3D film helps take Edinburgh’s Winter celebrations to new dimension

A specially-created cinema will show an animated Rocket the Reindeer adventure in East Princes Street Gardens throughout the festive season.

Old favourites will also be returning to the six-week Edinburgh’s Christmas event, beginning on November 29 with the Light Night Ceremony.

The specially commissioned show Christmas Dream Machine will use projections, aerial performance and pyrotechnics to illustrate the magic of the season from a child’s perspective, and will culminate with the lighting of Edinburgh’s Norwegian Christmas Tree, once again gifted from the people of Hordaland.

Once the tree is lit, a Brazilian samba band will lead revellers to St Andrew Square where they will be entertained by a show including an array of artists and fire performers.

The film, Rocket’s Missing Antler, tells the tale of the lovable reindeer’s fight to save Christmas after he loses an antler. Rocket goes on an adventure with his friend the Cheeky Snowman to find the Wishfairy to see if her magical powers can help his antler to grow back.

Nickie Gott, managing director of She’s Gott It!, Edinburgh’s Christmas producers, said: “There is no better place than Edinburgh during the festive period. With the remarkable Light Night starting things off in style, the city centre will be buzzing with activity.

“We hope that our programme will amaze and delight the entire family.”

The Edinburgh Wheel and ice rink will also be returning, together with the German and Traditional Highland Village Christmas markets. Santa will also be in the city centre to pick up his post every day from December 8 onwards, though he may be hard to pick out on Sunday, December 9, as the tenth annual 1.5K Great Edinburgh Santa Run in aid of the When You Wish Upon a Star Foundation will be starting in West Princes Street Gardens.

Of course, the real Santa prefers to get around using his reindeer-drawn sleigh and if you’d like to thank the reindeer themselves for all the work that they do over the season, they will be in St Andrew Square on December 8 and 9, then Friday to Sunday both weekends before December 25.

The events this year aren’t just about celebrating Christmas. On November 30, the St Andrew’s Day celebrations will include a fireworks display.

Lord Provost Donald Wilson said: “Edinburgh’s Christmas is one of the most iconic celebrations in the world and we are pleased to announce a varied programme of events and attractions for 2012.”