Crowds flock for St Andrew’s Day

Huge crowds flocked to Edinburgh city centre yesterday to celebrate St Andrew’s Day with a raft of entertainment.

Piper Louise Marshall entertains the crowds at St Andrew Square. Picture: Malcolm McCurrach

People of all ages enjoyed events including musical performances, storytelling, ice-skating lessons – and even haggis hunting.

Eilidh Steel and Mark Neal kicked off the main proceedings in St Andrew Square with some upbeat Scottish music and songs.

They were followed by the Stockbridge Pipe Band and Edinburgh’s Got Soul, whose energetic performance brought the square to life.

Free entertainment continued throughout the afternoon and into the evening, ranging from an ice-skating piper to impressive themed pyrotechnics from Pyroceltica. Crowds were also wowed by demonstrations from the Royal Caledonian Curling Club and Murrayfield Skating School.

And free ice-skating lessons went down a treat.

The nearby Spiegeltent was a hive of activity, with storytelling sessions and a family 
ceilidh with music from the popular Robert Fish Band.

Pipe music filled the air throughout the day, and revellers had the chance to enjoy traditional Scottish food and drink from stalls in the square.

As well as the special events for St Andrew’s Day, visitors enjoyed the wider Edinburgh’s Christmas attractions.

Fraser Smith, of organiser Underbelly, said the occasion had been a resounding success.

“There were thousands of people here,” he said. “Everyone was getting into the spirit of St Andrew’s Day and Christmas. It’s all been tremendous.” Historic Scotland properties in the Lothians were free to visitors, as was admission to Holyrood Palace and Queen’s Gallery.