The Night-time Market Fair

Christmas is definitely here :D  And with the arrival of the ephemeral nighttime fairground I can't think of anything else.

Unpackaged behind fences, the market fair opens one evening as if springing from the night.  Heralded by a cacophony of fireworks, acrobats and music; only opening after darkness has fallen and dazzling visitors with the bright lights, smells of mulled wine, roasting meats and candy.

I'm strongly reminded of a book I read recently, called "The Night Circus".  It's almost as if it comes true for a month near my flat :)  (Can you tell I love this place?)

This weekend was the first of the fair, and I simply had to go see.  I came across a few crafty little items I would love to learn to make myself, and others I just wanted to gaze at for a long while.

On the way to the market I found a cafe in a graveyard!  It's behind one of the churches on Princes Street (one of the main shopping streets in Edinburgh).  In summer there's also a month long craft fair here, but the gravestones are covered up during that by the stalls.

As you walk toward the christmas market, you can see the castle lit up through the trees, which is pretty!

Happily accidental craft market find!  I just had to go inside...  I promised myself I WOULD NOT buy anything.

"Just going inside for a wee look"  I thought to myself...

I found christmas decorations, and homemade jams, and cushions and handmade candles and many other pretty little goodies (I love the beehive shaped beeswax candles!!)

Despite my feeble promises to myself, I knew I would end up buying something before I left, and it ended up being this amazing little bride and groom decoration.  

My partners older brother is getting married this year in a castle up a mountain in Austria (it's going to be amazing, I cannot wait), and I couldn't help but want to give them this little cutie, I'm sure his new wifey might feel more inclined to carry it around than he will...

After spending pennies I had promised not to spend, I then moved onto the christmas market itself.

The atmosphere is amazing.  You can't get to within a mile of the market without smelling the spices of the mulled wine, german sausages and steaks, and sweet candy from the stalls.  

Families, couples and groups of friends gather to see the different things at the market and the fairground.

 so I quickly snapped a few photos with my phone to share it all with you too :)

The carousel

This is where i bought the little parcel tree decoration

Ferris Wheel

This stall smelled AMAZING

That's all folks :)

Send me photos of christmas markets near you!  Is there anywhere special you go at christmas every year?  I'd love to hear about it :)

Don't forget to enter the christmas advent pattern competition too!