Press release -
Festive-al fun in the city and shire
From ice skating in Aberdeen’s Castlegate to creating holly wreaths at Leith Hall in Aberdeenshire, visitors to the region are sure to experience a range of festive-al fun this Christmas.
With a plethora of winter festivities and attractions spanning the entire Christmas and New Year period, VisitScotland Regional Director Philip Smith says there is something to suit every taste and age, including comedy, food, dance, crafts, exhibitions, fairs and music.
He said:
“This region is renowned for the rich variety of things for visitors to see and do and Aberdeen is the perfect location for a city break at this time of year. On top of the plentiful Christmas shopping opportunities, there are a number of other attractions on offer across the city and shire, from carol concerts at Aberdeen’s Duthie Park Winter Gardens and the Aberdeen Santa Run by the beach, to a Christmas Fair at Fyvie Castle, Santa Special train rides at Alford and a holly wreath making workshop at Leith Hall.
“I would encourage everyone - whether visitor or resident - to get out into the City and Shire to really enjoy the fantastic events, celebrations, sparkling entertainment and festive fun. And when the festivities are over, where better to walk off the excesses of festive fayre than along the beautiful coastal paths of Banff and Aberdeenshire?”
The city’s festivities kicked off on Sunday (November 23rd) with the annual Christmas lights switch-on parade down Union Street and into the Castlegate, featuring brand new festive lighting for 2014. Visitors packed the street to get a good view of the parade, this year on the theme of 'Christmas Past and Future', including colourful panto characters, music and Santa's helpers, amongst others.The Winter Festival continues tomorrow (Thursday 27th November) with the annual Christmas tree switch-on at the Castlegate, which sees the 35ft spruce, donated to Aberdeen by its twin city of Stavanger, in Norway, being illuminated for the festive season.
Next month, the bustling market buzz comes to Aberdeen’s Little Belmont Street, courtesy of the Aberdeen Country Fair, on Saturdays, December 6th, 13th and 20th, where hand-crafted gifts and mouth-watering local produce, including meat, fish and cheeses, can all be found.
Philip Smith commented:
“2015 is Scotland’s year of Food and Drink and where better to find some great regional produce and local suppliers than the Aberdeen Country Fair?
“Food plays an important part of the tourism experience in any region, and with suppliers attending from across the city and shire, this fair offers a wide choice of quality local produce from the natural larder right on our doorstep.”
Aberdeen Winter Festival runs from November until January and, amongst its highlights, includes the Christmas lights switch-on parade, the Christmas tree switch on, Hogmanay celebrations, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Christmas Concert: The Snowman and the Ice Rink in Union Terrace Gardens.
In Aberdeenshire, festive highlights include Hogmanay’s Open Air in the Square in Stonehaven, Ballater Winter Festival, Victorian Christmas Fair at Delgatie Castle, Christmas Fair at Fyvie Castle, Banchory Vintage Christmas Fair, Hollyfest at Drum Castle, Santa’s Grotto at Banff Castle, Christmas Weekend at Crathes Castle, Christmas Fair at Aden Country Park and Christmas Through the Ages at Castle Fraser.
For details about Christmas events in Aberdeen City and Shire, visit www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/events or www.aberdeeninvestlivevisit.co.uk/winterfestival
Mon-Thur
Kim Walton
Corporate Press Officer - North
Tel: (01224) 269187
07805 802508
kim.walton@visitscotland.com
Fri
Louise Purves
Corporate Press Officer
Tel: (0131) 472 2052
07818 075519
louise.purves@visitscotland.com
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- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
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- According to a recent Deloitte study, tourism employs 270,000 people in Scotland in 20,000 diverse businesses. The same study calculates that the industry contributes £11 billion annually (direct and indirect impact, including day visits) and supports around 10 per cent of employment in Scotland. Almost 16 million tourists take overnight trips to Scotland.
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