The Ross Bandstand, situated in Princes Street Gardens, has long acted as the community hub of Edinburgh’s Christmas programming, and this year is no different. Full programme details have been revealed, with the Red Hot Chilli Pipers leading a slate of community and family-friendly events which will take place across four weekends leading up to Christmas. 

First on the bill is the Christmas light switch-on (Tuesday 18 November), an annual tradition which will be followed by a Scottish-Norwegian advent concert at St Giles’ Cathedral at 7pm. Then there’s the Light Night Concert at West Princes Street Gardens (Sunday 23 November), featuring a full afternoon of Christmas events, including a visit from Santa himself. 

On Saturday 29 November, The Red Hot Chilli Pipers will headline a full day of music at the Bandstand. Sunday 30 November will play host to a St Andrew’s Day Ceilidh & Market featuring tunes from The Sensational Jimi Shandrix Experience (a nativity scene on The Mound will take place on the same day). Community performance choirs will be given their time to shine on Saturday 6 December with a full afternoon of performances, while a Santa Run will get the blood flowing on Sunday 7 December. Finally, a silent disco will be the novel attraction on Saturday 13 December, giving audiences a selection of channels to dance to. 

A spokesperson for Unique Assembly, which organises the event, said: ‘West Princes Street Gardens will be bursting with festive cheer this winter, with a packed programme of free and ticketed community events spreading a warm Scottish welcome to locals and visitors alike. Whether singing loud for all to hear at the Light Night Concert and Silent Disco Christmas Cracker, birling beneath Edinburgh Castle to live ceilidh bands, watching the world-famous Red Hot Chilli Pipers sleighing the stage on St. Andrews Day weekend, or joining hundreds of Santas for a run around West Gardens, there is festive fun for everyone!’

Main Picture: Robin Mair