It turned out that there were participative events over the festive season after all.  I had been misled by assuming that the Christmas in Edinburgh brochure covered everything.  So apologies to whom it may concern.

Friends who were staying with me over New Year and I hastened off to the museum on New Year's Day to take part in this:

On the first day of 2014, set your compass and join us on a journey through Edinburgh’s Old Town, in the new, mystical and magical world of SCOT:LANDS - Discover nine incredible, new worlds, presenting the very best in music, art and theatre. Created and curated by Scotland’s most innovative artists and musicians.

The event was a bit overwhelmed by the number of participants.  When we arrived we had to join the longest queue in the world to:

Start your journey at HOME:LAND, the National Museum of Scotland, where you’ll receive a postcard with information about the first destination of your journey.
Pick up your own SCOT:LANDS map and Landing Card and travel with us on an amazing, cultural journey through the old Town – re-invented for just one day as our magical new world.

We only managed to visit two of these nine wonderlands but both were excellent.  They were:

HIGH:LAND Presented by The Ceilidh Place
Here in Edinburgh for the first time, experience the inimitable atmosphere and hospitality of one of Scotland’s most famously convivial venues, The Ceilidh Place. With music, songs and stories, bite into a rich and hearty slice of the North West Highlands, and enjoy a taste of local food and artisan beer. At the end of the A835 you’ll find the centre of the Highland Universe and one of the most dramatic landscapes in Britain.

NEW:FOUND:LAND Presented by The FOUND Collective
Edinburgh-based art collective FOUND will tap into the contemplative resonance and exquisite acoustics of Old St Paul’s Church. Experience a candle-lit musical performance which treats sound and silence as equals. Get lost in a languorous and dreamlike place in the company of some of our most enigmatic musicians.

We didn’t manage to win a free holiday when we got back to the museum at the end of the afternoon either but we did get a coffee and were entertained by the Portobello Ceilidh Band.

A good time was had by all.