As a vibrant and cosmopolitan city that celebrates the festive season with style and spirit, one of the highlights of the winter calendar is the Glasgow Christmas Winterfest market.
This long-running event transforms St Enoch Square and George Square into a winter wonderland and makes it one of the best-attended Christmas markets in the UK.
What is the Glasgow Christmas market?
The Glasgow Christmas market is a festive event that takes place in the heart of the city centre. The market features more than 50 chalets, offering a variety of products, crafts, food and drinks from around the world.
You can find everything from traditional Scottish pies and haggis balls to German sausages and mulled wine, as well as handmade jewellery, candles, ornaments and more.
The market also has a festive bar, a Santa’s train and live entertainment to keep you in the festive mood.
How popular is the market?
Glasgow’s Christmas market is one of the most popular events in the city, attracting thousands of visitors every year.
According to the city council, the market welcomed more than 650,000 visitors in 2019, making it one of the largest and busiest markets in the UK.
The market is also a favourite destination for locals and tourists alike, as it offers a unique and festive shopping experience.
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Tour of George Square Christmas Market 2023 – Wee Walks
This video shows how much fun is to be had at the Glasgow Winterfest Christmas market.
Here, we look at the George Square section with its stalls, lights and fun fair.
There’s a big wheel giving a great view of the city.
Visitors will also find the usual mix of food stalls including wraps, cheese, German sausage and Yorkshire pudding wraps.
There’s even a snow dome that visitors can have their picture taken in!
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What’s on at Glasgow Christmas market?
The market has something for everyone, whether you are looking for gifts, food, or fun. Along with Santa’s train, which is a fun ride for the little ones, where they can hop on board and meet Santa Claus, there are festive bars offering a selection of beers, wines, spirits and hot drinks.
The bars also host live music and entertainment.
The market is a chance to explore and sample the flavours and cultures of the world, with a range of products and food from countries such as Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Poland.
Local businesses and artists are also selling a variety of handmade and unique items, such as jewellery, candles, soaps and ceramics.
What makes Glasgow Christmas market so special?
This is more than just a market; it is a celebration of the festive season and the city itself.
Its location is a central and convenient spot that is close to many of the city’s attractions, such as the Gallery of Modern Art, the Buchanan Galleries, and the Style Mile.
The square where the market is held is easily accessible by public transport, with bus, subway and train stations nearby.
For many visitors, the market has a lively and festive atmosphere, with colourful lights, decorations and music.
This is a social and friendly place, where you can meet and chat with the vendors, performers and other visitors.
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Glasgow Christmas Market – Allan Pagran
Here’s a great video of Glasgow Christmas market that begins with a striking aerial shot showing how bright and festive the Winterfest is.
The entire shoot is done by drone and the effect is startling – the fun fair and big wheel really do stand out.
And at night, there’s a lot to appreciate with the size of the event and many attractions.
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Visiting Glasgow Winterfest Christmas market
Winterfest will run in George Square from Saturday, November 25 and until January 4, 2024.
The event in St Enoch Square runs from Saturday, November 10 and will end on Saturday, December 30. The event will be closed on Christmas Day.
Admission is free but you may need to pay for some of the rides and attractions.
While the market is accessible, it may get crowded during peak hours, so it is advisable to plan your visit accordingly.
If you are planning to visit the market, you may also want to check out some of the other festive events and activities happening in the city, such as Glasgow Loves Christmas – and event to celebrate the city’s festive season which includes the Christmas Lights Switch On, the Style Mile Carnival, the Santa Dash and more.
There’s also Glasgow Winterfest which is a new event featuring an ice rink, a big wheel and fun fair rides.
