Abbamania Christmas Party

This top Abba tribute quartet do, as you’d expect, all the hits from ‘Waterloo’ to ‘Fernando’ and all the way back round again.

Perth Concert Hall, Friday 22 December.

Bay City Rollers

Another band that epitomise the festive side of the 70s charts but with a tartan spin, as Woody gets the band back together (albeit with three younger new members).

Bungalow Bar, Paisley, Friday 15 December; Rothes Halls, Glenrothes, Saturday 16 December; OGV Podium, Aberdeen, Saturday 23 December.

BBC SSO: Christmas Classics

Singer Jamie MacDougall presents some songs, hymns and general good cheer to get you deep into the festive spirit.

Town Hall, Ayr, Wednesday 20 December; Music Hall, Aberdeen, Friday 22 December.

Beecraigs Festive Forest 

An illuminated trail, storytelling from Mrs Claus (and she must have a tale or two to tell), the Elf Rollercoaster and a Silent Disco are among the treats unfolding in Linlithgow.

Beecraigs Country Park, Linlithgow, Friday 1–Saturday 23 December.

Castle Of Light

With ‘Magic & Mystery’ as its intriguing subtitle, Castle Of Light is back with more dramatic projections onto this historic monument’s impressive walls.  

Edinburgh Castle, Friday 24 November–Wednesday 3 January.

Christmas At The Botanics 

Will you glimpse Father Christmas as you make your way across a lawn of glowing crocuses and sparkling tunnels while stopping to admire the rainbow-coloured projections onto Inverleith House? 

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Thursday 16 November–Saturday 30 December.

Christmas At The Conservatoire

The RCS students lay on an annual festive treat with a show that aims to get everyone in the seasonal mood.

Royal Conservatoire Of Scotland, Glasgow, Wednesday 13 & Thursday 14 December.

Christmas Fayre 

This houses a showcase of handcrafted gifts such as glass, candles and cards, plus there are speciality foods and art works.

House For An Art Lover, Glasgow, Sunday 26 November.

Christmas QR Code Sculpture Trail

A tempting trail makes its debut in Aberdeen alongside carol concerts, a market and a Ferris Wheel. 

Various venues, Aberdeen, Friday 1–Sunday 24 December.

Christmas Shopping Fayre

With a brass band creating an evocative atmosphere, this is your chance to stock up for the big day (and beyond). 

Stirling Castle, Tuesday 5 December.

Dundee's Winterfest

A Big Wheel, vintage funfair and traditional Bavarian bar are among the draws at this Tayside treat.

Slessor Gardens, Dundee, Saturday 25 November–Monday 1 January.

Edinburgh's Christmas

The capital does its Christmas thing with another hot selection of funfair rides, traditional markets, ice skating and the Big Wheel.

Various venues, Edinburgh, Friday 17 November–Saturday 6 January.

Eric The Elf

Left all alone in Santa’s Grotto on his first day at work, Eric ends up with a sizeable task: save Christmas . . . 

Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling, Tuesday 5–Sunday 31 December.

Glasgow Loves Christmas

Among the many highlights for visitors and locals alike is the Style Mile Christmas Carnival on Sunday 26 November featuring cheeky elves, dancing snowflakes and a larger-than-life Santa.

Various venues, Glasgow, from Sunday 19 November.

Irn-Bru Carnival

Europe’s largest funfair flings its doors wide to the great Glasgow public for coconut shys, inflatables, the Extreme Ice Blast and plenty more.  

SEC, Glasgow, Friday 22 December–Sunday 14 January.

Jurassic Live

This top-notch dinosaur extravaganza barnstorms into Glasgow with a jaw-dropping feat of tech which also has an actual story running through it all.

SEC, Glasgow, Friday 29 & Saturday 30 December.

Magicfest

The capital’s International Magic Festival has the likes of Kevin Quantum, Vincent Gambini and Elliot Bibby up to their old tricks. And some new ones.

Various venues, Edinburgh, Wednesday 20–Sunday 31 December.

Morrison's Academy Christmas Concert

A welcome return for this traditional concert featuring singers and players from across this Crieff school’s talented community.

Perth Concert Hall, Thursday 14 December.

Oban Winter Festival 

Kicking off with a parade led by giant puppet Breeze (designed by Vision Mechanics), the following ten days and nights features a winter roller disco, the Hebridean Baker, a paper wreath workshop, and Holly Jolly Playtime.

Various venues, Oban, Friday 17–Sunday 26 November.

Phil Cunningham's Christmas Songbook 

Phil and his fabulous crew (including Eddi Reader, John McCusker and Karen Matheson) lay on a banquet of festive tunes both modern and trad.

Music Hall, Aberdeen, Sunday 17 December; Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Tuesday 19 December; Perth Concert Hall, Wednesday 20 December; Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Thursday 21 & Friday 22 December.

RSNO Christmas Concert

Get those hankies (or maybe even a scarf you’re fine with getting sodden) at the ready as the RSNO do their thing with Raymond Briggs’ animated classic The Snowman, as narrated by Hugh Dennis.

Caird Hall, Dundee, Wednesday 20 December; Music Hall, Aberdeen, Thursday 21 December; Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Friday 22 December; Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Saturday 23 December.

Summerhall Big Christmas Weekend
There will be 90 stalls of local business interests here over this first weekend of December, plus Adrenalism Theatre’s A Very Crypto Christmas and the intriguing sounding Crispmas Confessional.
Summerhall, Edinburgh, Friday 1–Sunday 3 December. 

Viennese Christmas Spectacular By Candlelight

A symphonic feast awaits with the London Concertante perform a programme featuring pieces by Tchaikovsky, Strauss and Brahms.

Paisley Abbey, Sunday 3 December.