Spend Christmas in Aberdeen

The Christmas Village will be taking over the heart of the city from Thursday 14th November. There’s fun and attractions for all the family, and that’s likely to include fairground rides and an ice-skating rink, if it’s anything like previous years’ events – so plenty to keep you busy and to get you in the festive spirit!

This is Aberdeen’s Christmas market, which runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 15^th November to 22^nd December. Enjoy the traditional festive wooden cabins in the picturesque setting of the Marischal College Quadrangle. Buy gifts for all tastes and budgets, arts and crafts, fashion and food and drink - the perfect place to get your festive shopping sorted in one! Most of the stallholders are local too, so it’s a great way to support local businesses, and it raises much-needed funds for Charlie’s House children’s charity.

Take in a panto – and you’re spoilt for choice in Aberdeen! There’s the Sleeping Beauty Pantomime – you can expect lots of ‘she’s behind you!’ and silly fun with this classic panto at the Tivoli Theatre. It runs from 5th to 22nd December. There’s also Jack and the Beanstalk at His Majesty’s Theatre, featuring a host of familiar faces. It starts the 30th November and runs through until 5th January. You’re guaranteed to leave chuckling – and feeling a lot more festive!

If you’re exploring the surrounding area, Castle Fraser is about 40 minutes from Aberdeen and it is hosting lots of festive activities. A guided Castle By Candlelight tour sounds magical, there’s Carols at the Castle and Father Christmas will even be making an appearance!

Take in the West End favourite, Elf the Musical, on 30^th November at the P&G Live arena. Be prepared for audience participation with the snowball fight!

Enjoy a magical event at the beautiful Winter Gardens at Duthie Park, running from 5^th-12^th November. The lights are spectacular and this was a sell out event last year, leading to extra dates being added in 2024!

Get your best singing voice on for this festive selection of modern and traditional Christmas classics from the Granite City Brass band. Hosted at Aberdeen Art Gallery on 19th December at 12.45pm-30pm. Find out more details here.

The full details are yet to be released, but it looks like the Aberdeen Christmas light switch on will be on 17^th November 2024. A date for the diary to see the Granite City transformed into a twinkling wonderland! Don’t forget to admire the impressive Christmas tree which is donated every year by Aberdeen’s twin town of Stavanger in Norway.

For lovers of classical music, this promises to be spine-tinglingly spectacular. Vivaldi Four Seasons at Christmas by Candlelight is taking place on 22^nd December at the Fountain Hall Church at The Cross in Aberdeen, it features the outstanding musicians of The Piccadilly Sinfonietta and leading violin soloist Ben Norris.

Aberdeen’s Dobbies Garden Centre goes all out at Christmas. Not only can you have a mooch around the gorgeous decorations, scented candles, gifts and food – but there’s also lots of lovely yuletide events! From the traditional Santa’s Grotto, to the chance to have breakfast with Santa – there’s even Festive Santa Paws, for your pup!