It may still be November but city council chiefs are busy preparing for Christmas.
The festive season will officially launch on Thursday, November 22 with the opening of the Christmas Village on Broad Street and Upperkirkgate.
It will be open daily throughout the festive season until December 31, apart from Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
The open air ice rink will feature once again, with new fairground rides including The Snowball, Freak Out and bumper cars featuring alongside traditional favourites like the helter-skelter and carousel.
Some new additions to the Christmas Village this year include a Santa’s Grotto and the Christmas in the Quad market, both located in Marischal College and open every Thursday to Sunday.
Council culture spokeswoman Marie Boulton said; “Christmas in Aberdeen is shaping up to be a truly magical time of year, with an outstanding events line-up that is bigger and better than ever.”
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “The Aberdeen Christmas Village will bring a festive feel-good factor to the heart of our city and we are looking forward to welcoming visitors. Each year we take on board feedback and it is our hope that the public will embrace everything on offer.”
In addition to the new attractions and Christmas markets, visitors will see traditional favourites in the festive events line-up, such as the Christmas tree switch-on on November 22, the Trinity Centre reindeer parade and Union Street Christmas lights switch-on on November 25, the Nativity Scene at St Nicholas Kirkyard from December 3, and the Friends of Hazlehead Winter Wonderland on December 16.
