Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
What's On in Edinburgh & The Lothians
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Big Wheel
15th November-4th January 2025
Venue: East Princes Street Gardens
Website: www.edwinterfest.com/edinburgh-christmas
With incredible views of the historic Old Town, Edinburgh Castle and Arthur’s Seat, as well as sparkling evening views of Edinburgh’s Christmas attractions, one ride on the Big Wheel won’t be enough!...
Edinburgh's Winter Festival
15th November-4th January 2025
Venue: Edinburgh Town Centre
Website: www.edwinterfest.com/home
With a newly expanded programme of events and attractions including Christmas Markets, Ice Skating, fairground rides, Christmas Tree maze, community events and more, Edinburgh's Christmas is the best way...
Christmas at the Botanics
21st November-30th December 2024
Venue: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Website: www.rbge.org.uk
Created by award-winning, internationally acclaimed light trail producers. Christmas at the Botanics has everything you need for an unforgettable time with friends and family, including a magical glimpse...
Castle of Light
22nd November-4th January 2025
Venue: Edinburgh Castle
Website: www.edinburghcastle.scot/whats-on/castle-of-light
Discover the iconic site after-dark and enjoy immersive displays, interactive installations, music and wonder. See Edinburgh’s stories brought to life on the castle walls, meet Rex the loveable lion...
Ice Skating
22nd November-4th January 2025
Venue: West George St between Castle Street and Charlotte Square
Website: www.edwinterfest.com/edinburgh-christmas
Get your skates on and glide all the way up and down Edinburgh’s famous George St on the magnificent alpine ice rink. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by a responsible adult (18+), no babes...
Christmas Tree Maze
23rd November-24th December 2024
Venue: St Andrew Square
Website: www.edwinterfest.com/edinburgh-christmas
St Andrew Square holds one of the UK’s largest illuminated Christmas Tree trails, providing families with a much loved festive attraction and Christmas photo opportunities in the heart of the city. Go...
Cinderella
23rd November-31st December 2024
Venue: Festival Theatre
Website: www.capitaltheatres.com
Join returning panto favourites Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young with a new magical pantomime for all the family. Cinderella features laugh-out-loud comedy, stunning scenery, beautiful costumes...
Panto 2024: Cinderella
23rd November-31st December 2024
Venue: Festival Theatre
Website: www.capitaltheatres.com
Join returning panto favourites Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young with a new magical pantomime for all the family. Packed with all of the traditional pantomime ingredients Cinderella features...
Santa's Stories
23rd November-24th December 2024
Venue: St Andrew Square
Website: www.edwinterfest.com/edinburgh-christmas
Santa and some very helpful elves will be tucked away in St Andrew Square ready to welcome children and families and provide a magical Christmas experience.Santa's Stories are group sessions for up to...
The Santa Experience
23rd November-23rd December 2024
Venue: Archerfield Walled Garden
Website: www.archerfieldwalledgarden.com/events/the-santa-experience-2024
Expect a few exciting additions to this year's group show where children meet elves Dooley and Dudley, wish away their Santa letters at our magical well, and then follow them on their journey to Santa’s...
Santa’s Grotto at Dobbies Edinburgh
28th November-24th December 2024
Venue: Dobbies Edinburgh
Website: www.events.dobbies.com
Take in the atmosphere as you arrive at the enchanting forest, and after a warm welcome from the elves at Sleighbell Station, children will get to experience snowy scenes, spot woodland characters, find...
Oor Aladdin
29th November-29th December 2024
Venue: Reconnect Regal Theatre
Website: www.reconnectregal.com/show
In this Scottish adaption of an old favourite Aladdin and the MacTwankey family are living in Bathgate with not a penny to their name. The evil Narcissis and his twisted bird sidekick Iago are looking...
The Polar Express Train Ride
29th November-23rd December 2024
Venue: Waverley Station
Website: https://edinburghthepolarexpressride.com
This November and December experience THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride Edinburgh. The fully immersive theatrical event lets you and your family, from little ones to Granny and Grandpa, experience what...
Winterfest at Dalkeith Country Park
29th November-5th January 2025
Venue: Dalkeith Country
Website: www.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk/event/winterfest_2024
Glide across the new outdoor Ice Rink under twinkling lights, or join Santa for a special group session at ‘A Tale with Santa’ in The Christmas Cabin. Plus enjoy Elf Storytelling, race through the...
A World of Winter Wonder
30th November-6th January 2025
Venue: Dynamic Earth
Website: www.dynamicearth.org.uk
Step into a world of winter wonder this Christmas at Dynamic Earth. Discover more about the polar regions and the amazing creatures that live there. Feel the festive magic with Dynamic Earth’s Winter...
Christmas During the Day
30th November-30th December 2024
Venue: Almond Valley Heritage Centre
Website: www.almondvalley.co.uk
During the daylight hours Christmas comes to life with a range of magical activities for the whole family to enjoy. Includes Santa's postbox, Wish Tree, Photo opportunities, Tractor rides, Animal encounters,...
Christmas Experience
30th November-24th December 2024
Venue: Conifox Adventure Park
Website: www.conifox.co.uk
Step into Santa’s Living Room to meet the big man himself and snap a family photo. Each child also receives a Golden Christmas Coin to exchange for a gift or a teddy at the Make-a-Teddy Factory. Plus...
What's Up? Winter Wonderland
30th November-31st December 2024
Venue: Dynamic Earth
Website: www.dynamicearth.org.uk
Explore the wonderful winter constellations, some of the best that our skies have to offer all year. Watch this Planetarium show as part of the daily schedule this October. A Planetarium show is included...
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
3rd-29th December 2024
Venue: Edinburgh Playhouse
Website: www.atgtickets.com
Starring the legendary Donny Osmond as the roof-raising Pharaoh, this smash-hit London Palladium production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat returns...
Jack and the Beanstalk
6th-29th December 2024
Venue: Portobello Town Hall
Website: www.stagedoorentertainment.co.uk
There is a giant in the sky over Porty! With Giant Grotty’s hideous henchman, Fleshcreep, taking all that the townsfolk hold dear, can Jack McTrott take the ultimate leap to save his family and his town?...
Meet Santa in his Cosy Cottage
6th-24th December 2024
Venue: Almond Valley Heritage Centre
Website: www.almondvalley.co.uk
Visit Santa in his cosy cottage and receive an early Christmas present. Includes a private visit to see Santa in his cosy cottage and an age-appropriate gift for every child ticket.
Starry Nights at Beecraigs Country Park
6th-23rd December 2024
Venue: Beecraigs Country Park
Website: www.starry-night.co.uk/beecraigs-country-park
The spectacular Starry Nights experience will transform Beecraigs Country Park into a glittering Christmas wonderland, this December 6-23. There's lots to see and do with Singing Trees, a Fairy Den, Candy...
Planetarium: The Muppet Christmas Carol
8th-22nd December 2024
Venue: Dynamic Earth Planetarium
Website: www.dynamicearth.org.uk
A musical retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic tale, where the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, with the beloved Muppets adding humour and heart...
The Sleeping Beauty
13th-22nd December 2024
Venue: Church Hill Theatre
Website: www.churchhilltheatre.co.uk/whats-on
King Nolly and Queen Dottie of Woollyglen, the land of sheep and spinning wheels, are excited for the Royal Christening of their beautiful daughter, Princess Aurora.
Breakfast with the Clauses
14th-24th December 2024
Venue: Edinburgh Zoo
Website: www.edinburghzoo.org.uk
On selected dates during December take the family and enjoy breakfast with Santa and Mrs Claus. Dining in the restaurant, you’ll tuck into festive snowman pancakes, participate in craft activities and...
The Gift
14th-31st December 2024
Venue: Festival Theatre
Website: www.capitaltheatres.com
Barrowland Ballet return to The Studio with their award-winning show! It’s often the cardboard boxes, not the gifts inside that are the most fun. This festive show will ignite a playfulness, inspiring...
A Christmas Carol
18th December-4th January 2025
Venue: Loretto Theatre
Website: www.thebrunton.co.uk
The Brunton and Wonder Fools present this exciting new pantomime set in East Lothian, inspired by Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas story. An entertaining, warm-hearted show filled with laughter, original...
A Christmas Carol - panto in Musselburgh
18th December-4th January 2025
Venue: Loretto Theatre
Website: www.thebrunton.co.uk
The Brunton and Wonder Fools present this exciting new pantomime set in East Lothian, inspired by Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas story. An entertaining, warm-hearted show filled with laughter, original...
Regal Mobile Cinema Presents - The Snowman and The Snowdog
22nd December 2024
Venue: National Mining Museum
Website: www.nationalminingmuseum.com
The timeless festive classic, The Snowman (1982) flies onto the big screen. Based on the book by Raymond Briggs, it tells the story of a young boy who builds a magical snowman who comes to life one special...
Bairns New Year Revels
31st December 2024
Venue: 54 George Street
Website: www.edwinterfest.com/hogmanay/whats-on/bairns-new-year-revels
A special Bairn’s New Year Revels allows young party-goers a chance to join the celebrations with a huge family ceilidh, live music, dancing and Hogmanay fun for all. Don’t worry if you don’t know...
Sprogmanay
1st January 2025
Venue: National Museum of Scotland
Address: Grand Gallery, Level 1
Website: www.nms.ac.uk/events/sprogmanay
Shimmy, sparkle, and sing your way into the New Year as Sprogmanay returns for 2025. Join this afternoon of fun for children of all ages with a programme of live music, dancing, and performances. You...
Scottish Ballet: The Nutcracker
8th-18th January 2025
Venue: Festival Theatre
Website: www.capitaltheatres.com
Follow Clara on a journey through the worlds of her imagination, as she drifts off to sleep on Christmas Eve. She meets the dashing Nutcracker Prince, takes on the larger-than-life Rat King and is whisked...
Varna International Ballet - Romeo and Juliet
16th January 2025
Venue: Edinburgh Playhouse
Website: www.atgtickets.com
Shakespeare’s tale of primal passion and timeless tragedy is brought to life by Prokofiev’s soaring score, set in bustling Renaissance Verona and with an emotionally charged choreography that befits...
Varna International Ballet - Swan Lake
17th January 2025
Venue: Edinburgh Playhouse
Website: www.atgtickets.com
From the impressive splendour of the Palace ballroom to the moon-lit lake where swans glide in perfect formation, this compelling tale of tragic romance has it all.
Varna International Ballet - The Nutcracker
18th January 2025
Venue: Edinburgh Playhouse
Website: www.atgtickets.com
When midnight strikes, we are swept away to a fairy-tale world where nothing is quite as it seems, toy dolls spring to life, the Mouse-king and his mouse-army battle with the Nutcracker Prince and we travel...
Mary Poppins
22nd January-15th February 2025
Venue: Festival Theatre
Website: www.capitaltheatres.com
Based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film, the story of the World’s favourite nanny arriving on Cherry Tree Lane is even more magical than ever before featuring dazzling choreography,...
Curiosity Club
25th January 2025
Venue: National Museum of Scotland
Address: Level 4, Learning Centre
Website: www.nms.ac.uk/events/curiosity-club
Leave your grown-ups at the door and get inspired with Curiosity Club sessions. Inspired by some of the museum’s most exciting collections, Curiosity Clubs are a chance for kids to explore the museum...