Edinburgh's the best place to be at Christmas

The evenings getting dark by 5pm and it will be earlier very soon, also the sun rising later and dark mornings. We have to embrace it; once we are organised, we can.

Halloween has only just been, with all the hype that it entails, kids being excited, running around the dark streets ‘trick or treating’, dressed up in more and more imaginative costumes. As soon as that’s over along comes bonfire night and fireworks. We had our usual fireworks with friends and family with hotdogs, pumpkin soup, mulled wine and lots of sparklers for the kids. It does get you in the mood for autumn and winter. To go on lovely long walks in the autumn sunshine with the rustic reds of the fallen leaves and going home to a lovely glowing coal fire.

Now the plans can begin for the festive season to come. Edinburgh is a beautiful city to be in during winter. The city is preparing itself for the dark nights and for the weather good or bad.

The wheel is up and the other facilities are being put together, ice rinks, star flyer and other rides, all opening at the end of this week.

Grant Stott announced on facebook and twitter that we will be touring his show Tales Behind the Mic in the spring. The show was a total sell-out during the Festival at the Gilded Balloon and he is excited about travelling around Scotland to tell his unique stories.

Grant is rehearsing for Jack and the Beanstalk as the villain Fleshcreep at the King’s Theatre as we speak. They open on November 26 and go through to January 15.

Once the panto starts and the German market, the big wheel is open, there is no denying that winter is here and the party season is upon us.

Just for the record there is only 46 days until Hogmanay, which also launched last week, announcing an amazing line up, there is no better place to be at this time of year than Edinburgh!

n Karen Koren is artistic director of the Gilded Balloon