Drive in puts the WIN in to Winter with the Parking Lot Pantomime set to keep the magic of Christmas alive
Tickets now on sale for The Parking Lot Social Winter Festival, Scotland's best Covid-proof Christmas events and panto!
Article Source: The Parking Lot Social
Last Updated: 30 September 2020 11:00
The Christmas events that Covid can’t cancel, drive-in festival The Parking Lot Social is coming to town with the biggest, boldest parties this December.
Tickets are now on sale for the Winter Festival taking place in Edinburgh’s Dalkeith Country Park and Glasgow’s Skyport Airport Parking, running from the 16 December right up until Christmas Eve. After selling out events in each city all through the summer, The Parking Lot Social team have put together a gloom-busting programme of films, party shows and family events.
And with theatres set to be closed over the winter months, organisers have announced the first Parking Lot Pantomime. Oh no they haven’t, oh yes they have! Keeping the centuries-old tradition of the Christmas panto alive, jump in the car and get ready for a socially distant, uproarious live show.
Organisers have commissioned a brand new, 2020 drive-in version of panto classic Cinderella, with all the essential elements that make the tale so special, as well as a few twists unique to the special ‘drive-in’ format.
A troupe of nine professional actors will melt hearts as audiences follow Cinders on her adventures, helped by the Fairy Godmother. The specially written show has song and dance routines a-plenty, audience participation galore and a script that takes a light-hearted dig at some of the challenges thrown up by this strangest of years. As it's a drive-in event the organisers have gone that extra mile and will have a crew filming the action and broadcasting the panto from the stage directly onto two massive 40 foot screens meaning that there's not a bad seat in the house.
Safety is at the heart of the event and audiences take part in the immersive, interactive shows from their own cars. It’s a completely contactless event ensuring a safe and socially distant experience. Organisers set up strict cleaning and distancing rules for the summer events and the plans in place for the winter events exceed new regulations.
Famous for their vast inflatable sets, The Parking Lot Social Winter Festival will feature a 60ft tall rainbow coloured Christmas tree, a giant DJing Santa Claus and the coolest Reindeer to have ever left the North Pole.
A magical selection of classic and modern Christmas movies for all ages will be shown on two gigantic screens with the sound broadcast straight to cars. Forget the dull trailers, DJs and MCs get the audience in the mood before the main feature and look out for a few extra surprises along the way.
The Christmas night out gets the drive-in treatment with the ‘Big Weekender’. You can’t share a car but you can park next to people you know and let loose. Get your dancing shoes on, your singing voices warmed up, your dabbers in your hands and your thinking caps on for the famous Silent Disco, Live Cam ‘Car-A-Oke’, Party Bingo and Interactive Quiz.
Kids are going to need a bit of cheering up this Christmas too, which is where Social Kids comes in. The highlight of the summer series, the event is back with a whole new twist for Christmas. There will be family ‘Christmas car-a-oke’, an interactive quiz, three DJ silent disco and Party Bingo hosted by Santa Claus himself!
It’s not Christmas without food and drink and organisers have thought of that too. Hearty, seasonal fayre from some of the best local food trucks around will be on site, with customers able to have their orders delivered directly to their cars. Expect classic gourmet burgers, loaded fries, wood-fired pizzas and hot dogs alongside sweet winter warmers including hot chocolate, donuts, toasted nuts, gingerbread men and more.
To top it off, each night, events finish with a fantastic, festive firework finale.
John Kinnersley, Chief Operating Officer at XL Event Lab, the company behind the events, said: “After the year we’ve had it really feels like everyone could do with a bit of festive cheer. We had an incredible response to the events that we put on in the summer and the question we got asked more than any was if we could do something for Christmas.
“We waited to hear what the new regulations would bring but we’re now able to confirm that Christmas officially isn’t cancelled. We know how to put on a drive-in party more than anyone else and the line-up of events that we’ve got planned are giving us that warm Christmassy glow already.”
For tickets, live updates and information visit The Parking Lot Social website theparkinglotsocial.co.uk/christmas/
Sponsored Links
Latest Edinburgh News
Edinburgh school kids team up with Kabin Crew to create a new rap song in Irish and Scottish Gaelic
Young musicians from Edinburgh and Cork are breaking new grounds with a unique hybrid international hip-hop collaboration led by Cork’s Kabin Crew.
READ MORE
Capitals Bartenders Cast Their Vote As Edinburgh Bar Awards Reveal Finalists
Edinburgh’s top bartenders have had their say, as the Edinburgh Bar Awards today (Thursday, 11th September) reveal the 2025 finalists across 11 categories.
READ MORE
Take to the skies with Daredevil Photographer Alfred Buckham at the National Galleries of Scotland
This autumn at the Portrait gallery in Edinburgh, take to the skies and see the world from above the clouds through the remarkable work of Alfred Buckham: Daredevil Photographer.
READ MORE
Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition
Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition on the big screen in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and Inverness from 1st to 19th October 2025.
READ MORE
Scottish International Storytelling Festival Programme Announced
With support from the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund and Creative Scotland Multi-Year Funding, the Scottish International Storytelling Festival launched its 36th festival programme.
READ MORE
Mindroom Fundraising Heroes Drive Charity Support Forward
Mindroom is celebrating a series of extraordinary fundraising activities, led by charity co-founder 81-year-old Robin Dow, living with stage 4 cancer, as his 25-mile walk raised a huge £70,000.
READ MORE
Fresh deals for freshers
Calling all students in Edinburgh! Britain’s biggest craft brewer, BrewDog, has announced some fresh new deals for freshers and returning students to toast the new academic year.
READ MORE
Carol Main MBE FRC appointed Chair of National Centre for Music
The development of a new National Centre for Music has reached another key milestone, with the appointment of Carol Main MBE FRC as Chair.
READ MORE
Eat Spain Drink Spain returns for a Culinary Fiesta across Edinburgh
Get ready to embark on a culinary journey as the "Eat Spain Drink Spain" campaign makes its much-anticipated return to Edinburgh.
READ MORE
Haggis the pygmy hippo to say goodbye to Edinburgh Zoo
Edinburgh Zoo has announced that Haggis the pygmy hippo will be moving to another zoo as part of the breeding programme for the Endangered species.
READ MORE
Spooky Season Arrives at Dynamic Earth this October
This October, Edinburgh’s Science Centre and Planetarium, Dynamic Earth invites visitors of all ages to step into the shadows and uncover the science behind the spookiest stories ever told.
READ MORE
Cineworld 4DX Rewind returns for 2025
Cineworld is excited to announce the return of 4DX Rewind this September across Cineworld 4DX cinemas nationwide!
READ MORE
Edinburgh bridal expert shares her top trend prediction for Taylor Swift wedding
Now is the time to shop for that perfect dress, as Rachel Scott Couture has announced it will be hosting a one-off, three-week long sample sale at its Queensferry Street boutique.
READ MORE
Marcos unveils first of its kind interactive karaoke room
Whatever kind of music you’re into, the brand-new interactive karaoke room at Marco's is the place for uninhibited singing, selfies and self-expression.
READ MORE
Final countdown to the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run 2025 is on
Scotland's greatest running event, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, will return to Glasgow next month, and there’s still time to secure your place.
READ MORE
Divino Enoteca launches September tasting menu and free wine tastings
This September, Edinburgh’s Italian wine bar Divino Enoteca, is offering plenty for food and wine lovers to explore.
READ MORE
September offers for Freshers Week at Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh
Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh is giving students an extra reason to head out this semester with 20% off food, non-alcoholic drinks and merchandise when they show a valid student ID.
READ MORE
Marstons and Tom Shepherd join forces once more to serve up the best ever pub pie
Marston's and Michelin-starred chef Tom Shepherd have teamed up once more to serve up The Best Ever Pub Pie to locals across the country.
READ MORE
Edinburgh Fringe smash hit Oran embarks on first UK tour
Òran, the award-winning sell-out hit of the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe embarks on its first ever UK tour this autumn as company Wonder Fools take their work to a host of venues across Scotland.
READ MORE
Dynamic Earth partners with Scottish Water to deliver Water Cycle Workshops
Dynamic Earth is to join Science Centres across Scotland to deliver Water Cycle Workshops as part of Scottish Water's Generation H2O education programme.
READ MORE
Edinburgh Cocktail Week 2025 programme announced
The Edinburgh Cocktail Week programme for 2025 has been announced, reaffirming its status as the UK’s leading cocktail festival.
READ MORE
Iconic films to take centre stage at Vue venues in Scotland
Iconic movies celebrating key milestones this year are returning to Vue for a limited run - including Steven Spielberg classic Jaws.
READ MORE
20 expert sessions at The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show
The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show will be packed with expert speakers when it returns to the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston on 4th – 5th October 2025.
READ MORE
A Taste of Loch Lomond Book launches with live cooking demo at the Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival
Love Loch Lomond will officially launch its new publication, A Taste of Loch Lomond – Stories and Flavours from the Bonnie Banks, at the Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival on Sunday 7th September.
READ MORE
DF Concerts Celebrate Biggest Summer in Edinburgh
DF Concerts is celebrating a record-breaking month after selling more than 356,000 tickets in Edinburgh during August 2025.
READ MORE
Forever Edinburgh launches winter phase of Stay Different campaign
Forever Edinburgh has launched the winter phase of its ‘Stay Different’ campaign, inviting visitors to discover an entirely different side of the city during the colder months.
READ MORE
Seriously fun ideas for your work Christmas Party
It might only be September, but the C-word is not too far away, so it's time to start thinking about planning the annual office Christmas shindig before everything gets booked up!
READ MORE
Collective Gala returns this weekend
Collective is delighted to announce the return of the Collective Gala, offering a free and vibrant celebration of art, music, food and tours across Calton Hill this Sunday.
READ MORE
GRAHAM brings female focused ConstructHER programme to Edinburgh
Following the success of its flagship female apprenticeship scheme in Glasgow, leading construction company GRAHAM is launching its ConstructHER programme in Edinburgh this autumn.
READ MORE
Business Gateway launches its first ever Scottish Start Up Month
Business Gateway, Scotland's national business support service, has launched Scottish Start-Up Month, a nationwide campaign to celebrate Scotland's entrepreneurial spirit.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links