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The end of the year can be a most magical time with spectacular autumn colours across the forests and hills, the first sprinkling of snow on the mountain tops and the sound of a good crunchy frost underfoot. Many people prefer to visit at this time of year as the landscape is transformed. It is an especially popular time for photographers and wildlife watchers as well as skiers waiting for the first snow at Aviemore and Glencoe. Christmas Markets and Craft Fairs pop up giving you the opportunity to purchase Scottish gifts and produce for that unique Christmas present.
Many of our recommended B&Bs are open all year and are ready to welcome you with roaring fires, home baking and of course, drying rooms for outdoor gear.
Here are some popular Christmas and wintertime events. See our separate page which lists Christmas markets in Scotland.
The Enchanted Forest
8 October - 8 November 2026, Pitlochry, Perthshire
Scotland’s premier light and sound event uses the autumnal splendour of Faskally Wood as a natural backdrop to a glittering and original experience that is simply spectacular. Each year has a different theme.
Nearby B&Bs - Northlands Bed and Breakfast in Pitlochry, Craigellie House near Blairgowrie
GlasGLOW
16 October - 1 November 2026
Glasgow Botanic Gardens are transformed into a spectacular Zombie Zoo sound and light show at Halloween. Tickets required.
Samhuinn
tbc 31 October 2026, Holyrood Park, Edinburgh
Celebrate the Celtic New Year on Halloween with this unique procession of fire-dancing, acrobatics, drumming and immersive performances organised by the Beltane Fire Society.
Brodie Illuminated
tbc November 2026, Brodie Castle
The National Trust for Scotland illuminates the grounds around Brodie Castle near Forres in Moray on the north east coast of Scotland. These special events are held on Thursdays to Sundays. Tickets required.
Winter, Wonder, Wander
3 – 10 November 2026
Take a Winter, Wonder, Wander to see the illuminations at Duthie Park in Aberdeen.
Glasgow Winter Wonderland
7 November - 24 December 2026 at St Enoch Square
20 November 2026 - 3 January 2027 at Glasgow Green
Aberdeen Christmas Village
12 November 2026 - 3 January 2027
Food & drink stalls, gifts and fun fair in historic Aberdeen city centre.
Edinburgh Zoo's Giant Lanterns
13 November 2026 - 21 February 2027
A magical evening for all ages on certain dates over the winter months with a spectacular outdoor lantern trail.
Oban Winter Festival
13 November - 20 December 2026
There's lots of actitivies including the Haggis & Whisky Festival, illuminations at Glencruitten Woods, plus food & craft markets and much more.
Edinburgh Christmas Market
14 November 2026 - 3 January 2027
The famous markets return to Edinburgh this year with stalls, fairground rides and Santa's grotto in Princes Street Gardens, plus more stalls and an ice rink in George Street.
Christmas at the Botanics
19 November - 30 December 2026, Edinburgh
This festive illuminated trail showcases the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh after dark in spectacular fashion.
Christmas in City Square (Dundee)
27 November - 31 December 2026
A winter wonderland in Dundee's City Square with market stalls, music, funfair, food & drink, etc. 15 November 2026 is the Christmas lights switch-on, preceded by the Dundee Santa Dash in the morning.
Perth Christmas lights switch on
late November 2026
Christmas Lights switch on with children's activities, market stalls and more!
Christmas Spectacular at Blair Drummond Safari Park
27 November - 23 December 2026
Enjoy the Christmas show, Santa sleigh, Jingle Express train ride, festive food and drink, etc.
Dundee Hooley
29 November 2026
The Hooley has giant puppets, live music, and street theatre from 3pm - 8pm in Meadowside in Dundee City Centre. Lantern-making workshops and torchlight procession (tickets required) then a celebratory community ceilidh.
Christmas at Crathes
18 - 23 December 2026, Aberdeenshire
Crathes Castle hosts their exciting Illuminated Walled Garden & Woodland Trail, food market, gift market, Santa's grotto, children's activities and more.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay
29 December 2026 - 1 January 2027
Torchlight procession, street party, live music and the famous midnight fireworks. Celebrate New Year in style in Edinburgh!
Comrie Flambeaux
31 December, Comrie, Perthshire
At this annual festival, the villagers of Comrie set alight the birch tree pole torches to fend off evil spirits When the clock strikes midnight.
Stonehaven Fireballs Ceremony
31 December, Stonehaven
This unique celebration of the New Year has been held for over 100 years in this historic Aberdeenshire town.
Burning of the Clavie
11 January Burghead, Moray
Welcome in the "Auld" New Year as old traditions are rekindled at this ancient fire festival in Burghead. This is the original Hogmanay before the calendar changed in 1660. A spectacular event celebrated every year.
Spectra Festival
tbc February 2027
Scotland's Festival of Light takes place annually in Aberdeen.
While Edinburgh's Hogmanay street party is usually a sell out, did you know that Inverness hosts an annual free party on New Year's Eve called the Red Hot Highland Fling? Among the more unusual celebrations at the turn of the year, the Biggar Bonfire is South Lanarkshire's own New Year celebration, while the Stonehaven Fireballs Ceremony is an ancient tradition in Aberdeenshire, and the Comrie Flambeaux is a unique torchlit procession in Perthshire.
As spectacular as these light installations can be, nothing can rival the famous Northern Lights (also called the Aurora Borealis). The darker skies of autumn and winter (October - March) give the best viewing conditions for these colourful merry dancers. Sightings are likely to be more frequent around the solar maximum of the 11-year cycle. Generally the best chances to see them are in places with low light pollution such as the coastline around the Highlands and Islands. The Galloway Forest in Dumfries & Galloway was Scotland's first Dark Sky Park. The Tomintoul and Glenlivet area of the Cairngorms is the most northerly Dark Sky Park in the world (and the darkest in the UK). Moffat (in Dumfries & Galloway) is a Dark Sky Town thanks to special street lighting. On our web site you can read about Stargazing in Galloway.
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