2008

If you have a Christmas event in Aberdeen or throughout Aberdeenshire that you would like listed for free on this page then please contact me with information such as dates, times, costs, facilities and any images or photos you would like added.

3 December 2008 - The Evening Express Carol Concert at the Music hall with pupils from local schools such as Airyhall Infant Choir and the Fernielea Primary 6 percussion band and musicians and groups such as the Portlethen Choir.

If you have a photo or want to share memories that aboutaberdeen can display on this page for other reader's to enjoy then please contact me.

The following pages take you to more detailed information about Christmas events in Aberdeen and the Shire:

Pantomimes

Aberdeen Christmas tree switch on

Delgatie Castle traditional Victorian Christmas Fayre

Reindeer Parade at Crathes Castle

Temperance Walk at Inverallochy

More Christmas events in Aberdeen and the Shire for 2008 will be announced soon. Further below are details of last years Aberdeen Christmas events which may well take place again this year.

We also run the www.findextrawork.co.uk website where there is information about earning more money from a range of part time and full time jobs which can be done at home or out and about. Visit for more information.

2007

Santa Grotto

Debenhams in The Mall shopping centre Aberdeen city opened their Santa Grotto on Sunday 18 November 2007. The Santa Grotto will stay open during the Xmas festive period and money raised will be donated to the charity Children 1st.

Tolbooth Christmas Guided Tours

Aberdeen Tolbooth staff will be performing Christmas guided tours on Sunday the 2 and 9 December at 3pm and 5pm. Booking is essential and do be quick because these Tolbooth Christmas guided tours get fully booked. Telephone (01224) 523644 to book a place on the Tolbooth Christmas guided tour. Tickets cost £5. This Aberdeen Christmas event is part of the Winter Trails events by Aberdeen City Council. For more information about The Aberdeen Tolbooth visit the AboutAberdeen Tolbooth Prison Aberdeen review page.

Annual Service of Lessons and Carols

The Annual Service of Lessons and Carols by the Deeside Choristers will take place on Saturday 8 December at 7pm at St Mary's Church, Blair, Aberdeenshire.

25 - Happy Christmas from the About Aberdeen team.

25 - Temperance Walk at Inverallochy

If you would like your event listed on this page then please use the contact link at the bottom left of this page and send me details. A link back to aboutaberdeen.com on your website would be greatly appreciated and will ensure your information is listed promptly.

8 December 2007 to 5 January 2008 Aladdin panto at HMT Aberdeen, Book a ticket information.
Click here to win 4 free tickets to see a show of your choice at His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen. The competition is free to enter and you will find out instantly if you have won.
Read about the Christmas pantomimes.

Christmas Lights Bus Tour

A Christmas Lights Bus Tour is being run by First Aberdeen on the 13 and 20 December 2007 at 6:15pm and at 7:15pm from Castle Street with a boarding point just outside the Sheriff Court. This is a free Christmas lights bus tour and no tickets or pre booking is necessary. Though it is on a first come first served and once the bus is full of seated passengers no-one else can board the Christmas lights bus tour. Donations to charity will be collected by Mr Santa Claus for local charities.

Dobbies Christmas

Dobbies garden centre in Hazlehead, Aberdeen host a variety of Christmas events for Aberdeen residents and visitors. Dobbies Christmas starts with the arrival of Santa on Saturday 24 November 2007 at 11am. This year he will be leaving his sleigh and reindeer at home and travelling to Dobbies Aberdeen garden centre in a bright red and shining fire engine. Santa Claus will be accompanied by fire fighters from Grampian Fire Brigade and members of the panto Cinderella from the Attic Theatre Group.

Events to coincide with Santa's arrival at Dobbies Christmas will include a Christmas treasure hunt where children can find Lindt reindeer chocolate. Adults can enjoy a glass of mulled wine and there will be a DJ keeping everyone entertained. Roast chestnuts will be freshly roasted.

Dobbies Santa Grotto

After Father Christmas has had his lunch he will open the Dobbies Santa Grotto at 1:30pm on Saturday 24 November 2007.

The Dobbies Santa Grotto will then open every weekend from 10am until 5pm. Dobbies Santa Grotto will also be open on Christmas eve from 10am until 5pm. Entry to the Dobbies Santa Grotto is £5 per child and this includes a present from Santa Claus.

Santa Supper

On Thursday 13 December 2007 from 6pm to 8pm there will be a Santa Supper at Dobbies Christmas garden centre in Hazlehead, Aberdeen. Tickets cost £9.50 and must be pre-booked at Dobbies Aberdeen garden centre or by calling (01224) 318658. Those children attending the Santa Supper can enjoy a meal with Santa, party games, a Christmas Treasure Hunt and then meet Santa and receive an early Christmas present. An adult must accompany their children to the Santa Supper.

More information about these Dobbies Christmas Aberdeen events can be found at the official Dobbies website at www.dobbies.com

15 - Aberdeen Music Centre Christmas Concert at The Music Hall, to book tickets see the Box Office page.

16 - Grampian Hospitals Christmas Carol Concert at The Music Hall, to book tickets see the Box Office page.

18 - Aberdeen Choral Society Handel's Messiah at The Music Hall, to book tickets see the Box Office page.

19 - The RSNO Christmas Concert at The Music Hall, to book tickets see the Box Office page.

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Christmas Classics with guest presenter Jackie Bird - at The Music Hall, to book tickets see the Box Office page.

Christmas Carol Concert

The ever popular Christmas Carol Concert at the Duthie Park will once more take place in the David Welch Winter Gardens from 4pm until 6pm on Saturday 22 December. This is a free Christmas Carol Concert

23 - RSNO Big Band Christmas Party at The Music Hall, to book tickets see the Box Office page.

Christmas Street Performers

There will be Christmas Street performers at the main shopping centres of Aberdeen including John Lewis, Bon Accord Centre, St Nicholas Centre and The Mall (Trinity Centre) each weekend in December from 11am until 4pm. This includes the Buchaneers jazz band, the Salvation Army band, a walking Christmas tree from Upshot Circus and the Giant Seagulls.

Christmas Exhibition

From the 24 November until the 24 December 2007 there is a Christmas Exhibition event at Peacock Visual Arts at 21 Castle Street in Aberdeen City. The Christmas Exhibition 2007 takes place from 9:30am until 5:30pm every Tuesday through to Saturday. The Peacock Visual Arts Christmas Exhibition 2007 showcases the artistic talent of Aberdonian and Shire, nationals and international artists.

Giant Christmas Card

A new Christmas event for Aberdeen is being held in The Mall shopping centre where shoppers and visitors to Aberdeen City centre can help build a giant Christmas card. To take part in building the giant Christmas card Aberdeen event shoppers can pay a donation of £1 and this gives them their very own seasonal square that can be decorated however shoppers like and each will then be combined with other squares to form a giant Christmas card. The Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Mr Peter Stephen, officially started the giant Christmas card at The Mall shopping centre on Saturday 10 November 2007 with his own personal square. The final giant Christmas card will eventually measure 14 feet by 9ft. Money raised from donations will be donated to charities such as Aberdeen charity Cash For Kids.

Christmas Markets

There are several Christmas Market Aberdeen Christmas events taking place in December. These include:

Saturday 8, 15 and 22 December 2007 at Belmont Street in Aberdeen City centre from 9am until 5pm - Aberdeen street market with Christmas stalls and Xmas gifts.

Sunday 9, 16 and 23 December 2007 at The Academy Courtyard in Aberdeen City centre from 10am until 5pm.

Saturday 24 November - Focus Christmas Craft Fair at The Music Hall Aberdeen from 10am until 4pm with crafts ranging from pet portraits, painted stones, glass paintings, hand made jewellery, tartan gifts, handmade cards, etc.

Sunday November 25 - Christmas Fair in the Music Hall, Union Street by pupils taking part in the Young Enterprise Scheme.

Crathes Castle Christmas

The main Crathes Castle Christmas event takes place on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 December 2007. For 2007 the Royal Deeside event is a glimpse into Christmas past with people dressed in Victorian costume, the opportunity to taste roasted chestnuts, mulled wine, a Santa Parade and on the Sunday the cairngorm reindeer will pull Santa's sleigh. There will be the opportunity to buy some holly and the events are run by Banchory Academy drama department and the staff of Crathes castle.

2 December 2007 Union Terrace Gardens Aberdeen Christmas tree switch on - formerly held at the Castlegate.

Evening Express Carol Concert

5 December 2007 - Evening Express Carol Concert at The Music Hall, to book tickets see the Box Office page. Tickets to the Evening Express Carol Concert usually sell out quick so do book a ticket as soon as you can. The Evening Express Carol Concert 2007 will see hundreds of North East of Scotland children sing favourite Christmas carols such as Good King Wenceslas, Silent Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem and Come All Ye Faithful. Primary schools taking part include Hazlehead Primary School, Culter Primary School and the Kingsford Primary Recorder Group who will be joined by the Aberdeen Youth Band, the Banchory Wind Band, Summerhill Centre Senior Choir and the Summerhill Music Centre Boys Choir.

The Aberdeen Youth Music Theatre will perform songs from Les Miserables which they performed earlier in 2007 and they will also perform songs from their 2008 production of Jekyll and Hyde. Proceeds from the Evening Express Carol Concert go to local charities and several thousand pounds is usually raised.

Santa's Grotto

Santa's Grotto will make an appearance at the Old Royal Station in Ballater on Saturday 8 December and Sunday 9 December 2007 from 2pm until 4pm. Father Christmas will have an Xmas treat for all children.

More Aberdeenshire Christmas information.

2006

1 - 17 December - German Christmas Market at the Castlegate with wooden chalets, German traders, traditional German gifts for sale, crafts and food. The market opens at 10am and closes early evening each day. There will be festive German Xmas music and Christmas decorations.

6 December 2006 - Christmas Tea Dance at the Aberdeen Beach Ballroom from 1:30 to 4pm. Tickets cost £2 and can be purchased from the Aberdeen Box Office or at the door. Music will be provided by the Garioch Blend.

6 December 2006 - Evening Express Christmas Carol Concert at the Music Hall. School choirs participating include Dyce Academy choir, Aberdeen Sinfonietta, Aberdeen City Music School, Aberdeen Youth Wind Band (formerly called Aberdeen Military Band), Aberdeen Music Centre Boy's Choir and Mile-End Infant Choir. As well as traditional carols like Good King Wenceslas, Silent Night and Hark the Herald Angels Sing, the choirs will be singing a medieval Latin song called Gaudette and a new carol called Little Road to Bethlehem

Bookings are available for a candlelit tour of Provost Skene's House during December. The guide will also give a talk about how Christmas would have been celebrated in the past along with common olden Christmas customs and traditions. Tours last about 40 minutes. Telephone (01224) 523700 to book a tour at Provost Skene’s House.

7 December 2006 - Huntly Square Christmas tree switch on at 5pm

7 December 2006 - The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign Spirit of Christmas concert at Aberdeen Beach Ballroom. The compere for the evening will be broadcaster Freida Morrison and there will be readings by actors Billy Riddoch and Eileen McCallum.

8 December 2006 - Christmas Concert at Aberdeen Art Gallery.

8 December 2006 - Sports Aiding Medical Research for Kids (Sparks) have a tinsel and turkey Christmas party at the Beach Ballroom. Tickets are £30 each and includes a three course meal, a disco, raffle and entertainment by the Graham Geddes Band. All profits goes to Sparks to fund medical research to help children. Tickets can be bought from Debra - telephone number 01224 646488.

9 and 10 December 2006 Castle Fraser will deck out their courtyard to look like the nativity scene and there will be carol singing at their Great Hall. Children and adults can learn how to make Christmas decorations in the dining room. Othere vents over the weekend will be story telling, Santa’s Grotto and games.

10 to 13 December 2006 Fireside Christmas Carol Concerts at Castle Fraser at 7:30pm.

10 December 2006 - Carols for Christmas at Haddo House Chapel.

23 December 2006 - Christmas Carol Concert at the David Welch Winter Gardens of the Duthie Park from 4 - 6pm.

25 December 2006 - A very Merry Christmas from the AboutAberdeen team.

25 December 2006 Temperance Walk at Inverallochy

18 November 2006 - Christmas Street Fayre at Maud. There will be over 40 stalls with gifts and festive food for sale.

19 November - Union Street Christmas Lights are switched on.

25 November - Garthdee Parish Church annual Christmas fair from 2 - 4pm.

25 November 2006 Peterhead Christmas tree switch on at 5pm. Celebrity guests will be actress Sue Jenkins (Brookside - Jackie Corkhill and Coronation Street - barmaid Gloria Todd) and her son who is actor Richard Fleeshman (Corrie - Craig Harris). They arrive in the Blue Toon on Saturday when there will be a festive parade with Santa and his reindeer before the switch on. The day continues with celebrations, entertainment, games, activities and music by DJ Tommy James. The lights will be switched on at 5pm at Drummers Corner. In 2005 the celebrity guest who switched on the Peterhead Christmas lights was actress and singer Tricia Penrose (Heartbeat - Gina Ward) and her husband Mark Simpkin the TV presenter of I Want That House.

26 November 2006 Inverurie Christmas tree switch on

26 November 2006 Banff Christmas tree switch on at 2pm.

26 November 2006 See Santa arrive by horseback at Dobbies Garden centre in Aberdeen at 10am. Father Christmas will then open his grotto at Dobbies Garden centre where he can be visited by children until Christmas Eve.

21 November - 2 December - Scrooge The Musical at HMT Aberdeen.

December 2006

2 and 3 December 2006 - Delgatie Castle traditional Victorian Christmas Fayre from 10am until 4pm. There will be approximately 30 local crafters who will be selling unique, handmade gift ideas such as candles, jewellery, photographs, pottery and handmade soaps. Staff will be dressed in Victorian costume and there will be displays of other memorabilia from that era. Sumptuous Christmas delights will be on offer in the award winning tea room and children will also have the chance to meet Santa and get an early Christmas treat. The price of an entry ticket is £4.

3 December 2006 - Reindeer Parade at Crathes Castle.

3 December 2006 - Carol concert at Queen Street Church, Aberdeen from 2:30 - 3:30pm. A ticket costs £3 for children and £5 for adults with profits going to UNICEF, the International children's charity. The Castlegate Christmas Tree Switch On follows the service.

3 December - Castlegate, Aberdeen Christmas tree switch on.

2005

13th November - Christmas Toy Party by the Aberdeen Children's Society at the Hilton Treetops Hotel from 2 -4:30pm. Santa will be there and children can enjoy a disco, a magician, games and prizes.

19th November - Maud Christmas Fair from 11am – 5pm. Special guests include Santa and Miss Commonwealth Scotland, Amanda-Jane Taylor who will arrive around 3:30pm to do the Big Raffle. There will also be carol singing by candlelight. All proceeds are in aid of the Maud Christmas Lights.

20th November - Union Street Christmas Lights are switched on - click here for full details.

20th November - Santa Sleigh and Reindeer Parade at The Mall Trinity Centre Aberdeen. Celebrity special guest will be Chris Chittel who plays Eric Pollard in Emmerdale on ITV. His little helper will be nine year old Jessica Webster from Newmachar.
The parade leaves the Castlegate at noon and travels up Union Street before arriving at the Mall Trinity. For full details click here.

27th November - Father Christmas will be landing in his helicopter at Dobbies Garden Centre, Hazlehead at 2pm. He will then open his magic grotto which will then stay open each weekend from 11am until 5pm each Saturday and Sunday. Tickets need to be purchased and includes a free present for each child who visits Santa.

3rd and 4th December - Aberdeen Country Fair and Craft Marquees on Union Street from 9am until 5pm. There will also be carnival rides and street entertainment and performers until 6pm.

3rd and 4th December - The Mall Trinity Train, Aberdeen from 12 noon. For full details click here.

3rd and 4th December - Victorian Christmas house party at Crathes Castle from 10am - 4pm. There will be roasted chestnuts, holly and mistletoe for sale and Santa will be in his grotto. On the 4th at noon there will be a reindeer parade by the Cairgorm Reindeers. For more details about Crathes Castle click here.

4th December - Castlegate, Aberdeen Christmas tree switch on click here for details.

5th - 10th - Carol Concerts by Firelight each evening at the Great Hall in Castle Fraser from 7:30pm. The Granite City Choir and Aberdeen Orpheus Choir will be singing. There will be mulled wine and mince pies. Places are restricted and booking is essential. Call Castle Fraser to book a place. For contact details click here.

7th - The Evening Express Carol Concert at the Music Hall, Aberdeen at 7:30pm. To read about The Music Hall click here and to book a ticket click here.

10th -1th Christmas festivities at Castle Fraser especially for children and parents. There will be storytelling, carol singing, a chance to meet Christmas animals like the donkey in the stables, a Christmas quiz, a chance to make gingerbread men, Christmas decorations and cards. For details of the Castle click here.

10th and 11th December - Aberdeen Country Fair and Craft Marquees on Union Street from 9am until 5pm. There will also be carnival rides and street entertainment and performers until 6pm.

10th and 11th December - The Mall Trinity Train, Aberdeen from 11am - 4pm.

11th - Murder mystery dinner at Fyvie Castle from 8pm. The dress code is black tie and tickets have to be booked in advance. The who dunnit evening includes dinner. Click here for details of the Castle and contact details.

17th and 18th December - Aberdeen Country Fair and Craft Marquees on Union Street from 9am until 5pm. There will also be carnival rides and street entertainment and performers until 6pm.

17th and 18th December - The Mall Trinity Train, Aberdeen from 11am - 4pm.

17th December - Christmas Carol Concert at the David Welch Winter Garden in The Duthie Park from 4 - 6pm. To read about the Duthie Park click here.

From the 22nd December to the 3rd January 2006 - Union Terrace Gardens will have free ice skating on an artificial ice rink. To read about Union Terrace Gardens click here.