
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... The Aberdeen Christmas Village will kick off the city's festive season next week. Image - Courtesy of Codona's
It’s only eight sleeps until Christmas arrives in Aberdeen!
The Granite City’s Christmas Village will burst into spectacular life on Broad Street on Thursday, November 14, launched in a yuletide partnership between Aberdeen City Council, Codona’s and Aberdeen Inspired.
The six-week run for the epicentre of fun – with its open air skating rink, fun rides for all ages, plus food and drink stalls boasting local producers – will kick off the festive season in Aberdeen.
That includes a glittering array of events and fun, including a Christmas parade, a new festive trail of lights, carol concerts and – not least - the bigger and better Curated In The Quad festive market presented by Aberdeen Inspired and Charlie House and running for six weekends up to Christmas itself.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “We can’t wait to see Aberdeen at Christmas light up the Granite City with festive magic.
“Not only will the Curated In The Quad festive market offer more stalls and creatives than ever before it - along with the wider Christmas Village – will pull thousands of people into the city centre. That is a great Christmas present for Aberdeen.”

Curated In The Quad has a unique line-up of local creatives and producers. Image - Supplied by Codona's
Aberdeen Lord Provost, Dr David Cameron, said: “The Christmas celebrations are a firm favourite each year with visitors and locals and I always look forward to seeing each of the events.
“The festive events taking place are a great way for people to come together and there is something that that all ages can come together and enjoy.”
Curated In The Quad featuring an array of local creatives and producers in 45 twinkling wooden chalets, will return to the quadrangle at Marischal College each weekend (Friday to Sunday) from November 15 to December 22.
John Brebner, CEO of Charlie House, said: "Charlie House is grateful to be part of the team bringing Christmas to life in our city centre!
“We’re excited to welcome festive shoppers to Curated in the Quad where they can source locally produced gifts. With twice as many stall holders this year, shoppers are bound to find that perfect gift. Kick starting the annual Christmas Parade with our popular Santa Run is a special highlight for us too – it’s a fabulously festive way to celebrate the countdown to Christmas."
Other Christmas offering will include:
- Aberdeen’s Christmas Parade and Charlie House Santa Run – Sunday 17 November 2024 from 5:15pm on Union Street and Union Terrace
- Christmas Light-up Trail – Thursday 14 November to Tuesday 31 December 2024
- Nativity Scene – Monday 2 December 2024 to Sunday 5 January 2025 in Union Terrace Gardens
- Carol Concerts – Saturday 14 December at the David Welch Winter Gardens, Duthie Park

Twinkling lights of Christmas on Broad Street. Image - Supplied by Codona's
The Lord Provost will lead the Christmas Parade on its new route due to closures on Union Street Central. The parade will begin as normal at Albyn Place and turn onto Union Terrace before finishing at His Majesty’s Theatre.
The festivities will begin from 5:15pm with the popular Charlie House Santa Run prior to the main parade.
Union Terrace Gardens will be festively lit, featuring a new candy cane lane, and will also feature the Nativity Scene, serving as an important reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. The blessing event will take place on Monday 2 December at 10:30am.
New for this year will include the Christmas Light-up Trail, delivered by Codona’s, will see 12 festive decorations located across the city centre. In collaboration with local charities, each decoration will feature individual charity information and links for welcome donations.
Codona’s Operations Director, Ian Littlewood, said: “We are extremely excited about the event this year. The new layout and huge number of extra stalls at the Curated in the Quad Christmas Market is going to look spectacular, coupled with great local street food at the village from Big Mannys’ Pizza, We Love Crumble, Tucan and Hot Chip is going to make the Christmas Village bigger and better for 2024.”
To facilitate the delivery of the Aberdeen Christmas Village, temporary traffic orders will be in place from 1 November 2024, until 10 January 2025. Full details can be found on our website using the link below.
Disabled parking provision in the area will be located on Queen Street and Littlejohn Street.
Full details of all the events and activities happening over the festive period, including road and traffic restrictions, can be at www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/christmas

Get your skates on for fun at the Aberdeen Christmas Village. Image - Supplied by Codona's