Festive Favourites

The Christmas lights are lit, advent calendars open and we’re enjoying the first snow of the winter. Christmas in a big, Victorian city always has a magical feeling and this time of year really gives Glasgow a chance to show off. It’s amazing what’s going on on our doorstep – you could easily attend a festive event every day between now and Christmas Day!

One of my favourite events last year was the intimate one-man performance of A Christmas Carol at Gusto And Relish. Atmospheric, cosy and mesmerising. Iain Smith, artist & actor, will be performing at the cafe on the evening of Thursday 15th December. Tickets are £6.00. They will be serving coffee, teas, hot chocolate, homemade sausage rolls and mince pies. You can buy tickets at the cafe. If you missed it last year, I’d urge you to go along this year.

Looking for family-friendly events? There’s a Santa’s grotto on the next few weekends in Shawlands Arcade and a Victorian Christmas event a little further afield at Holmwood House this and next weekend. Pollok House has its now traditional teddy bear’s Christmas and children can make an appointment to discuss that all important list with Mrs Claus.

And there’s fun for all the family at local pantos, including Snow White at Queens Park Church (7th-10th Dec 7pm. Tickets £6/£7 423 6037) and Hansel and Gretel and Little Ulla at the Citizens. The Southside Film Festival makes a seasonal return with a special screening of The Muppets’ Christmas Carol on Sunday 18th December at 3pm at The Shed. If you can’t make Gusto’s A Christmas Carol you could try the National Theatre of Scotland’s puppetry version at Film City in Govan.

Throughout the Festive season, The Burrell Collection is extending its free family film screenings. Every day the museum is open they will be showing a family film, for free, from 2-4pm. They kick things off on December 18th with It’s A Wonderful Life and end on January 8th with The Sword In The Stone but there’s also a chance to see The Wizard Of Oz on the 30th and a whole host of other festive favourites. Space is limited but there is no advance ticketing, just pick up a ticket at the info desk.

There’s also an intriguing event taking place on Albert Drive on Sunday 11th. The Albert Drive Project has been developed with contemporary performance students from The Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly RSAMD). The event starts at Tramway at 1pm and the audience can view and participate in various events staged along the length of Albert Drive. It’s a free event, will last about two hours and aims to include all the community in a unique arts event.

And what about all that Christmas shopping? There’s a great choice of local shops and, as we’ve seen with Lady Drawers, if you don’t use them you will lose them. An afternoon in Shawlands got most of my shopping polished off last week but there’s more opportunities to shop at The Shed’s special Christmas Afternoon Twee events tomorrow and Sunday 11th December.

Two Strathbungo Society events on the horizon, first our informal December meeting and Christmas gathering is going to take place on the 12th. We’re planning on convening at the new Bungo bar/restaurant on Nithsdale Road which is scheduled to open next Saturday. They are cracking on apace so fingers crossed! And, of course, there’s the annual Bungo At The Bells Hogmanay event. Once again it’s outside 52 Marywood Square. We’ll be carrying out the usual procession beforehand, kicking off at 11.30, before congregating at the end of Marywood and Moray Place at 11.45. There’ll be mulled wine, mince pies, a big countdown and music to bring in 2012.

Let us know if you know of any local events we’ve missed. Any carol concerts, Christmas fairs or fundraisers going on on our doorstep? And if you go to any of the shows and events, tell us what you think.