Additional free tickets released for Edinburgh's City of Lights

Since the Virgin Money Street of Light launched last month, an amazing 175,000 free tickets have been snapped up for what promises to be the biggest and brightest new addition to Edinburgh's Christmas.

Bookings have been made from as far afield as the USA, Australia, New Zealand, the Far East, and throughout Europe, as well as by the people of Edinburgh.

Demand for these free shows has been so phenomenal that today, the producers Underbelly are delighted to announce that at 12pm on Thursday 26^th November, an additional 25,000 free tickets will be released to help satisfy the ever growing demand.

And at 8am every day from 30 November, a limited number of tickets for that day will be made available. Simply visit our website and reserve online.

Visit www.virginmoneystreetoflight.com to reserve your FREE ticket NOW!

The construction of Virgin Money Street of Light started last week and is now emerging as a cathedral of light. Some of the facts and figures are very enlightening: the installation is made of 24 arches, laden with over 60,000 lights, secured to 1,260 metres of aluminium truss.

Charlie Wood, director of Underbelly, said:

“We are delighted to be able to give even more people from Edinburgh and around the world an opportunity to see the stunning Virgin Money Street of Light and enjoy this iconic street in a very different way. I advise everyone to book NOW to avoid disappointment. There will be no finer place to celebrate the spirit of Christmas this year than here in Edinburgh.”

Manuela Calchini, VisitScotland Regional Director, said: "This is fantastic news and testament to Edinburgh’s popularity with international and domestic visitors during the winter festival season. The Virgin Money Street of Light, kicking off on St Andrew’s Day is a spectacular addition to the capital city’s programme of events, showcasing our wonderful built heritage in the lead up to Scotland’s Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design in 2016.We are delighted that even more visitors will be able to bask in its glow.”

Cllr Richard Lewis, Festival and Events Champion, said: “The appeal of Edinburgh’s winter festivals is truly international. Tickets have been reserved for Edinburgh’s Virgin Money Street of Light from all over the world but local residents have also rushed to snap up spaces. It really is shaping into one of the city’s must-see attractions and will help to promote the Royal Mile during the winter months. The city’s famous festive markets, ice rinks, shows and rides have also made a return meaning one trip to Edinburgh’s Christmas won’t be enough.”

Andrew Nicholson, Head of Sponsorship at Virgin Money said: "The demand for tickets has been unbelievable. We always envisaged that the Virgin Money Street of Light would be a spectacular addition to Edinburgh's Christmas and now that I have been on location and watched the structure emerge I know it is going to be breath-taking. If people haven't already snapped up a ticket, I'd strongly advise that they try and get their hands on this new issue of 25,000 tickets for themselves and their family as soon as possible. I'm sure they will go rapidly!"

Andrew Elmer - Chairman, Royal Mile Business Association, said: "The Royal Mile Business Association continue to be delighted with the incredible response to the Virgin Money Street Of Light. The ongoing success of the ticket bookings reflects the global attraction Edinburgh has, especially at such a special time of year.”

Virgin Money Street of Light is made possible with the support of Virgin Money and is also part of Edinburgh’s St Andrew’s Day celebrations with support from Scotland’s Winter Festivals. The Virgin Money Street of Light is supported by the Royal Mile Business Association and local businesses.

The event runs for 25 days from St Andrew's to 24 December 2015. There are two shows a day, Monday – Saturday at 6.30pm and 8.15pm, Sunday at 5.30pm and 7.30pm each lasting approximately 15 minutes. The lights synchronise to specially commissioned pieces of music sung and recorded by the Edinburgh Festival Chorus, the Edinburgh Gay Men’s Chorus, the Edinburgh Police Choir and the Edinburgh Royal Choral Union.The schedule of choirs can be found in Notes to Editors below.

RESERVE YOUR FREE TICKETS NOW AT VIRGINMONEYSTREETOFLIGHT.COM

Photographs of the Virgin Money Street of Light and Edinburgh's Christmas are available for download at:

Virgin Money Street of Light images: http://bit.ly/1UWy4Mt

General Edinburgh’s Christmas photos: http://bit.ly/1ND6LT3

For further information on Virgin Money Street of Light and Edinburgh's Christmas, please contact:

Fraser Smith

Press for Underbelly

07801 55 2285

fraser@underbelly.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

1. About our funders and sponsors:

The City of Edinburgh Council funds Edinburgh's Christmas and it is also supported by Essential Edinburgh, Marketing Edinburgh and Scotland’s Winter Festivals.

Event Sponsors: Citroen Retail Group, Diageo, Heineken UK, Lidl, Scottish Gas, Thistly Cross Cider, Transport For Edinburgh, Virgin Money.

Event Partners: Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens, Hotel Du Vin, Edinburgh Airport.

Event Media Partners: Edinburgh Evening News, Forth 1, Forth 2.

2. Event Producers

Underbelly and Unique Events were confirmed in 2013 as the collaborative producers of the Edinburgh’s Christmas and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay events programmes on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council. The partnership is creating the largest winter season that Edinburgh has ever seen. At its heart are the world famous Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and the totally re-imagined programme of Edinburgh’s Christmas events and attractions.

Edinburgh’s Christmas won the Best Festival at the 2014 UK Event Awards.

3. Underbelly Limited

Underbelly is a UK based, live entertainment company. Their events and festivals division operates one of the largest operations at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe selling over 230,000 tickets for over 140 shows over 25 days. 2015 marks the seventh year of Udderbelly Festival at Southbank Centre and the fourth year of London Wonderground at Southbank Centre. Elsewhere Underbelly also produces Comedy Hullabaloo with the RSC Stratford-upon-Avon; Pride in London for the GLA and board of Pride; West End Live in Trafalgar Square for Westminster City Council and the Society of London Theatre. Through their Underbelly Productions arm they produce and promote live shows in London, throughout the UK and on tour internationally. In 2014 Underbelly sold over a million tickets to their various events. Underbelly's unique performance venue, Udderbelly, will be making its international debut on Hong Kong's iconic waterfront skyline from December to February 2016 with a bellyful of exciting, eclectic and affordable entertainment

4. Scotland’s Winter Festivals

• Scotland’s Winter Festivals is a campaign led by The Scottish Government and delivered in partnership with VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, supporting celebrations of Scotland’s three national days, St Andrew’s Day, Hogmanay and Burns Night. Scotland’s Winter Festivals run from November until the end of January.

5. St Andrew’s Day

• St Andrew’s Day is Scotland’s national day, designed to celebrate the country’s history, culture and heritage with people both at home and abroad.

• We welcome people from across the world to help us celebrate the wide range of events taking place in the lead up to St Andrew’s Day – so locals and visitors can embrace our national day across the entire weekend of Fri 27 – Sun 29 November. Hundreds of attractions across Scotland will be opening their doors to offer free or discounted entry to do something to celebrate St Andrew’s Day. To download the Day Out vouchers, visit www.scotland.org/dayout

• For those looking to celebrate St Andrew’s Day with the family, there is a selection of seasonal recipes showcasing the range of Scotland’s natural larder to celebrate with a St Andrew’s Night In.  All recipes are available on www.scotland.org/nightin

• Whether you are planning a day out or night in, let us know how you are celebrating Scotland’s national day by using #mystandrewsday

• Wherever you are in the world, you can celebrate St Andrew’s Day – from the United States and Canada to Australia, from Beijing to Bangladesh. Those who want to learn more about the traditional celebrations are encouraged to visit www.scotland.org/standrewsday where there is a whole host of fun and interactive digital resources, including a ‘Saltire Yourself’ app, Scottish Party Guide and a sample St Andrew’s Day menu. There is also a St Andrew’s Day app available to download for smart phones.

6. Schedule