CHRISTMAS

Jingle Jingle Bells Bells rounds up some of the best that Glasgow and Edinburgh have to offer over the festive

There’s no shortage of

Christmas cheer down your way this year. Rowena McIntosh

season

GLASGOW

GLASGOW CHRISTMAS MARKET MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET

The market returns to its rightful home in the newly spruced up St Enoch Square. Foremost a celebration of cuisine, the market offers gourmet delights from across the continent. Leave your packed lunch at home and enjoy paella, German sausages and goulash or pick up deli items including breads, cheese, olives and pastries. Shop for handmade crafts, novelty hats and Christmas decorations or squeeze into the gluhwein house for mulled wine, Bavarian beer and an unusually unfestive dance soundtrack. St Enoch Square, Fri 13 Nov–Sun 20 Dec. The enduring family Christmas i lm takes to the stage. Originally a 1947 movie starring Edmund Gwenn and Natalie Wood, it was remade in 1994 with Richard Attenborough and Mara Wilson and tells the story of a young girl and a lawyer i ghting to prove that the man in Macy’s claiming to be Santa Claus is the genuine article. This new musical, i rst performed in 2014, brings singing, dancing and plenty of snow to the already heartwarming tale. King’s Theatre, Thu 19–Sat 21 Nov.

GLASGOW SANTA DASH CHRISTMAS CAROL SINGALONG

A 5k fun run through the centre of Glasgow, dressed in a Santa suit and beard. This untimed event isn’t about bagging PBs Santa isn’t a sporty kinda guy but about raising money. Last year over 5500 people jogged and strode through the city in a big jolly throng, freaking out passers-by still hungover from the night before’s Christmas party. The run helped raise a massive £32,000 for two nominated charities and is open to adults and children, with babies and dogs allowed to participate if they start in the last group. George Square, Sun 6 Dec. After you leave primary school, the amount of opportunities to belt out ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’ en masse seriously diminish. Indulge your love of Christmas carols and seasonal favorites, including ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday’, ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’ and Frozen’s uber-popular ‘Let It Go’, at this festive jamboree hosted by singer Jamie MacDougall. Music is performed by the Scottish Concert Orchestra and the Consort of Voices choir will help cover up any bum notes. Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Wed 23 Dec.

THE XMAS EXTRAVAGLAMZA IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE ON CHRISTMAS EVE

Okay, so David Bowie isn’t the most obvious Christmas choice, unless you count his rather bizarre 1977 duet with Bing Crosby, but Christmas parties and nostalgia for the glory music of decades gone by go hand in hand. The Sensational David Bowie Tribute Band perform hits from the singer’s illustrious back catalogue with Blondie tribute Dirty Harry and T. Rex tribute Hot Love amping up the retro glam-rock quotient. If that’s not Christmassy enough, the Slade Experience are also on the bill, ready to belt out ‘Merry Xmas Everyone’ should the festive vibe dip.. O2 ABC, Sat 12 Dec. You might already have Frank Capra’s 1946 Christmas classic on DVD, and you can watch it at the cinema throughout December, but the Christmas Eve screenings at the GFT are particularly special, so much so that demand means they now have six screenings on 24 December. Picture the scene a cinema full of festive cheer, George Bailey realises life’s true riches, Clarence gets his wings, you step outside afterwards and the i rst snowl akes are starting to fall. Okay it’ll probably be raining but it’ll still be magical. Glasgow Film Theatre, Thu 24 Dec.

5 Nov 2015–4 Feb 2016 THE LIST 49