and hospitality offering, which is the largest north of the central belt.”
In order to facilitate the delivery of the Christmas Village, temporary traffic orders will be in place from 6pm on Friday, November 4 to 10pm on Sunday, January 8 2023.
Disabled parking provisions in the area will be located on Littlejohn Street and Queen Street.
Conversation