National Museums Scotland's Holiday Events Include Carol Singing, Wreath Making and More

National Museums Scotland has a jam-packed programme of family events lined up for the festive season - including ceilidhs, 'crafternoons' and carol singing at the National Museum of Scotland, wreath-making workshops and Burns Unbound! at the National Museum of Rural Life, and even the chance to meet Santa on board a Boeing 707 at the National Museum of Flight.

See listings below for the full festive line-up.

National Museum of Scotland

Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF

St Andrew's 'Shorts'

Date: Sat 30 November
Time: 11:00-13:00 and 14:00-16:00
Venue: Hawthornden Court, Level 1, National Museum of Scotland
Cost: Free, drop-in

Celebrate St Andrew's Day with characters from Scottish history. Meet the famous Bonnie Prince Charlie and discover how he planned to win the throne in 1745, and hear what life was like for his Jacobite soldiers as they battled against the Redcoats. There's also a steam engine driver, an alewife, an Edinburgh doctor, and a punishment wifie in the stocks, all with their own stories to tell. Part of the extended Winter Festivalsprogramme of events taking place around the country.

Museums Takeover Day

Date: Thu 28 November

Time: 10:00-17:00

Venue: National Museum of Scotland

Cost: Free

To celebrate the launch of the Scotland Creates gallery intervention and Kids in Museums' Takeover Day 2013, the National Museum of Scotland has invited young people to take over their events programme for the day. The programme will include a live performance from the Miniature Dinosaurs, joined on stage by young people who worked with the band to write songs inspired the national collections during a day-long songwriting workshop. Find out more about what's in store here.

Creative Spirit: Meet the Makers

Date: Sat 7 December
Time: 12:00-16:00
Venue: Grand Gallery, National Museum of Scotland
Cost: Free, drop-in, suitable for adults only

Join some of the makers involved in the unique Creative Spirit project to find out more about their creative processes. Makers include Pete Johnson and Kerry Hammond who recreated the Birnie bells; Pictish throne-maker Adrian McCurdy; and Johnny Ross and Jennifer Gray who fashioned Early-Medieval inspired drinking horns and silver mounts. Visitors can also sign up on the day for short tours of related objects in the Early People and Kingdom of the Scots galleries.

Creative Spirit: Jewellery Workshop - Adults only

Date: Sat 7 December
Time: 13:30-16:30
Venue: Learning Centre, Level 4, National Museum of Scotland
Cost: £25, £22 Members and Concessions (suitable for adults only). To book call 0300 123 6789

Inspired by the silver on display in the National Museum of Scotland's Creative Spirit exhibition, artist-jeweller Dorothy Hogg presents a unique workshop teaching the craft of jewellery making.

Christmas Crafternoons

Date: Sat 14-Sun 15 December
Time: 12:00-16:00

Venue: National Museum of Scotland
Cost: Free, drop-in

Make a festive decoration inspired by the collections at the National Museum of Scotland, suitable for all the family.

Champagne Flutes Trio

Date: Sat 14 December
Time: 15:15-16:00

Venue: Grand Gallery, National Museum of Scotland
Cost: Free, drop-in

Based in Scotland, Champagne Flutes, a trio of students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, have travelled across Britain to give performances. Their diverse range of repertoire ranges from the early baroque period to works by modern day composers. Listen to a selection of Champagne Flutes repertoire here on Sound Cloud.

Christmas Choirs

Date: Sun 15 December
Time: 13:30-16:00
Venue: Grand Gallery, National Museum of Scotland
Cost: Free, drop-in

Get in the festive spirit with concerts from local choirs at the National Museum of Scotland.

Christmas Art Competition

Date: Fri 27-Mon 30 December
Time: 10:30-16:30

Venue: National Museum of Scotland
Cost: Free, drop-in

Be inspired by the treasures in the National Museum of Scotland's collection on the 40th anniversary of this popular drawing competition. Basic materials provided, all ages and abilities welcome. Supported by STAEDTLER.

Hogmanay Family Ceilidh

Date: Tue 31 December
Time: 14:00-15:30

Venue: Grand Gallery, National Museum of Scotland
Cost: Free, drop-in

Enjoy an afternoon of whirling and birling with Canongate Cadjers Ceilidh Band. It's enthusiasm, not experience that counts!

Scot:Lands - Home:Land

Date: Wed 1 January 2014
Time: 12:00-17:30

Venue: National Museum of Scotland
Cost: Free, drop-in

Discover nine incredible new worlds, presenting the very best in music, art and theatre, and created and curated by Scotland's most innovative artists and musicians. Start your journey in the Home:Land - the National Museum of Scotland - where you'll receive a Landing Card with information about the first destination of the expedition. Once your journey is completed, return to the Museum for 17:00 and enter your Landing Card into the prize draw to win the trip of a life time across Scotland. Part of Edinburgh's Hogmanay.

Wee Hansel and Gretel Ballet Workshops

Dates: Fri 3-Mon 6 January 2014

Time: Various - see here for more details

Venue: Learning Centre, Level 4, National Museum of Scotland

Cost: £6. Book tickets from the Information Desk in the museum or by calling 0300 123 6789

Take part in dance workshops inspired by Scottish Ballet's winter production, Hansel & Gretel. There are workshops for different age groups, from parent and toddler to nine-year-olds. No experience necessary.

Meet the Mammoths

Date: Sat 25-Sun 26 January 2014
Time: 12:00-16:00
Venue: Grand Gallery, National Museum of Scotland
Cost: Free, drop-in, children must be accompanied by an adult

The mammoths have arrived! Join the National Museum of Scotland for a weekend of Ice Age themed activities.

National Museum of Rural Life

Wester Kittochside, Philipshill Road, East Kilbride G76 9HR

Christmas Fair and Foal Show

Date: Sunday 8 December

Time: 10:00-17:00

Venue: National Museum of Rural Life

Cost: Includes museum admission: Adult £7.50/£6.50, Child £4 (under 5 free). Family (2 adults, 2 children) £22, National Museums Scotland Members free. Book tickets online or call 0300 123 6789

Celebrate Christmas down on the farm with festive donkeys and Shetland foals. Meet Father Christmas, enjoy a pantomime and pick up some gift ideas at the Christmas Craft Fair, then step back in time and experience traditional Yuletide activities in the farmhouse, with pomander making and Victorian parlour games.

Christmas Wreath Workshop

Date: Sun 15 December
Time: 14:00-16:00

Venue: National Museum of Rural Life
Cost: Adult £10, Child £3 (includes material and tuition costs). Booking essential. To book call 0300 123 6789

Learn the craft of wreath-making at the National Museum of Rural Life and add a touch of creativity to your winter celebrations.

Burns Unbound!

Date: Sat 25-Sun 26 January 2014
Times: 10:00-17:00
Venue: National Museum of Rural Life
Cost: Included in museum admission. Adult £6.50/£5.50, Child £3 (under 5 free). Family (2 adults, 2 children) £17.00. National Museums Scotland and National Trust for Scotland Members and National Art Pass holders free

Join the National Museum of Rural Life for a weekend of Burns Night celebrations. As Scotland gets ready to welcome the world forHomecoming Scotland 2014, get in the spirit of our national bard with Burns-themed family craft activities, costumed characters, gallery trails, music, storytelling, theatre, and local food and drink. You can also explore the 1950s working farm, Georgian farmhouse and award-winning museum. Part of the extended Winter Festivals programme of events taking place around the country.

National Museum of Flight

East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF

Home Front Christmas

Date: Sat 7-Sun 8 December
Times: 10:00-16:00
Venue: National Museum of Flight
Cost: Included in museum admission. Adult £9.50 /£7.50, Child £5 (under 5 free), Family (2 adults, 2 children) £24.00, National Museums Scotland Members free

Enjoy a weekend of nostalgic wartime festive activities at National Museum of Flight. Meet Santa on board a Boeing 707 and explore the hangars, aircraft, Nissen huts, blast shelters and historic buildings.