Ready for holiday fun in Glasgow? Let our guide show you the best festive events! For Glasgow residents and seasonal visitors, our guide is your passport to festive delights.
Popular events this season include Ashton Lane Winter Wonderland, where visitors can explore charming stalls and sip warm drinks in a beautifully decorated setting. Paisley’s Big Christmas Weekends will feature live entertainment and family activities, adding a vibrant atmosphere to the holiday spirit. And the Santa’s Woodland Experience is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering a magical trail through a winter wonderland filled with delightful surprises. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Glasgow
- Ashton Lane Winter Wonderland
- Paisley’s Big Christmas Weekends (Paisley)
- Santa’s Woodland Experience (Balfron)
- Blairdrummond Christmas Spectacular (Stirling)
- Conifox Christmas Experience (Edinburgh)
- Dean Castle Starry Nights (Kilmarnock)
- Beecraigs Starry Nights (Linlithgow)
- Glasgow Santa Dash
- Castle of Light (Edinburgh)
- Christmas at the Botanics (Edinburgh)
See these and even more events listed below!
Glasgow Holiday Light Displays
Beecraigs Starry Nights
What to Expect:
Immersive outdoor Christmas experience with interactive installations and festive entertainment.
Description:
Beecraigs Country Park transforms into a twinkling Christmas landscape with stunning light displays, interactive installations, and festive entertainment. Explore beautifully lit forests, festive food villages, and Santa's Grotto amidst classic Starry Night tunnel, Candy Cane Lane, and other magical trail installations.
Where: Linlithgow | More Info: Beecraigs Starry Nights
Dean Castle Starry Nights
What to Expect:
Immersive lighting trail with interactive attractions.
Description:
Explore a vibrant Christmas light trail at Dean Castle Country Park, featuring immersive lighting, festive sound installations, and interactive attractions like Singing Trees and Santa's Grotto.
Where: Kilmarnock | More Info: Dean Castle Starry Nights
Christmas at the Botanics
What to Expect:
Award-winning light trail with festive lights and seasonal treats.
Description:
Explore the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh's illuminated trail featuring flickering candles, colour-changing lights, and festive sounds. Enjoy seasonal snacks and drinks while strolling through the beautifully lit gardens.
Where: Edinburgh | More Info: Christmas at the Botanics
Glasgow Holiday Markets and Shopping
Paisley’s Big Christmas Weekends
What to Expect:
Free family entertainment with a range of activities.
Description:
Paisley’s Big Christmas Weekends offer a variety of free family activities, including festive stilt walkers, magicians, jugglers, balloon modellers, face painting, and music. The event features a Christmas Market, a Christmas Angels and Elves Trail, and special appearances by reindeer. There are also Christmas movies screenings and a Giant Snow Globe for festive photos.
Where: Paisley | More Info: Paisley’s Big Christmas Weekends
Traquair House Christmas Fayre
What to Expect:
Santa's luxurious grotto with early Christmas presents.
Description:
Traquair House Christmas Fayre features beautifully decorated house, Santa's luxurious grotto, puppet shows, carol singers, silver bands, face painting, and local stalls selling gifts, crafts, and Christmas treats.
Where: Innerleithen | More Info: Traquair House Christmas Fayre
Aberdeen Christmas Village
What to Expect:
Unique gift options and gourmet food in a festive market setting.
Description:
The Aberdeen Christmas Village is a festive hub featuring an open-air ice rink, fairground rides, live music, and community entertainment. It includes a market selling gifts, gourmet food, and traditional snacks, with Santa’s Grotto and a Christmas in the Quad local market within Marischal College Quadrangle.
Where: Aberdeen | More Info: Aberdeen Christmas Village
Oban Winter Festival
What to Expect:
Unique ocean-themed light installations in Glencruitten Woods.
Description:
Oban Winter Festival is a 10-day celebration featuring markets, music, reindeer parades, and light displays, showcasing Oban's unique culture.
Where: Oban | More Info: Oban Winter Festival
Dundee Christmas Market WinterFest
What to Expect:
Full-size, illuminated ice rink under the stars.
Description:
Dundee Christmas Market WinterFest features a full-scale ice rink, vintage funfair, traditional Bavarian bar, and over 20 Christmas stalls, creating a festive atmosphere suitable for all ages.
Where: Dundee | More Info: Dundee Christmas Market WinterFest
Glasgow Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Ashton Lane Winter Wonderland
What to Expect:
Family-friendly holiday celebration with Santa and reindeer.
Description:
Ashton Lane transforms into a vibrant holiday destination with Santa and his reindeer, free face painting, live music, and festive food.
Where: Glasgow | More Info: Ashton Lane Winter Wonderland
Blairdrummond Christmas Spectacular
What to Expect:
Interactive Christmas show with storytelling, puppets, and music.
Description:
Join Blair Drummond Safari Park for a Christmas Spectacular filled with Santa's sleigh fly-bys, mischievous elves, festive food and drink, dinosaur illuminations, and a cracking Christmas show. The event includes a brand-new festive train ride and a Christmas show featuring 'The Little Reindeer’s Search for a Song.'
Where: Stirling | More Info: Blairdrummond Christmas Spectacular
Castle of Light
What to Expect:
State-of-the-art light installations and historical storytelling.
Description:
Edinburgh Castle transforms into a spectacular display of light and sound, bringing Scotland's history to life through immersive storytelling projections and interactive installations.
Where: Edinburgh | More Info: Castle of Light
Glasgow Other Holiday Activities
Santa’s Woodland Experience
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday experience with Santa in a natural setting.
Description:
Immerse yourself in a serene woodland setting where Santa Claus awaits, surrounded by festive decorations and holiday cheer.
Where: Balfron | More Info: Santa’s Woodland Experience
Conifox Christmas Experience
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday activities with Santa and festive games.
Description:
Conifox Christmas Experience offers a comprehensive holiday event with activities like visiting Santa, cookie decorating, and exploring the Magic Forest. Each child receives a Golden Christmas Coin to exchange for a gift or teddy at the Make-a-Teddy Factory. The event includes Reindeer Flying School, Elf School, and festive food and drinks.
Where: Edinburgh | More Info: Conifox Christmas Experience
Glasgow Santa Dash
What to Expect:
Environmental-friendly event encouraging reuse of Santa costumes.
Description:
Join Beatson Cancer Charity for the Glasgow Santa Dash, a festive 5k run, jog, or walk at Glasgow Green. Participants will receive a free Santa t-shirt and have the chance to win top prizes for their best-dressed efforts. The event supports patients and families affected by cancer.
Where: Glasgow | More Info: Glasgow Santa Dash
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Rutherglen (3 miles)
- Bishopbriggs (3 miles)
- Bearsden (5 miles)
- Renfrew (5 miles)
- Cambuslang (5 miles)
- Clydebank (6 miles)
- Newton Mearns (7 miles)
- Paisley (7 miles)
- East Kilbride (8 miles)
- Coatbridge (9 miles)
- Bellshill (10 miles)
- Airdrie (11 miles)
- Hamilton (11 miles)
- Motherwell (12 miles)
- Cumbernauld (12 miles)
- Meikle Earnock (12 miles)
- Vale of Leven (14 miles)
- Wishaw (15 miles)
- Kilmarnock (20 miles)
- Greenock (20 miles)
- Falkirk (21 miles)
- Stirling (21 miles)
- Irvine (23 miles)
- Bathgate (24 miles)
- Alloa (25 miles)
- Livingston (29 miles)
- Ayr (31 miles)
- Dunfermline (34 miles)
- Edinburgh (42 miles)