What's on blog

What’s On in Edinburgh - February

17 Feb 2012Posted by Jenny Cowan

Visit Edinburgh or its surroundings in February for crisp winter days, the Snowdrop festival and cosy romantic nights by the fire with Valentine’s Day fast approaching on the 14th. This year is a particularly special year as it’s a leap year giving us an extra day in the month.  The 29th of February could be the perfect time to propose to your potential future husband - yes that’s right ladies, it’s your opportunity to propose and not the other way around.  The old Scottish tradition dates back to 1288 when a law was passed allowing its practice, has it that a woman may propose to their loved one on 29th February and that any man who declines a proposal in a leap year must pay a fine ranging from a kiss to a silk dress or a pair of gloves!

February kicks off with the RBS Six Nations Scotland v England on the 4th. As sporting rivalries go, this one certainly has a heritage. Come and see the oldest international rugby fixture at Murrayfield ,the home of Scottish rugby. Soak up the friendly party atmosphere in the city centre as the crowds make their way to the stadium. There is usually the odd Braveheart look-alike among them!  Then celebrate or commiserate with the supporters as the pubs, bars and restaurants fill up in the evening.

If the horse racing is more your bag then why not head down to the coastal racecourse at Musselburgh. They are offering a Buy One Get One Free for tickets booked online for all racedays until 16 February visit: www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk and simply enter the ‘supriseyourself’ voucher code on your selected raceday.

This month also celebrates the first signs of Spring and the Snowdrop festival. Many gardens that do not normally open their doors until far later in the year, open for a limited time to show off the snow drops. Taking place at over 50 gardens across Scotland’s mainland, the festival is a great chance to get out in the fresh air and explore your local area, visit gardens and parks - some of which are open especially for the festival - and enjoy around 300 types of this delicate white flower which appears to defeat the cold winter by bursting into life each year. More information on the gardens and opening times can be found here: Snow Drop Fesitval

If you would rather not be out in the cold this February why not take in some Edinburgh culture and entertainment? The Scottish Opera is staging Hansel and Gretel at the Festival theatre on the 14th, 16th and 18th of February. Humperdinck's folksy 19th century opera based on the Grimm Brothers' tale comes to town, featuring a brand new translation www.fctt.org.uk

If it is theatre you fancy then no further than the Lyceum’s Of Mice and Men. Running from the 17th February until the 17th March, John Steinbeck's masterpiece, once banned in much of the US, is a powerful story of friendship and fragility during the economic depression of the 1920s www.lyceum.org.uk

Snow Drops at Eastside Farm ↑