Spend Christmas and New Year with National Museums Scotland
By: BWW News Desk Dec. 01, 2014
National Museums Scotland has a jam-packed programme of events for all ages lined up for the festive season - including ceilidhs, 'crafternoons' and carol singing at the National Museum of Scotland, wreath-making workshops and Burns Unbound! at the National Museum of Rural Life, and even the chance to meet Santa on board a Boeing 707 at the National Museum of Flight.
See listings below for the full festive line-up.
National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF
Christmas Crafternoons
Date: Sat 6, Sun 7, Sat 13 & Sun 14 December
Time: 12:00-16:00
Venue: National Museum of Scotland
Cost: Free (drop-in)
Suitable for: Everyone
Come and make a lovely decoration inspired by our collections.
Rab's Videogame Christmas Morning
Date: Sat 13 December
Time: 14:00-15:30
Venue: Auditorium, National Museum of Scotland
Cost: £8, £6, Members and Concessions, call 0300 123 6789 or book online
Suitable for: 16+ only
Reminisce with Burnistoun comedian Rab Florence as he takes us on a nostalgic trip through our Christmas morning videogame memories.
Christmas Choirs
Date: Sun 14 December
Time: 14:00-16:30
Venue: National Museum of Scotland
Cost: Free (drop-in)
Suitable for: Everyone
Get into the festive spirit with Christmas concerts from local choirs.
Christmas Art Competition
Date: Sat 27-Tue 30 December
Time: 10:30-16:30
Venue: National Museum of Scotland
Cost: Free (drop-in)
Suitable for: Everyone
Be inspired by the objects in the museum and get drawing. Take part in our popular annual art event suitable for all ages and abilities. Basic materials and lots of encouragement provided.
Hogmanay Family Ceilidh
Date: Wed 31 December
Time: 14:00-15:30
Venue: National Museum of Scotland
Cost: Free (drop-in)
Suitable for: Everyone
Enjoy an afternoon of whirling and birling for all ages with the Canongate Cadjers Ceilidh Band. It's enthusiasm not experience that counts!
Edinburgh's Hogmanay: Scot:Lands
Date: Thu 1 January
Time: 12:30 & 14:00
Venue: National Museum of Scotland
Cost: Free, advance registration essential at edinburghshogmanay.com
Suitable for: Everyone
On the first day of 2015, set your compass and join us on a cosmic journey across Edinburgh's Old Town, the newly discovered constellation of Scot:Lands. Begin your unique trip at the National Museum of Scotland, and enjoy the very best in music, art and theatre created and curated by Scotland's most innovative artists and musicians. Part of Edinburgh's Hogmanay.
Macastory: The Twa Rabbies
Date: Sat 24-Sun 25 January
Time: 12:00, 14:00 & 15:00
Cost: Free (drop in)
Venue: Auditorium, National Museum of Scotland
Suitable for: Families
This fun-filled show has not one but two Rabbie Burns claiming to be the real McCoy! We let the audience decide who is telling the truth as the Rabbies tell outrageous tall tales of their amazing adventures and perform songs and verses from the Bard himself.
National Museum of Rural Life
Wester Kittochside, Philipshill Road, East Kilbride G76 9HR
Christmas Fair and Foal Show
Date: Sun 7 December
Time: 10:00-17:00
Venue: National Museum of Rural Life
Cost: Includes museum admission: Adult £8/£7, Child £4.50 (under 5 free). Family (2 adults, 2 children) £23, National Museums Scotland Members free. Book tickets online or call 0300 123 6789
Suitable for: Families
Celebrate Christmas down on the farm with festive donkeys and Shetland foals. Meet Father Christmas, enjoy a pantomime and pick up some gift ideas at the Christmas Craft Fair, then step back in time and experience traditional Yuletide activities in the farmhouse, with pomander making and Victorian parlour games.
Christmas Wreath Workshop
Date: Sun 14 December
Time: 14:00-16:00 (limited places)
Venue: National Museum of Rural Life
Cost: Adult £10, Child £3 (includes material and tuition costs). Booking essential. To book call 0300 123 6789
Suitable for: Age 5+
Learn the craft of wreath-making at the National Museum of Rural Life and add a touch of creativity to your winter celebrations.
Burns Unbound!
Date: Sat 24-Sun 25 January
Times: 10:00-17:00
Venue: National Museum of Rural Life
Cost: Included in museum admission. Adult £7/£6, Child £3.50 (under 5 free). Family (2 adults, 2 children) £19.00. National Museums Scotland Members, National Trust for Scotland Members and National Art Pass holders free
Release your inner bard at the National Museum of Rural Life with a celebration and exploration of all things Burns. Enjoy a packed programme for all the family including music, local food and drink, storytelling and mice! See nms.ac.uk/burns for details.Burns Unbound is supported through Scotland's Winter Festivals, a programme of events managed by EventScotland on behalf of the Scottish Government.
National Museum of Flight
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF
Supersonic Santa
Date: Sat 6-Sun 7 December
Times: 10:00-16:00
Venue: National Museum of Flight
Cost: £5 per child in addition to museum admission. Standard museum admission: Adult £10/£8, Child £5 (under 5 free), Family (2 adults, 2 children) £26, National Museums Scotland Members and National Art Pass holders free
Suitable for: Families
Enjoy festive activities and meet Santa on board our Boeing 707 at East Fortune.
Notes to Editors
- National Museums Scotland is one of the leading museum groups in Europe and looks after collections of national and international importance. The organisation provides loans, partnerships, research and training in Scotland and internationally. Our four museums are the National Museum of Scotland, the National Museum of Flight, the National Museum of Rural Life and the National War Museum. The National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh houses conservation and research facilities as well as collections not currently on display.
- Burns Unbound! at the National Museum of Rural Life is part of the Scotland's Winter Festivals programme of events which is managed by EventScotland on behalf of Scottish Government.
- About Scotland's Winter Festivals:
· Scotland's Winter Festivals is a programme of events that begins with St Andrew's Day on 30 November, runs throughout Hogmanay and culminates with Burns Night on 25 January.
· The 2014-15 events programme runs from 21 November 2014 to 31 January 2015.
· Scotland's Winter Festivals celebrates Scotland's modern culture and traditions through the best of Scottish music, arts, food and drink and entertainment.
· Scotland is a year round destination for visitors with unique events that showcase Scotland's distinctive culture.
· More information about Scotland's Winter Festivals can be found at www.Scotland.org/Winter
- About Hogmanay:
- Scotland is world-renowned as the home of Hogmanay, celebrated on 31 December. Fire festivals, torchlight processions, street parties, live music and fireworks, Scotland really is the best place in the world to see in the New Year.
- Scotland boasts a wide variety of Hogmanay celebrations, from large scale events such as Edinburgh's Hogmanay, which attracts over 130,000 visitors each year of which 65% are from outwith Scotland, and Stirling's Hogmanay, to smaller, regional gatherings.
- Scotland is renowned for its traditions associated with Hogmanay and homes, pubs, clubs and village halls across the country host their own celebrations embracing tradition - first footers bringing coal, toasting with a dram at midnight, wishing good luck to the home-owner for the year ahead.
- There is a wealth of information about Scotland's Hogmanay celebrations on www.scotland.org/hogmanay
Photo Courtesy of National Museums Scotland
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