Edinburgh gets the Hogmanay party started

Edinburgh’s infamous four-day Hogmanay celebrations are back with a bang and even bigger and better than ever, with the focus being a celebration of communities and families.

The highlights of this year’s four-day Hogmanay festival running from Dec 29 to Jan 1 are:

- The Torchlight Procession, culminating in a fireworks spectacle, on Saturday, Dec 29

- The Night Afore Monster Ceilidh, on Sunday, Dec 30 – an eclectic mix of music, street theatre, and story telling, with a focus on Scottish lore this year.

- The Hogmanay Street Party, on Monday, Dec 31 - featuring King Creosote, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, fusion band Kismet, and hip-hop and techno acts.

- Concert in the Gardens, on Monday, Dec 31 – the famous line-up this year includes headliners Kasabian, supported by Calvin Harris and Idlewild. Tickets have fast selling out.

- New Year’s Day, work off that excess with the Edinburgh Bicycle Triathlon, the Iron Kids Duathlon, or the fun run down the Royal Mile. More hardy souls can always try the Loony Dook.

- New Year’s Eve is the pinnacle of the programme to see the year out and attracts over 100,000 revellers. It will include the Ceilidh in the Gardens, a traditional Scottish dance in the romantic setting of Princes Street Gardens, and new this year, The Hoog, with dinner and dancing in the Assembly Rooms, and The Hoog Royale with ceilidh and swing in the Queen’s Hall.

Party guru extraordinaire, Pete Irvine of Unique Events, who has been overseeing the programme for Hogmanay says:

“Our aim this year is to reconstruct that great home-grown social gathering, ‘the ceilidh’, and present it to the world in a completely new and exciting way. The ceilidh is a traditional idiom based on the idea of ‘singin’, dancin’ and storytellin’’ where everyone can join in. We’re going to reinterpret it in its broadest sense, keep all the friendliness but create an inter-active event for the whole family which will show the Scots, their passion and their humour, at their best.

“The largest Strip-The-Willow remains, but there will be a huge programme of other things to do and see with loads of bands, including the fantastic Ashley MacIsaac, and ten street theatre companies from all over Europe. In advance we will be looking for people to join in Karen Dunbar’s Keilidh-oke session (details to be announced); for everything else, just come along and find it on the night. This will be a ceilidh like you’ve never imagined before.”

Edinburgh Lord Provost, The Rt Hon George Grubb, welcomed the new programme by saying:

“Come rain or shine, the programme this year is bigger, better and more exciting than ever. We have something for everyone, both visitors and residents, and this is a world-class celebration staged in the home of Hogmanay of which Edinburgh should be proud.”

So don’t delay in making your New Year’s plans and make a proper weekend of it this December. Because in Edinburgh, a party is never just one day!

For updates and news on Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, visit Edinburghshogmanay.com.