1 HEAD to Christmas at the Botanics and follow a mile-long illuminated trail that winds its way through Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden, wander beneath the tree canopies bathed in seasonal colour, enjoy the sounds of the Choir of the Trees and keep an eye out for Santa and his elves. Add to this some spiced cider, mulled wine or hot chocolate and you have a perfect Christmas treat. Until December 29.

2 PHIL Cunningham is well known as one of the masters of Scottish contemporary folk. He has pulled together a selection of special guests, including Eddi Reader, Karen Matheson, John McCusker, Kris Drever, Ian Carr and Kevin McGuire, to present his own Christmas Songbook, a showcase of modern and traditional Christmas music. Dates include Albert Halls, Stirling, tonight, Aberdeen Music Hall on Monday, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Tuesday, Eden Court Theatre and Cinema, Inverness. on Wednesday, Perth Concert Hall on Friday, and Queens Hall, Edinburgh, on Saturday

and Sunday.

3 DUNDEE Rep’s brave move to bring local hero Oor Wullie to the stage is garnering rave reviews. Together with Fat Boab, Soapy Soutar, Wee Eck and the rest of the gang Wullie sets out on a musical adventure in celebration of the Rep’s 80th anniversary. More details from www.dundeerep.co.uk; email: info@dundeerep.co.uk; box office: 01382 223530

4 GOODBYE Mr Mackenzie are one of this column’s favourite Scottish bands. After a string of successful comeback gigs earlier this year they are out to celebrate their 30-year-long career, thrill long-standing fans and attract a whole new generation of advocates. Catch them at Beat Generator Live in Dundee tonight. Tickets are

£17.60.

5 FRESHLY Squeezed Productions, in partnership with Ailie Cohen and Sarah Corbett, presents Ice House. This particular property only appears in winter and whatever you put in it is gone by summer. This concept forms the basis for the Lemon Tree’s Christmas show, a visual delight full of magic following the journey of Clip and Clop, Christmas decorations who live on the tree, guarding all the other decorations. Their lives change when they are sent a postcard bearing an image of the Ice House. The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen, tonight and then from Tuesday until next Sunday.

6 TALKING of this column’s favourites, Gerry Cinnamon (pictured below) has earned a special and permanent place in our heart with his pro-indy anthem Hope Over Fear. His Hamden gig next year has entered the books, but you can catch him before that at Glasgow’s Hydro on Saturday, an extra date added quickly after the Friday gig

sold out.

7 THE story of Pinocchio melts hearts every Christmas and this year the Citizens Theatre, in association with the Royal Conservatoire, presents a very special take on the classic. Adapted for the stage by Lu Kemp, this production embraces the vivid inventiveness of the original tale and will enchant the whole family. Ticket details at https://www.citz.co.uk/. Until January 4.