Welcome to your latest In Touch newsletter
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – even this side of Halloween.
But there is festive magic in the air on so many fronts at the moment, first and foremost being the Great Cinderella Hunt, which is helping families have fun during the October school holidays.
Everyone at Aberdeen Inspired was delighted to be involved with Aberdeen Performing Arts in staging this enchanting treasure trail across the city centre, creating a mash up between spooky Halloween and sparkling Christmas – with His Majesty’s panto at its heart.
Not only will it keep kids entertained during the fortnight break and build anticipation for the arrival of Cinderella this festive season, but it will also bring people into the city centre, giving a welcome boost to local businesses and attractions.
If you haven’t already, pick up or download a clue sheet and trail map and join in the fun.
Adding to the party spirit was the unveiling earlier this week of the line-up of Christmas attractions and activities in the Granite City.
That includes Curated In The Square, the hugely-popular festive market that this year will be staged at Marischal Square – right in the heart of Aberdeen Christmas Village.
We can’t wait to see the mix of creatives and traders – with a strong accent on north-east talent – that will help delight the thousands of people flocking into the heart of the Granite City to enjoy the festivities.
Not that you have to wait until Christmas to discover what the city centre has to offer.
All year round, Aberdeen boasts fantastic shops – from quirky independents to High Street names - along with outstanding restaurants and bars, plus an enviable range of attractions from world-class theatres to award-winning museums and galleries.
All of them are waiting to welcome you through their doors, no matter what time of the year it is.
So, take that trip into town to discover (or re-discover) just how great Aberdeen can be. Think of it as an early Christmas present to yourself and the local businesses you will be supporting.
Best wishes,
Adrian Watson,
Chief Executive, Aberdeen Inspired
STORIES
Image credits - Aberdeen Inspired
Aberdeen’s family-fun Cinderella Pumpkin Trail will work its October holiday magic
Families can now pick up clue sheets with trail maps, ready to explore the enchanting Cinderella Pumpkin Hunt across the city centre in the October holidays, inspired by this year’s panto at His Majesty’s Theatre.
Participants follow rhyming riddles and hints to find secret letters at participating businesses then put them together to spell out a magical word, in the event devised by Aberdeen Performing Arts and supported by Aberdeen Inspired.
Once the word is revealed, those taking part return their sheet to be entered into a draw to win a family ticket to a performance on the opening weekend of Cinderella on Saturday, November 29.
Explore the Trail
Image credits - Aberdeen Inspired
Aberdeen Inspired celebrates winning prestigious award for its Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks
Aberdeen Inspired is celebrating the sweet taste of success after its Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks won a prestigious tourism award.
The “Foodie Fortnight” campaign was named the Best Community Tourism & Events Initiative for 2025 in the Aberdeen City and Shire Thistle Awards in a glittering ceremony.
Judges praised Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks for “their ambitious growth, accessibility, and wide-reaching marketing that put the city firmly on the food map”. You can read more about it here.
And another Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks winner was Natalie Hood who scooped a £500 Aberdeen Gift Card after winning the event’s Foodie Passport competition. Read Natalie’s story here.
Image credits - Aberdeen Inspired
Aberdeen Gift Card giving back with new campaign to recognise local heroes
The UK’s most successful local gift card is giving back to the community with a festive campaign that celebrates local heroes.
Launching earlier this month and backed by the Aberdeen Gift Card, the BIG Christmas Giveback is a national competition that recognises the people and organisations making a positive impact on local communities.
The person or organisation with the most nominations in the competition will win a £1,000 Town & City Gift Card, such as the Aberdeen Gift Card, with one person who nominated them winning a £500 gift card.
Image credits - Codona's
Countdown is on to Granite City’s sparkling Christmas celebrations
The line-up for this winter’s Christmas celebrations in Aberdeen has been unveiled and promises to bring a twinkle of festive magic to the Granite City.
Residents and visitors alike will be able to get into the festive spirit with the return of popular events including the Christmas Lights Parade, Aberdeen Christmas Village, the Curated festive market and Carol Concerts.
The popular open-air market, Curated in the Square, will be in a new location this year, moving to Marischal Square due to ongoing work on Marischal College’s Mitchell Tower.
Image credits - Celebrate Aberdeen
Finalists announced for 2025 Celebrate Aberdeen Awards
The finalists have been announced for this year’s Celebrate Aberdeen Awards, an event which recognises and celebrates the huge contribution that the third sector makes to thousands of lives across Aberdeen City and Shire.
This year’s event, which returns for its sixth year, comprises eight award categories, the winners of which will be announced at the celebratory awards ceremony at the Chester Hotel on Saturday, November 1.
The roster of finalists has been welcomed by Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, which is one of the sponsors and supporters of the Celebrate Aberdeen Awards. Read all about it here
Image credits - Aberdeen Performing Arts
Aberdeen Comedy Festival comeback is a roaring success – and first acts already unveiled for next year
Laughter is the best medicine as Aberdeen Comedy Festival made a successful comeback with more than 16,000 tickets issued for 40 gigs across the Granite City.
So successful was the return of the festival - under the stewardship of Aberdeen Performing Arts with support from Aberdeen Inspired - that the first acts have already been announced for its expanded outing in 2026.
You can read more about it here
Image credits - CityCo Manchester
Aberdeen Inspired flies the flag for Granite City at prestigious Big Cities Conference
Aberdeen Inspired’s chief executive Adrian Watson and project manager Ross Grant spelled out the importance of Nuart to the Granite City during a prestigious conference in Manchester last week.
Presenting to 200 place leaders at the Association of Town & City Management’s Big Cities Conference, they spoke of the important role Nuart Aberdeen has played in growing Aberdeen’s belief in its ability to put on world-class major events.
The two also took the opportunity to offer a perspective on Aberdeen’s importance to the rest of the UK and Aberdeen Inspired’s role in helping drive the city forward.
Image credits - Aberdeen Performing Arts
Review: The Bodyguard is a banging night of thrilling Whitney classics
The Bodyguard opens with a bang – literally – as without warning an ear-splitting gunshot gets the action going and most of the audience in His Majesty’s jumping out of their seats.
But they soon settled back in as, within seconds of that shock start, as a full-blown concert number – complete with dazzling costumes, dancers and even flames - saw star of the show Sidonie Smith rattle through a mash up of Whitney Houston’s greatest numbers.