Events in Edinburgh on 21 December 2025
Scroll down to view the events taking place in Edinburgh on the 21 December 2025, or use the filters to narrow down the results.
Events in Edinburgh
A Trail of Burke & Hare
Follow a tale from Edinburgh's fascinating history as you journey through the very sites and locations where it all took place on outdoor escape room, A Trail of Burke & Hare!
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ABBA Christmas by Candlelight
Deck the halls with disco this Christmas season, and join us for the ultimate ABBA celebration, performed live at the beautiful Assembly Rooms, by candlelight.
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Alfred Buckham: Daredevil Photographer
Take to the skies and discover the world from above the clouds through the remarkable work of Alfred Buckham: Daredevil Photographer at the National Galleries of Scotland: Portrait.
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Almost Impossible 2.0: Martin Brock
Martin Brock is back at the Fringe with an electrifying, one-of-a-kind spectacle of slick, mind-bending magic, laugh-out-loud comedy, cutting-edge video production and astonishing illusions!
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BBC SSO 25-26: Christmas At The Movies
It’s the most wonderful time of the year... and what better way to start your festive celebrations than with a concert of epic movie music on the weekend before Christmas.
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Beyond Monet & Beyond Van Gogh
Step into a world of light, colour, and imagination with Beyond Van Gogh and Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience at the Royal Highland Centre this Christmas!
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Brunch with Santa
On the 20th and 21st of December join us at Scottish Gas Murrayfield for Sunday brunch with Santa himself!
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Castle Of Light
Make Castle of Light: Fire and Ice part of your festive plans and enjoy the largest annual projection show in the UK when it returns for its sixth year!
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Christmas at the Botanics
Explore the sights and sounds of Christmas in this magical after dark experience when it returns to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh!
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Cinderella: A Fairytale
Coming to the Royal Lyceum Edinburgh Christmas 2025, the story we all love that has captivated audiences around the UK: Cinderella!
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Cold War Scotland
Exploring Scotland’s critical position on the frontline of the Cold War, a new exhibition will tell the stories of the Scots at the centre of this global conflict.
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Conifox Christmas Experience
Conifox Christmas Experience is back for it’s 8th year, with so much more than just Santa's Grotto!
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Conservation Hangar Talks
See behind the scenes of the work carried out in the museum’s Conservation hangar with these free talks.
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Cuddly Corgi Treasure Hunt
Looking to entertain the kids? Come and spot our cuddly corgis hiding around Britannia’s tour route.
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Curious About Edinburgh - Quirky Heritage Walks for the Curious!
Have fun discovering Edinburgh on this award-winning, quirky, self-guided, heritage walk with a treasure hunt theme from Curious About!
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Dear Library
To mark our 100th birthday, the National Library of Scotland presents a special exhibition, 'Dear Library'.
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Dog Training in Edinburgh
Dogs Trust Dog School Edinburgh offer training classes for dogs at all stages of their lives, in a relaxed and enjoyable environment.
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Dr Arnott’s Sampling Sensation
Uncover the secrets of 17th-century medicine with a hands-on workshop led by an expert from his time: Dr Arnott, who examined his patients’ health by analysing urine’s colour, smell & TASTE!
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Drawing the Italian Renaissance
This exhibition at The Palace of Holyroodhouse, brings together a wide range of drawings from this revolutionary artistic period, including 45 drawings never exhibited in Scotland before.
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Eat, Drink, Be Merry - Private Festive Party Night
Celebrate the season in style with an unforgettable night of festive fun at Delta Hotels by Marriott Edinburgh!
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Edinburgh Zoo Giant Lanterns
Edinburgh Zoo's award-winning Giant Lanterns event is back this winter, for the first time in six years, with a never-before-seen theme, featuring all things aquatic!
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Edinburgh’s Christmas: Around the World Starflyer
Try it if you dare! The Starflyer is back at Edinburgh's Christmas giving the finest, and most thrilling, views of the stunning city centre skyline!
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Edinburgh’s Christmas: Christmas Market
One of the most iconic Christmas Markets in Europe, Edinburgh's Christmas Market returns to East Princes Street Gardens showcasing the best in artisan festive products and goods from local makers!
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Edinburgh’s Christmas: Ice Skating
Get your skates on and glide all the way up and down Edinburgh’s famous George Street on the magnificent alpine ice rink!
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Edinburgh’s Christmas: LNER Big Wheel
The LNER Big Wheel returns to East Princes Street Gardens to give passengers a unique perspective of our spectacular city!
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Edinburgh’s Christmas: Santa’s Stories
Santa is back at Edinburgh's Christmas this year! Make your little one's day and bring them along to our Santa Experience in St Andrew's Square!
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Edinburgh’s Christmas: The Polar Ice Bar
Take some time to ‘chill’ at the Polar Ice Bar, the coolest bar in the city, where your table, chairs and glasses are sculpted entirely from ice.
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Escape the Past: The Anatomist
Descend into a world of grave robbery, mystery and malpractice as you embark on a thrilling adventure into Edinburgh’s dark past.
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Escape the Past: The Deacon’s Cabinet
From Escape The Past comes a new escape room 'The Deacon’s Cabinet', a historical heist escape room which challenges you to outsmart the infamous Deacon Brodie!
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Five Sisters Zoo Christmas Illuminations
By popular demand, Five Sisters Zoo's Christmas Illuminations are back this winter with a mesmerizing display of colour and light!
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Hooked: 500 Years of Addiction
From heroin to gambling, from alcohol to love, explore the history of addiction at Hooked, an exhibition at the Physicians' Gallery.
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IKEA: Magical Patterns
IKEA Museum's Magical Patterns exhibition comes to Dovecot Studios, celebrating 60 years of innovative textile design.
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Information Lecture: Help and Healing on the Spiritual Path through the teaching of Bruno Groening
A lecture about spiritual healing and help through the teaching of Bruno Groening is taking place at The Open Door Community Centre, Edinburgh on various dates throughout the year.
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Kids Japanese After School Club Ages 7-12: Language, Crafts & Culture
Led by Hitomi Kobayashi-Prior, this Kids Japanese After School Club transforms screen-based self-study into real-world interactive learning with crafts, games, and cultural fun.
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Lanterns Grotto
Make your little one's evening at Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns extra special this festive season and meet Santa Claus at our Christmas Grotto, which will be inside our Budongo Trail building!
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Live Music at The Botanist
The Botanist hosts live music from Thursday to Sunday every week! From acoustic singles, duos, trios and full band, we have it all.
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MAMMA MIA!
Don't miss MAMMA MIA! at the Edinburgh Playhouse from December 2025! Enjoy the ultimate feel-good factor at the world’s sunniest and most exhilarating smash-hit musical.
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Maps: Memories from the Second World War
Through personal stories, photography and memorabilia, this exhibition at the National War Museum charts the creation and use of maps during the Second World War.
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MC Hammersmith and Friends
Multi-award winning freestyle rap comedian MC Hammersmith presents an evening of improvised comedy raps based entirely on your suggestions. And he will also be joined by his friends!
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Michael Fullerton
A major exhibition by Glasgow-born artist Michael Fullerton comes to the City Arts Centre!
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Newhailes Market
Come along to Newhailes monthly market where you'll find a fine selection of handmade goods; from jams and chutneys to pies and candles!
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Ocean Terminal Car Boot Sale
The early bird catches the bargains... come and bag a bargain or earn some pennies from a recent clear out at the weekly Ocean Terminal Car Boot Sale on Sunday mornings!
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Ocean Terminal Christmas Market
Ocean Terminal Christmas Market is the place to be for a magical indoor shopping experience.
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Panorama: New Views of a City
Collective Edinburgh's Panorama programme takes inspiration from the origins of the panorama to explore how we see, move through and understand the city today.
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Panto 2025: Jack and the Beanstalk
Join Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young for the GIANT of a pantomime we've all BEAN waiting for!
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Party Nights
Enjoy a night to remember at Novotel Edinburgh Park's Party Nights with a festive three course dinner and music to get you up and dancing!
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Phil Cunningham’s Christmas Songbook
Phil Cunningham returns to The Queen's Hall with his extremely popular annual Christmas Songbook in December 2025!
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Picking up the Thread: The Past, Present and Future of Tapestry
Dovecot is delighted to welcome a wonderful variety of artists to show their work in The British Tapestry Group’s celebration of its 20th anniversary.
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Resistance
Resistance explores how acts of resistance have shaped life in the UK, and the powerful role of photography in documenting and driving change.
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Royal Mile International Piano Series
Set against the magnificent backdrop of St Giles’ Cathedral — illuminated by candlelight - these concerts promise an unforgettable musical experience!
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Rugby for Beginners
Corstorphine Cougars are running free beginners classes every Tuesday for Females of all ages who would like to try Rugby!
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Santa & Elf Dash 2025
Put on your Santa hat and join Blast Running for festive fun at the Santa & Elf Dash, set in the beautiful Cammo Nature Reserve in north-west Edinburgh on Sunday 21st December!
READ MORESanta Paws at Dobbies Edinburgh
Give your canine companion their own festive experience with a trip to visit Santa Paws at Dobbies Edinburgh!
READ MORESanta Paws at Dobbies Livingston
Give your canine companion their own festive experience with a trip to visit Santa Paws at Dobbies Livingston!
READ MORESanta’s Grotto at Dobbies Edinburgh
Santa's Grotto is always one of our most popular experiences at Dobbies Edinburgh, and this year it's even more magical!
READ MORESanta’s Grotto at Dobbies Livingston
Santa's Grotto is always one of our most popular experiences at Dobbies Livingston, and this year it's even more magical!
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Scotland’s Gardens Scheme Open Garden: Kevock Garden
This wonderful hillside garden has magnificent views over the North Esk Valley with a wide diversity of plants and has featured in many magazine articles and gardening programmes.
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Shen Xin: Highland Embassy
Highland Embassy brings together three projects by artist and filmmaker Shen Xin and is showing at Collective Edinburgh from October to December 2025.
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Sinbad the Sailor
Edinburgh People's Theatre presents Sinbad the Sailor, a Traditional Pantomime by Alan P Frayn, at Church Hill Theatre this December!
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Snow White
Mirror Mirror on the wall, what is the greatest panto of all? Join us deep in the forest this Christmas as the Reconnect Regal Theatre presents ‘Snow White’!
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Stockbridge Market
The weekly Stockbridge Market is a foodie heaven featuring creative crafts, original artwork, superb street food. Eat, meet, greet or treat - there is something for everyone!
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Sunday Market on the Croft
Earth in Common's weekly Sunday markets return to Leith Community Croft, celebrating local, small businesses, and sustainable products and produce.
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Sundown Adventures
For the very first time Go Ape's popular Sundown Adventures will be available at Dalkeith Country Park between 28th November and 30th December.
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Susan Morrison is historically funny
Susan Morrison, host of BBC Radio Scotland's 'Time Travels', will take you through some of Scotland's seediest, skankiest and scandalous history. And the funniest.
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The Big Show
Enjoy a night of top stand-up comedy at The Big Show every weekend at Monkey Barrel Comedy, come see a line-up featuring outstanding local, national, and international comedians!
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The Elf that wasn’t Elfing
Come along and join the festive fun and help Trixiebelle the Elf. She's just been promoted to Santa’s Workshop! The only problem is, she can’t quite get the hang of what she is supposed to do…
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The Wizard of Oz - Panto 2025
Join us over the rainbow this Christmas as Reconnect Reconnect Howden Park presents ‘The Wizard of Oz’!
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The Wizard of Oz - Pantomime - Musselburgh
Follow the yellow brick road to the Musselburgh for a magical, musical panto adventure for all ages.
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Unmasked: Exploring Scottish Portraiture
Featuring examples of painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking and photography, the exhibition at City Art Centre spans almost 400 years of artistic production.
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We Are The Witches. We Are, Hear
This is an exhibition of textile artwork by 70 wise women artist using their craft to Challenge, Disturb and Disrupt. Catch it at The House of Smalls in August!
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Weegie Hink Ae Adult Panto? Presents - The Wizard of Aw Naw...
Weegie Hink Ae That? And Gary Faulds return for another year of hilarious and completely uncensored panto comedy gold when they bring The Wizard Of Aw Naw to The Stand Comedy Club Edinburgh!
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Events in East Renfrewshire
Here's a selection of events you can find over on our sister site, What's On East Renfrewshire:
Cinderella
Eastwood Park Theatre has announced its panto production for 2025 will be the magical fairy tale, Cinderella!
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Festive Family Fun Day Lunch
Join Dalmeny Park House Hotel for a joyous celebration with the whole family with a 3 course lunch and plenty of festive fun!
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Rouken Glen Junior Parkrun
Rouken Glen Junior Parkrun is a weekly, free 2km timed run held on Sunday mornings at Rouken Glen Park!
READ MOREEvents in Fife
Here's a selection of events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Fife:
Aladdin: Panto 2025
Step into a world of festive wishes, wits, and a whole lot of whoops at this brand-new version of Aladdin at the Adam Smith Theatre!
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Snow White
This year, The Alhambra Theatre is thrilled to announce, for the first time ever, the fairest panto of them all, Snow White!
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Aladdin
Join Aladdin and his wonderfully daft family, the McSwankeys, as they set off on a bonkers Highland adventure in this Scottish take on the classic tale at The Byre Theatre St Andrews!
READ MOREEvents in Glasgow
Here's a selection of events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Glasgow:
From Pit To Pitch: A Story Of Coal Seams & Football Dreams
From Pit To Pitch: A Story Of Coal Seams & Football Dreams at the Scottish Football Museum explores the links between mining and football in Scotland.
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Glasgow Requiem: The Walk
Discover the hidden lives and stories of the city on an immersive audio journey through Glasgow with The Walk, FREE to experience for everyone.
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The Little Mermaid
Join Glasgow pantomime superstar Elaine C Smith, and the King's favourite funny-man Johnny Mac as they dive to the depths of the ocean when they return in 2025 with The Little Mermaid!
READ MOREEvents in Lanarkshire
Here's a selection of events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Lanarkshire:
Santa Paws at Dobbies Sandyholm
Give your canine companion their own festive experience with a trip to visit Santa Paws at Dobbies Sandyholm!
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Snow White and the Seven Muppets
From the producers that brought you last years smash hit 'A Crackin' Christmas Carol' Insideout Theatre Productions Ltd proudly present Snow White and the Seven Muppets!
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Christmas at New Lanark
Step into the magic of the season at New Lanark, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as it's transformed into a winter wonderland for Christmas at New Lanark 2025!
READ MOREEvents in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde
Here's a selection of events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Renfrewshire:
Santa’s Grotto at Dobbies Braehead
Santa's Grotto is always one of our most popular experiences at Dobbies Braehead, and this year it's even more magical!
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Harvies Pub Quiz
Think you know your stuff? Join CJ every Sunday at 8pm for a fun-filled quiz night at Harvies in Paisley!
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Boyle School of Irish Dance New Class
Is your little one ready to jump, hop, and dance their way into the wonderful world of Irish dancing? Join Boyle School of Irish Dance for their new classes in Paisley, beginning on 20th October!
READ MOREEvents in Stirling
Here's a selection of events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Stirling:
Sparkling Christmas Party Nights
Join us at Inglewood House & Spa in Alloa for our Christmas party nights this festive season!
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Santa’s Grotto at Dobbies Stirling
Santa's Grotto is always one of our most popular experiences at Dobbies Stirling, and this year it's even more magical!
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Festive Family Fun Days
Spread the Magic of Christmas this December by joining us at Stirling Highland Hotel for one of our Festival Family Fun Days!
READ MOREEvents in Other Areas
Ayr Sunday Market and Car Boot Sale
Whether you're wishing to purchase a few hidden treasures, interested in selling or just wishing for an enjoyable day out, there is something for everyone at Ayr's Sunday Market and Car Boot Sale!
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