Why is there no Christmas market in Glasgow this year?

The traditional Christmas market in George Square, Glasgow, is not taking place in 2025 because the area is closed for a multi-million-pound redevelopment project that is scheduled to last until August 2026.

Will there be a Christmas Market in Glasgow in 2025?

Yes, Glasgow had multiple Christmas markets and Winter Wonderland events in 2025, with locations at St Enoch Square, Glasgow Green, and the Clydeside Christmas Village, running from early November 2025 through early January 2026, as the usual George Square location was closed for redevelopment, though some sources mention it returning in 2026.
 

Is there a Christmas Market in Glasgow?

Yes, Glasgow has major Christmas markets, typically centered around Glasgow Green (often called the Winter Wonderland) and St Enoch Square, featuring festive food, drinks, handcrafted gifts, fairground rides, and observation wheels, creating a large winter wonderland experience for visitors. The main market at Glasgow Green offers a bigger funfair with an ice rink, while St Enoch Square provides charming chalets with treats and shopping. 

Has Glasgow Christmas lights switch on been scrapped due to George Square refurbishment?

Glasgow's annual Christmas lights switch-on event will not take place this year as George Square undergoes an extensive refurbishment. Glasgow Life has confirmed the city's festive lights are being "reimagined" as a result of the Square undergoing a redevelopment which has seen it closed off to the public since May.

Which Glasgow Christmas Market is better?

St Enoch Square Christmas Market

St Enoch Square has the advantage of being in a central location with lots of transport links and well maintained paving on the square itself and coming from Buchanan Street. All cables are well covered and ramped and there is plenty of lighting.

Don’t Visit Glasgow Christmas Markets Until You Watch This

When was the last White Christmas in Glasgow?

The last widespread white Christmas in the UK was in 2010.

What's happening with George Square in Glasgow?

Glasgow's George Square is undergoing a major £120m+ transformation into a modern, greener civic space, part of the wider Avenues project, with work entering key phases in early 2026 to install granite surfaces on surrounding roads, extending the new square's design, and aiming for an August 2026 completion, bringing more greenery, seating, and improved event spaces. The project involves resurfacing roads with stone, adding lawns, play areas, and restoring statues, making it a significant city centre upgrade.

Why did the Christmas lights go out?

Issues that can cause a set to stop working prematurely include missing or loose bulbs, a blown fuse, socket corrosion, or circuit breaker overload.

Is Glasgow Green Winter Wonderland free?

Yes, entry to Glasgow's Winter Wonderland events (like those at Glasgow Green and St Enoch Square) is generally free, allowing you to walk around and soak up the festive atmosphere, but you pay for individual attractions like rides, the ice rink, Santa visits, or food and drink. It's a free-to-enter event where you purchase tickets for specific experiences, with options to book some things like skating or Santa sessions online in advance.
 

Where is the Clydeside Xmas market?

🎄 Join us at Clydeside Christmas Village for ❄️ undercover ice skating, 🍷 a cosy Alpine Bar, 🎠 festive rides, 🎡 the Big Wheel and plenty more Christmas magic by the Clyde. Find us on South Street, right beside Glasgow Harbour and the Clydeside Expressway — just minutes from Partick. 🚗 𝗕𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿 Use postcode G11 6JY.

What's the best Christmas market in Scotland?

Christmas Markets to get you in the festive spirit this winter.

• Glen Tanar Christmas Fair.
• Bowhouse Xmas Market.
• Teagreen events at Aberdeen Art Gallery.
• Teagreen events at V&A Dundee.
• Teagreen events at Kibble Palace, Glasgow.
• Aberdeen Christmas Village.
• Oban Winter Festival.
• Drumlanrig Castle Christmas Fair.

Is Glasgow worth visiting at Christmas?

Is Glasgow worth visiting at Christmas? Yes. Glasgow is vibrant, beautifully decorated, and full of festive events for all ages.

Where are the Glasgow Christmas Markets this year?

Featuring two prime locations, our Winter Wonderlands on Glasgow Green and St Enoch Square, are bursting with festive fun, family attractions and seasonal entertainment.

Where is the best Christmas market in 2025?

Europe's top Christmas markets for 2025 feature traditional favorites like Strasbourg (France), Vienna, and Cologne, alongside rising stars like Gdańsk (Poland) and Tallinn (Estonia), offering festive charm, artisan crafts, and local delicacies like vin chaud, with options ranging from grand city-wide events to cozier, historic settings. Expect magical lights, ice rinks, and unique cultural experiences, with major hubs like Berlin, Prague, and Budapest also consistently ranking high.
 

Why do Christmas lights never work the next year?

Whether you're using traditional incandescent lights or LED lights, most plug in Christmas lights usually stop working for the following reasons: The circuit isn't carrying power. A fuse has blown. A bulb has burnt out and has created a cascading outage.

What is the biggest cause of house fires at Christmas?

The biggest causes of Christmas house fires are cooking fires, often from unattended pans or deep fryers, and electrical issues, like overloaded sockets and faulty lights, with unattended candles and dry Christmas trees close behind, all exacerbated by festive distractions, alcohol, and increased use of heaters and lights. Fires from Christmas trees, though less common, are especially dangerous due to their quick ignition. 

Why did the lights randomly go out?

Lights turning off unexpectedly usually have to do with faulty wiring, a loose blub socket, or failure of the bulb. Especially if you're only seeing the issue in a single source, it's probably a localized problem. If this happens to you, check the bulb first to see if it's experienced damage.

Why was Christmas banned for 400 years in Scotland?

Christmas was banned in Scotland for nearly 400 years primarily due to the Protestant Reformation, where the strict Presbyterian Church (the Kirk) viewed Christmas as an overly indulgent Catholic festival, leading to an official ban in 1640 by the Scottish Parliament, making it a workday for centuries until it became a public holiday in 1958. 

When did it last snow in Glasgow?

Glasgow last saw significant snow in early 2021, particularly around February 9, 2021, during Storm Darcy, with reports of heavy overnight falls and several inches on the ground. While snow is less common and doesn't always stick, there were lighter snow events and technical white Christmases (a single flake observed) recorded in 2022. 

Is George Square Glasgow closed?

George Square is expected to reopen in autumn 2026, with work on the surrounding avenues being completed up until April 2027.