Your Edinburgh gift guide is here 🎁

Hey! Nashy here 👋

This week: We built you a festive gift guide.

25+ gifts from Edinburgh independents! browse it, share it, screenshot it, send it to your group chat.

It's interactive, shareable and fun!

Plus: What's on this weekend, weather forecast, and events worth your time.

The big picture: We've done the hard work so you don't have to. 25+ gift ideas from Edinburgh independent businesses!

Why it matters: Every purchase goes straight back into our local economy and supports real people building something in this city.

⚡ The quick hits:

🔥 The ones that'll sell out:

The bottom line: Shop local, support independent, keep Edinburgh thriving.

EMOJI KEY: 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Friendly | 💑 Date Night | 🎉 Night Out | 🎨 Hands-On/Creative | 🎟️ Book Ahead | 🆓 Free | 🧒 Great for Kids

Low‑key, alcohol‑free Sunday morning meet‑up for people who are sober or sober‑curious and want to chat, connect and ease into the day together.

📍 Twenty Princes Street (Hotel Indigo, Edinburgh) | Sunday morning

🔗 More Info

Organised by the amazing Kristin Lamb.

Castle Chorus Winter Concert 💑 Community folk and roots choir with seasonal songs in a cosy church setting. 📍 St Ninian's Hall | Saturday 🔗 Get Tickets

Bristo Community Concert Band – Christmas Music 💑 Traditional concert with brass and wind band arrangements of festive favourites. 📍 Craigsbank Church | Saturday evening 🔗 Get Tickets

Proper Christmas ceilidh with HotScotch Ceilidh Band; ideal for a big, lively group night out.

📍 Assembly Roxy | Saturday
🔗 Get Tickets

Dubinski at Cabaret Voltaire 🎉 🎟️ Edinburgh indie band in an intimate basement venue; good smaller gig‑feel night. 📍 Cabaret Voltaire | Saturday 🔗 Get Tickets

Michael Bublé Christmas Swing Night 💑 🎉 🎟️ Tribute swing night of Bublé‑style Christmas tunes – very office‑party friendly. 📍 The Murrayfield Hotel | Saturday 🔗 Get Tickets

Absolute Bowie – Christmas Show 🎉 🎟️ Full David Bowie tribute set, big sing‑along energy. 📍 Liquid Rooms | Friday 🔗 Get Tickets

PorkPie + Pretty Green Christmas Special 🎉 🎟️ Ska and mod double‑bill; dancing‑all‑night vibes. 📍 The Queen's Hall | Friday 🔗 Get Tickets

Luvin'Leith presents TheGetDown#13 🎉 🎟️ House and soulful club night with multiple DJs in two spaces. 📍 Leith | Friday 🔗 Get Tickets

Reggaeton Party Edinburgh – Xmas Edition 🎉 🎟️ Big reggaeton party for Latin club vibes til late. 📍 La Belle, Hastings Close | Friday 🔗 Get Tickets

Massaoke Christmas Live 🎉 🎟️ Live band plus giant‑screen lyrics – massive group karaoke for Christmas songs and bangers. 📍 Usher Hall | Saturday evening 🔗 Get Tickets

The Exploited + Guests 🎉 🎟️ Legendary Edinburgh punk band; loud, sweaty and very not‑Christmassy. 📍 La Belle, 11 Hastings Close) | Saturday 🔗 Get Tickets

Festive Chocolate Making at The Chocolatarium 🎨 🎟️ Make your own Christmas chocolates; very sensory and giftable. 📍 The Chocolatarium, Royal Mile | Saturday 🔗 Get Tickets

Dovecot Studios Christmas Craft Drop-In 🎨 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Drop‑in festive craft sessions with textiles and paper; easy, city‑centre creative stop. 📍 Dovecot Studios | Saturday 🔗 Get Tickets

Fabric Christmas Wreath Workshop 🎨 🎟️ Make a reusable fabric wreath; cosy, chatty and good for all levels. 📍 Edinburgh venue | Saturday 🔗 Get Tickets

Rencounter Krav Maga Intro Day 🎨 🎟️

One‑day self‑defence intro at North Merchiston Club; very hands‑on and practical.
📍 North Merchiston Club | Saturday
🔗 Get Tickets

Voice Ritual Workshop 🎨 🎟️ Experimental group session exploring voice, sound and ritual; small and arty. 📍 The Banshee Labyrinth | Saturday 🔗 Get Tickets

Family Activity Day at Palace of Holyroodhouse 🎨 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 🧒 Festive crafts and activities in the royal palace; good combo with a palace wander. 📍 Palace of Holyroodhouse | Saturday 🔗 Get Tickets

Scottish Storytelling Centre – Christmas Stories 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 🧒 🎟️ Stories, songs and harp around the Christmas tree; very gentle and cosy. 📍 Scottish Storytelling Centre | Saturday 🔗 Get Tickets

St Cecilia's Hall Snow‑People Trail 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 🧒 🆓 Mini museum trail finding "snow‑people" around the music galleries. 📍 St Cecilia's Hall | All weekend 🔗 Get Tickets

Gracemount Mansion Community Christmas Party 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 🧒 🆓 Local party with games, food and Santa in a community setting. 📍 Gracemount Mansion & Walled Gardens | Saturday 🔗 Get Tickets

Almond Valley Festival of Christmas 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 🧒 🎟️ Farm park with Elf Workshop, Polar Post and Santa train rides. 📍 Almond Valley, Livingston | All weekend 🔗 Get Tickets

Santa's Grotto at Dynamic Earth 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 🧒 🎟️ Indoor grotto with Arctic and polar‑wildlife storytelling. 📍 Dynamic Earth | All weekend 🔗 Get Tickets

Summerhall Winter Market 🎨 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Over 35 independent makers each day; good for design‑led gifts. 📍 Summerhall | Sat & Sun 🔗 Get Tickets

3D2D Winter in the West End Christmas Market 🎨 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Indoor artisan market with art and gifts. 📍 St John's Episcopal Church, West End | Sunday 🔗 Free Entry

Cards for Good Causes Pop‑Up 🛒 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Charity Christmas card and gift shop supporting multiple charities. 📍 St John's Episcopal Church, Princes Street | All weekend 🔗 Free Entry

Support‑local craft sale with stalls, cakes and music.
📍 ELREC, Edinburgh | Saturday
🔗 Free Entry

Jingle & Mingle: Edinburgh ✨ 💑 🎉 🎟️ Sapphic‑focused festive social – relaxed mixer, great start to a night out. 📍 CC Blooms | Saturday evening 🔗 Get Tickets

Queer history tour through the Old Town covering activism, decriminalisation and local stories.

📍 Old Town | Selected dates incl. this weekend
🔗 Get Tickets

Winter Wellbeing Fest 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 🧒 🆓 🏳️‍🌈 Community day of stalls, gentle activities and drop‑in sessions centred on LGBTQ+ folk and families. 📍 LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 4 Duncan Place, Leith | Sunday afternoon 🔗 Get Tickets

Typically blustery and damp December weekend. Milder than last week but windier. Wrap up warm and bring waterproofs if you're heading to the Christmas markets.

Saturday 14th December 🌧️ Light rain throughout the day with a high of 12°C. The real story is the wind. Gusts up to 45mph from the southwest, so it'll feel colder than it looks. Around 75% chance of rain.

Sunday 15th December 🌥️ Cloudy with spells of light rain but calmer than Saturday. Highs of 12–13°C, wind dying down to around 24mph with gusts up to 37mph. Rain chance drops to around 35%.

What to wear: 🧥 Waterproof jacket is non negotiable. Layers underneath, scarf to keep the wind out, and sturdy footwear, it'll be wet underfoot.

Umbrella might be useless in those gusts, so a good hood is your friend.

The bottom line: Outdoor events should mostly go ahead, but those 45mph gusts on Saturday could affect rides like the Star Flyer and Big Wheel at the Christmas Market. Worth checking their status before you head out.

That's your lot for this week.

Get out there, support some local businesses, and I'll see you around the city. 👋

— Nashy

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