Your ultimate guide to an independent Edinburgh Christmas

From some of the best makers' markets to top entertainment for panto-haters

The Art Makers’ Market at Leith’s Out of the Blue Drill Hall. Pic: Out of the Blue

It’s that time of year again, the marmite month. Some of us love it, some hate it; perhaps some of us love to hate it, and would miss it if it was gone. However you feel about it, Christmas is decidedly coming round, writes Sarah McArthur.

The Edinburgh Christmas Market has been open for two weeks already, with discounts for those with EH postcodes and a run of free music performances and events at the Ross Bandstand. This year, the market organisers are boasting 71 Scottish traders, 53 of which are from Edinburgh; it’s clear that there is an ongoing effort to bring more of Edinburgh back into Edinburgh’s Christmas.

However, with rents sitting at around £17,000 for a well-located stall in the market, you are still unlikely to find small-scale local makers in Princes Street Gardens. The market saw 2.3 million visitors last year, and recent recognition as the “best Christmas Market in the UK” is only likely to push that figure even higher in 2025. Edinburgh’s Christmas promises to be a lively and exciting affair, and a real boon for independent businesses like the Edinburgh Honey Co and Edinburgh-based coffee roasters Uplands Roast. For those of us looking for a quieter experience, or a more hyper-local offering, there are plenty of other Christmas events in Edinburgh.

Here at Inquirer HQ we noticed many of you loved last year’s ideas on where to buy local over the Christmas period, and so our gift to you as advent begins is another extensive menu of festive activities beyond the crowds of Princes Street Gardens.

THE MARKETS

1. Winter Makers Market: Fruitmarket Gallery: 6 - 7 December:
   Just round the corner from the heaving Princes Street Gardens market, the Fruitmarket Gallery is hosting a hand-picked selection of over 60 independent artists for its makers market. These makers come from across the UK and are offering botanicals, ceramics, clothing, homeware, jewellery, knitwear, stationary, textiles and print. Makers at the market are paying a maximum of £100 per day, and some stalls are offered free to those makers who are from groups who are under-represented in the arts. Entry is £2.

2. Leith Creative Trail: multiple venues: 29 November - 7 December:
   Leith is maintaining its reputation as the artistic hub of our city this year, with a compilation of markets, open workshops and exhibitions, which includes 20 venues, 125 venues and over 4000 people. Award-winning workshop owners Edinburgh Open Workshop, who have put together the Creative Trail, are hosting a Christmas Market today, including 20 of their makers, and promising the opportunity to order bespoke pieces, buy ready-made items, a free making workshop for children and some food and drink to sweeten the deal. The £1 entry goes towards the EOW’s bursary to support Edinburgh Makers to hire workshop space or learn a new skill. The Creative Trail can be found online.

   

3. Winter Arts Market: Out of the Blue Drill Hall: 5 - 7 December:
   Out of the Blue has been supporting the creative arts in Edinburgh for over three decades; its Drill Hall venue will host 120 local makers over the three days of markets, including an evening opening on 5 December with mulled wine and bratwurst. The organisation’s studios at Abbeymount are also hosting open studios this weekend, with an opportunity to meet makers, see where they work, and buy their wares. Tickets range from £1-£3 for adults, and zero for under 12s.

4. MNB Christmas Craft Market: Leith Arches: 6 December:
   MNB is an Edinburgh-based non-profit which has been running “joyful, hand-picked” makers markets since 2022. After three years of success, this Christmas will be their last market at Leith Arches before moving to an undisclosed larger venue. This market promises 20 stalls including food, drink and crafts. There will also be a sensory hour from 10am - 11am designed for those who are more sensitive to sensory stimuli; the same high-quality market, just with softer light and less noise. Entry is free.

5. Christmas at Jupiter: Jupiter Artland: 6 - 14 December
   Looking for a locally sourced Christmas Tree? At Jupiter Artland you can pick your tree and cut it down yourself in the park’s tree farm. The sculpture park is hosting a huge array of Christmas events over nine days including artisan markets, creative workshops, a Santa’s Grotto, festive film screenings, as well as the opportunity to wander the 120 acres of sculpture park including new seasonal commissions. Tickets range from £6.50 to £11.80.

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

1. Christmas Bingo and Festive Unicorn Party: The Pitt, Granton: 5 and 6 December:
   Next weekend will be the first birthday of the revitalised and relocated Pitt Market. The reclaimed industrial property is now home to a sauna, a weekly market, an events venue and a warehouse with space for up to 35 local businesses and organisations. Alongside a festive market with pay-as-you-feel craft activities this weekend, the Pitt will be hosting a free Christmas music bingo and disco on 5 December, and a family-friendly daytime dance party (with unicorns, of course) on 6 December with tickets at less than £5 per head.

2. Post-apocalyptic Christmas Party, Barnton Bunker: 5 December:
   Did you know that Edinburgh is home to a cold-war era bunker, which reaches three floors underground? This year the International Ghost Society is organising a festive event which promises the opportunity to explore deep into the bunker, alongside some delightfully eccentric activities imagining “Christmas after the end of the world.” Tickets are between £18 and £25.

3. Winterfest, Dalkeith Country Park: 24 November - 26 December:
   Dalkeith Country Park’s Christmas calendar offers the classics; a market, ice rink, craft workshops, Santa’s grotto and storytelling; as well as the opportunity for after-dark trips on Go Ape. If you buy your Christmas tree here, you don’t get to cut it down yourself, but you can return it to the park after the festive period and get free parking and a free coffee. On Sunday, 14 December, the park will also host a festive fun run in aid of My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. Prices depend on activity, entry to the park is free.

As ever, this is just a handful of the host of delicious, independent, Christmas activities you can feast on this December. Whatever you end up doing, we wish you the merriest of months. Next up, Will Quinn with his guide to the best on-stage festive entertainment without a pantomime dame or horse in sight.

THE PANTO-HATERS GUIDE TO FESTIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Hail and well met, Panto-haters of Edinburgh - I may not share your aversion, but as one of the city’s busiest stage critics, I am perfectly equipped to help you get your performance fix without any risk of a ballistic penny chew, or a local DJ in drag.

Without further ado, and not one hint of an ‘It’s Behind You!’, let’s dive in…