Edinburgh’s Hogmanay – New Year’s monster bash

Eight tones of fireworks, over 100,000 people, 4 days of festivities, a 40-foot long wooden longboat, 25 bands, one gun shot, 500 mad swimmers, and 40 huge monsters with a combined height of over 100 metres tall. It can only be Edinburgh at Hogmanay and you can still be part of it.

Recognised all over the world as the place to see in the New Year, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay offers a diverse and vibrant night of entertainment, spirit, passion and celebration to partygoers of all ages from around the world.

EventScotland Chief Executive, Paul Bush, said: “Edinburgh’s four-day festival is already one of the biggest and most vibrant Hogmanay celebrations. This year’s additional celebrations of Highland culture and the Monster Ceilidh on the Night A’fore will only help to cement the fact that the city’s New Year festivities are among the best, not only in Europe, but the world.

“With over 100,000 people predicted to attend the celebrations, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay provides a great platform to show the city at its best and proves that it is the place to be this Hogmanay.”

The night has something for everyone; a candlelit concert of classical music in St Giles Cathedral; dancing at the Hoog in the Assembly Rooms and of course the world-famous Edinburgh Hogmanay Street Party.

The party boasts ceilidh dancing, a live concert in the gardens and one of the world’s greatest fireworks displays in which eight tones of fireworks are set off from the tops of the seven hills of Edinburgh, while Edinburgh’s One O’clock gun is fired directly at the dawn of the New Year.

Not to be missed is the Night Afore ‘Monster Ceilidh’, with over 40 eight-foot-tall monsters and their handlers from all over Europe congregating for the Night A’fore celebrations at George Street and Assembly Rooms.

Watch out for the Giant Insects and Praying Mantis and be careful not to bump into Massive Minotaur or Sizeable Cyclops.

The city’s Calton Hill is also home to the biggest torchlight procession in the country and a bonfire big enough to burn the 40-foot long wooden Viking longboat that is carried through the city.

The four days of festivities for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay include the Torchlight Procession, Candlelit Concert, The Hoog, The Hoog Royale, and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party.

Revellers can also sample Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Ceilidh in the Gardens, and the Hogmanay Concert in the Gardens.

The more athletic minded can take part in New Year’s Day’s One O’clock Run, the Edinburgh Bicycle Triathlon, Iron Kids Duathlon, or even the Loony Dook.

Over 500 people are expected to take part in the Loony Dook, while over 2500 spectators are anticipated to watch the world-famous event which sees a handful of hardy souls take to the waters of the River Forth by South Queensferry.

Whether you would prefer to party in Princes Street Gardens, frolic in the Forth or marvel at the magic of the many fireworks, you are sure to have a Hogmanay to remember at one of the world’s best New Year celebrations.

For more information about what to see and do during Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations or to book accommodation, log on to Visitscotland.com.

For all information on Edinburgh Hogmanay festivities, programme of events and tickets log on to Edinburghshogmanay.com.