It’s time to have yourself a merry little Christmas as the Aberdeen Christmas Village officially opens to the public.
Organised in partnership by Aberdeen Inspired, Aberdeen City Council and Codona’s, the festive attraction on Broad Street, which has increased in size and extended along Upperkirkgate this year, will run from November 22 to December 31.
Along with a wide array of funfair rides, including new attractions the Freak-out and Snowball, a slingshot style bungee ride; the longest temporary ice-rink ever installed in the north-east will be at the heart of the Winter Wonderland.
A new introduction for this year, Christmas in the Quad, is the perfect place to get present shopping underway and support local businesses, with an extensive range of locally produced crafts, arts and gifts, along with food and drink available from open-air festive wooden cabins in Marischal College Quad. The market will feature a unique offering each weekend and showcase both new and established brands including Urban Caledonia, Snap Crackle And Pip, Porter’s Gin and Throwup Gallery among others.
This year will feature a dedicated community stage to form the centrepiece of Christmas entertainment, with a space to showcase the talents of local groups. Santa Claus will also be set up in his new Grotto ready to meet youngsters, who will also be sure to enjoy the new additions of candy cane trampolines and spinning bumper cars.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “The Aberdeen Christmas Village will be at the heart of festive celebrations in the city this year, and we are looking forward to welcoming visitors along to enjoy everything that is on offer.
“This year we are proud to introduce Christmas in the Quad, which will showcase a wide variety of artisan crafts, art and food and drink from local producers. We were delighted with the enthusiastic uptake from the community to this, and hope the public take the opportunity and come along to support local. As well as the popular ice-rink and funfair rides, we are looking forward to seeing our Community Stage come to life.
“With the introduction of the Alive After Five campaign, which includes free parking at the council’s city centre multi storey car parks and in Bon Accord daily after 5pm, we hope to have made it even easier for people to take in everything on offer and enjoy the festive entertainment that has been put on their doorstep.”
Aberdeen City Council Culture spokesperson Marie Boulton said: "We are delighted to once again be working in partnership with Aberdeen Inspired to bring the Christmas Village back to Broad Street. This year we are especially delighted to extend the Village down Upperkirkgate and look forward to a bigger, brighter festive offering in the city.
“Through our City Centre Masterplan Aberdeen City Council is committed to making Aberdeen an even more vibrant place to live, work and visit – and Christmas in Aberdeen creates over a month of activity that has something for everyone.”
“The Christmas Village complements other Christmas in Aberdeen events and will help to draw people into the city centre. The exciting addition of the markets in Marischal College Quad, Santa’s Grotto and even more rides will attract more people from the city, the surrounding area and from further afield to enjoy all that the Christmas Village and Christmas in Aberdeen have to offer this year.”
Alfred Codona, director of Aberdeen-based family amusement firm Codona’s, added: “We are excited to be delivering the Aberdeen Christmas Village in partnership with Aberdeen Inspired and Aberdeen City Council. This is our strongest line-up of family and thrill-rides yet, and combined with the popular ice-rink, food and drink stalls and craft markets, we are sure there is something for everyone to enjoy this Christmas.”