You really know Christmas is coming when the lights go on all over town!
Edinburgh’s Christmas will be open from 10 am on Thursday 25th November 2010, when the Edinburgh Wheel starts turning, the ice rink glistens and the markets are packed with produce. Come along and enjoy the first day of our festivities and then in the evening there will be a traditional and spectacularly sparkling celebration as the lights go on and Edinburgh’s Christmas bursts in life. Starting at 5.15 pm, the event, sponsored by Essential Edinburgh, will see the tree lit up to signal the start of another magical Christmas.
St Andrew’s Night Ceilidh, St Mary’s Cathedral Hall, Little King St Friday, 26th November from 7:30 – ALL WELCOME Contact Kate Hardie 07753 986519 re tickets.

At The Usher Hall there are some great things to come in the following weeks.

On Monday 22nd November The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland appear with The Edinburgh Gilbert & Sullivan Society at 7:30 pm. The wonderfully versatile musicians of the Royal Marines Band Scotland together with the exuberant singers of the Edinburgh Gilbert & Sullivan Society are back in combination for the 2010 concert. In addition to the traditional RM Band martial tunes and the splendid Corps of Drums, there will be light classical, music from the shows, exquisite solo pieces and of course plenty of Gilbert & Sullivan. A colourful show with 45 Royal Marine Bandsmen on stage backed up by the Edinburgh Gilbert & Sullivan Society singers, this event has always been a highlight of the Usher Hall programme. More details on the website.

On Thursday 25th there is a performance of Handel’s Messiah by The Scottish Chamber Orchestra  joined by the SCO Chorus and ‘as delectable a line-up of soloists as anyone could wish for’ in Handel’s seasonal masterpiece. Hallelujah! Stephen Layton replaces the late Sir Charles Mackerras in this performance. More details about booking on the website.

Really don’t miss this concert at The Usher Hall if you are in any danger of collecting your bus pass.  The Manfreds with Paul Jones and special guest Alan Price are appearing there on Sunday 28th November at 7.30 pm. More details on their website. And if that is not your cup of tea then try the comedian Mark Watson on Friday 26th at 7.30pm.  Britain’s funny man takes to the stage to give you an evening you’ll never forget. Mark Watson describes himself as a comedian, author, sports pundit and husband. He was born in 1980 and according to life expectancy for his socio-economic group and Body Mass Index, will die in 2056. Also often seen on Mock The Week, Never Mind The Buzzcocks and so on. Again more details on the website.

You are invited to the beautiful (and officially haunted) Cameo Cinema to watch a stunning selection of absolute stonewall classic cult 70s and 80s horror movies on the big screen. From 11.15pm onwards, through the entire night!…

Featuring 80s zombie party classic THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD…70s proto-slasher landmark BLACK CHRISTMAS…Frank Henenlotter’s bizarre 80s grime-gore epic BASKET CASE..Dario Argento’s stunning 70’s gothic masterpiece SUSPIRIA…And Stuart Gordon’s mind-melting 1986 gorefest FROM BEYOND…. 5 ultra-rare screenings of the goriest, scariest, funniest and craziest films in horror movie history (3 of them screening on vintage 35mm prints).  Plus vintage horror film trailers screening between films.

Friday 26th, Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th November : ‘The Present Event’, at Hopetoun House. Billed as an Exclusive Christmas Shopping Fair. Opening times:10am – 4.30pm, Admission £6 There will be over 60 stands selling a wide range of quality and unusual gifts for Christmas. This year’s nominated charity is St Columba’s Hospice. More details on the website

Walter Scott’s name and image are everywhere, from monuments to bank notes. Stuart Kelly’s book is not a conventional biography, nor is it a critical study. Through examining Scott’s legacy, ouvre and character Stuart has changed his thoughts on writing, reviewing, being Scottish and being human. An event at The National Library of Scotland on Wednesday 24 November at
18.00 Booking fee £4 (includes refreshments) Book online or phone 0131 623 3918. The event will be followed by a book signing. Books will be on sale in the NLS shop.

Queensferry & District Community Council meet tonight at the Council Office on High Street at 7.30pm. More details of their meetings on their website.

Join Edinburgh Businesswomen’s Club for their November Business Bites with Robin Tatler of the Homeless World Cup. Be inspired by the difference they are making to the lives of young girls and women in Scotland today. More details here.

Historic Scotland offer  a great opportunity to enjoy a FREE family day out on either Saturday 27 or Sunday 28 November in honour of St Andrew’s Day – so you can get into Edinburgh Castle for free!

The Santa Dook takes place at Cramond on 28th November. The cost is £10 and you could raise funds for the British Heart Foundation. More details on their website.

Guid Crack on Friday 26th November at The Scottish Storytelling Centre centres round St Andrew’s Day when there will be an evening of story and song. The evening starts at 7.30pm and lasts for 2 hours. There is no entry fee but a donation of about £3 is suggested.

Cafe Ceilidh takes place there on Tuesday 30th November. Join Linten Adie and friends from the Scots Music Group for a special Café Ceilidh to celebrate St. Andrew’s Day.

The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland with The Edinburgh Gilbert & Sullivan Society 7:30 pm Monday 22 November 2010 in The Usher Hall Edinburgh.

The musicians of the Royal Marines Band Scotland together with the singers of the Edinburgh Gilbert & Sullivan Society are back in combination for the 2010 concert. In addition to the traditional RM Band martial tunes and the Corps of Drums, there will be light classical, music from the shows, exquisite solo pieces and of course plenty of Gilbert & Sullivan. A wonderfully colourful show with 45 Royal Marine Bandsmen on stage backed up by the Edinburgh Gilbert & Sullivan Society singers, this event has always been a highlight of the Usher Hall programme. Tickets £16, £14 and £12 Box Office: 0131 228 1155

Do you know of anything else which is on in Edinburgh this week? Then please tell us! theedinburghreporter@gmail.com

Photo courtesy of Edinburgh Inspiring Capital

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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.

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