15,000 celebrate the arrival of Christmas in Edinburgh city centre

Big crowds gathered on George Street to watch the show.

Author: Max SteelePublished 19th Nov 2018

An estimated 15,000 people packed on to Edinburgh's George Street on Sunday to see the city centre Christmas events burst into life.

The Light Night celebrations marked the official start of Edinburgh’s Christmas 2018.

The free event, hosted by Forth One's Arlene Stuart, saw hundreds of local performers dancing and singing across four stages.

Local singer, Saskia Eng of The Voice fame also performed before switching the lights on.

The afternoon starred 24 Edinburgh and Scottish dance and music groups, including the energetic Edinburgh’s Got Soul, Pulse of the Place, Elite Dance, Edinburgh Ballet, Bhangra Crew who recently came second in TBC-U, the fantastic National Youth Choir of Scotland East Dunbartonshire Boys Choir and Perth Boys Choir and Edinburgh’s-own The Phoenix Community Choir.

It culminated with a fizzing fireworks display launched from Charlotte Square Gardens