Aberdeen Christmas Village

The Aberdeen Christmas Village returns to Broad Street from 12 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, open every day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. It's a fairground first and a market second, with wooden food huts and a covered bar standing between the rides in the city's old granite centre. It sits alongside the outdoor ice rink in front of Marischal College, one of the largest granite buildings in the world, and forms part of the wider Christmas festivities that bring seasonal activity to the centre.

Around the Village, there's usually a Nativity scene, carol concerts, the Christmas lights parade and the Santa Fun Run on Union Street. You can pick up local specialities like the Aberdeen rowie and Scottish tablet. The crafts gather at Curated in the Square, a weekend makers' market of north-east artists, small producers and independent shops at Marischal Square, where every stall fee goes to Charlie House, which supports local children with life-limiting conditions.

Admission is free, and it runs right through to the start of January, so it's there for the whole festive stretch rather than just the lead-up to the big day.