CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR EVENT

Winter Village at Edinburgh Zoo

Jingle all the way to Edinburgh Zoo this festive season with the arrival of our new Winter Village!

Winter Village at Edinburgh Zoo

About Winter Village at Edinburgh Zoo

Welcome to Winter Village!

We have a brrr-illiant line-up of events happening this winter, from festive wreath making to breakfast with the Clauses.

Winter Village will be open throughout the day during zoo opening hours and on selective evenings from Friday 1 December 2023 – Sunday 7 January 2024. Our Christmas market is free to enter, however skating tickets and grotto slots must be purchased additionally to your zoo entry tickets.

P-p-p-pick up your skates and hop onto Rockhopper Rink for a family-friendly skate session followed by delicious drinks at the après-skate bar. Warm up your frosty fingers with toasted marshmallows and hot chocolate and pick your loved ones a wild gift they’ll love at the Christmas market. We'll also be welcoming Mr and Mrs Claus back to our grotto and hosting them at our festive breakfasts – only for those on the nice list!

ROCKHOPPER RINK:
Hop over Rockhopper Rink for iceless skating this winter! Edinburgh's only environmentally friendly rink is perfect for novice skaters (and experts alike!) and little chicks aged 3+. Children must be supervised and those under eight years old must be accompanied on the rink.

CHRISTMAS MARKET:
Support local this Christmas and pick up some fabulous gifts at our Winter Village Christmas Market! Open from 10am – 3:30pm each day from 1 Dec 2023 – 7 Jan 2024. Interested in having a stall? We may still have some space and would love to hear from you! Please email events@rzss.org.uk for more information.

CRAFTY CHRISTMAS:
Add a touch of homemade charm to your Christmas by taking a wreath making workshop with our expert gardens team. We'll show you how to create a beautiful 14-inch sustainable wreath decoration, with materials naturally sourced from Edinburgh Zoo. Along with the frames, we’ll provide an array of foliage, seed heads, dried fruit and decorations to make your festive wreaths one of a kind!

FESTIVE GROTTO:
Make your little one's day at Edinburgh Zoo extra special this festive season. Meet Santa Claus and Mrs Claus at our Festive Grotto and receive an exclusive early festive surprise! From 1 December – 24 December, the grotto will be available to book in 10-minute time slots each day.

Mr and Mrs Claus will also be joining us in the evening to see as many children as possible on dates that our Winter Village is open late! These 10-minute slots will be available to book from 4:40pm – 8:20pm.

BREAKFAST WITH THE CLAUSES:
On selective dates from 9 December – 24 December, bring the family and enjoy breakfast with Santa and Mrs Claus! Dining in our restaurant, you’ll tuck into festive snowman pancakes, participate in craft activities and listen to a story from Mrs Claus.

As an early Christmas treat, children will get involved with making arts and crafts, take home a gift and have the rest of the day to explore the zoo.

Sponsored Links

Go Ape
Renfrewshire Council
Children's Classic Concerts
Mowgli
Tea Green
Hilton Glasgow
Salvation Army

Other Events at Edinburgh Zoo

Edinburgh Zoo Giant Lanterns

14th November 2025 - 22nd February 2026

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!

READ MORE

Lanterns Grotto

6th December 2025 - 24th December 2025

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!

READ MORE

Sponsored Links

WST
MNB
Escape The Past
Murrayfield Experience
Fayre Play
Hilton Glasgow
Hostelworld

Similar events you might like...

Dr Arnott’s Sampling Sensation

Dr Arnott’s Sampling Sensation

Selected dates between 1st March 2025 - 28th December 2025

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!

READ MORE
Disco Days Edinburgh

Disco Days Edinburgh

Selected dates between 16th August 2025 - 15th November 2025

Scotland's beloved over 30s afternoon clubbing event Disco Days returns to Club Tropicana Edinburgh in 2025!

READ MORE
Country Days

Country Days

Selected dates between 23rd August 2025 - 22nd November 2025

Join us at Club Tropicana Edinburgh for an unforgettable day filled with the chart-topping tracks of Morgan Wallen, Dolly Parton, and many more!

READ MORE
Old Skool Days

Old Skool Days

Selected dates between 6th September 2025 - 8th November 2025

Old Skool Days is back for another round of 90s & 00s Afternoon Anthems at Edinburgh's favourite retro venue!

READ MORE
Edinburgh Diwali

Edinburgh Diwali

2nd November 2025

The South Asian festival of Diwali, which is celebrated by different cultures and religions all over the world, returns to Edinburgh with a multi-cultural feast of light, music and dance!

READ MORE
Monster Bash

Monster Bash

2nd November 2025

Join us at The Tarbet Edinburgh for a Children's Halloween Party with some dancing, games, loads of fun, and prize for the best costume!

READ MORE
Pierre Boulez and His Cultural Legacy

Pierre Boulez and His Cultural Legacy

6th November 2025 - 7th November 2025

Discover the legacy of Pierre Boulez (1925-2016), one of the most influential figures in post-war European music and culture, through a series of conferences and concerts.

READ MORE
The Oor Vyce Gaitherin

The Oor Vyce Gaitherin

7th November 2025

Jyne us on 7th November for a powerful day where the Scots-speaking community comes thegither at Edinburgh’s Scottish Storytelling Centre.

READ MORE
Reggaeton Christmas Party Workshop

Reggaeton Christmas Party Workshop

8th November 2025

Ready to kick off the festive season with a twist? Join Pirita for a Reggaeton Christmas Party Workshop, a unique chance to let loose, dance, and celebrate the Christmas spirit, Groove Back style!

READ MORE

Find other events in Edinburgh

Sponsored Links

Go Ape
Renfrewshire Council
Children's Classic Concerts
Mowgli
Tea Green
Hilton Glasgow
Salvation Army
WST
MNB
Escape The Past
Murrayfield Experience
Fayre Play
Hilton Glasgow
Hostelworld

Popular Events

SLA Fireworks Extravaganza 2025
The Scottish Love in Action Fireworks Extravaganza 2025 is taking place on Sunday 2nd November at Myreside Stadium.
Edinburgh Diwali
The South Asian festival of Diwali, which is celebrated by different cultures and religions all over the world, returns to Edinburgh with a multi-cultural feast of light, music and dance!
Fawkes Festival: Royal Highland Centre - CANCELLED
Get ready to be blown away when Scotland’s fabulous fireworks extravaganza Fawkes Festival returns to the Royal Highland Centre in November!
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!
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!

Popular Listings

Corn Exchange Haddington Edinburgh Playhouse Festival Theatre Edinburgh Howden Park Centre Livingston Kings Theatre Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland O2 Academy Edinburgh The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh Traverse Theatre Usher Hall