Christmas market with a difference celebrates quality Scottish products

Bored of the usual Christmas shopping experience? Then visit Glisten! - an exciting and alternative six-day Christmas market which will celebrate Scotland’s diverse creative talent, ranging from high-end fashion and interior designers to jewellers, painters and other leading craft makers.

Glisten! will host over 40 talented makers selling everything from quirky arts and crafts and cool collectibles to vintage clothing and stunning jewellery, textiles and glass. Funky clothing and bags, eco-friendly goods, specialist vinyl and books, and delicious organic and home-grown food produce will also be on sale, with all products of the highest quality.

Independent makers from across the whole of Scotland will attend, with interest so far coming from as far away as the Scottish Highlands.

Glisten! aims to bring together the local community while providing Scottish makers with the opportunity to raise their profile. Visitors to this free event will be able to browse a wide selection of the most original and interesting high-end Christmas gifts.

Housed in a marquee decorated with light projections and Christmas lanterns, the market will provide a glistening hub in the centre of the GrassMarket. The lanterns made from willow and paper will be made by local schoolchildren together with artist Kate Mackay from Alchemy Arts, who will also be running free craft workshops for children throughout the event. A visiting Santa, live music and charity wrapping stalls are among some of the many other attractions.

Fawns Reid, chair of the GrassMarket Area Traders Association, says: “Being a hat maker myself, I am very aware of the need to showcase local makers and producers and this seems like the perfect way for shoppers to see, in one place, the amazing range of quality products on offer both in the GrassMarket area and from across Scotland. 

“Glisten! is more than just a market, it is a celebration of Scottish talent and a great way to bring the community together at this special time of year. Come along and soak up the atmosphere while meeting the makers and browsing for that perfect - and unique - Christmas gift.”

Glisten! takes place between 11am and 6pm from Thursday 17 – Tuesday 22 December. A special launch event, with mulled wine and added sparkle, takes place on the Thursday (4pm-6pm) and a charity event on the Sunday (4pm-6pm).

Visit grassmarket.net for all the latest information on Glisten!