The best four-day New Year's Eve celebration in the world! Edinburgh is home to the largest Hogmanay celebration in the world. From Saturday 29 December to New Year's Day, Edinburgh's Hogmanay offers a vibrant, diverse four-day celebration to over 100,000 partygoers from around the world.
TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION SATURDAY 29 DECEMBER 07 Edinburgh's Hogmanay begins on the evening of 29 December with the famous Torchlight Procession, a celebration of music and light,where thousands of people carrying burning torches snake through the city behind a wooden Viking longboat. The annual event, which recreates a traditional Viking festival, starts at St Giles' Cathedral on the Royal Mile, goes down The Mound, along Princes Street and ends at Calton Hill. Here the longboat is burned in a giant bonfire alongside live music, fire performers and a spectacular fireworks display.
NIGHT AFORE SUNDAY 30 DECEMBER 07 The Night Afore is a huge street carnival with roaming street performers, musicians, dancers, themed food outlets and bars. There is also a massive Scottish ceilidh dance, Strip The Willow - believed to be the world's biggest of its kind.
The highlight of the Hogmanay celebrations is New Year's Eve itself, a climactic and spectacular night of entertainment, spirit and passion involving over 100,000 people of all ages from across the globe. The world-famous Street Party includes three live stages of music including Indie&Rock, Folk&Hoolie and Pop. Internationally acclaimed rock and pop acts play at the annual Concert In The Gardens, while the Celidh In The Gardens is a truly memorable Scottish experience. The night finishes with one of the world's most sensational fireworks displays with eight tonnes of fireworks set off from the top of Edinburgh's seven hills.
NEW YEAR'S DAY TUESDAY 1 JANUARY 08 New Year's Day embraces 2008 with an array of fun activities for all ages. The Loony Dook, famous for its absurdity, kills any hangover as the brave and mad take a swim in the Firth of Forth while The One O'clock Run offers a healthy start to the year with a downhill, one mile fun run from the Royal Mile to Holyrood Park. To kick start New Year's Day there's also Edinburgh's Dogmanay, a Husky sled-dog race, The Iron Kids Duathlon and The Edinburgh Bicycle Triathlon ending the celebrations in style.
Plan now and book early or miss out!
Book all your tickets early as the city fills up very quickly and accommodation and flights become more difficult to come by. Make sure you apply for passes for the events as well. Edinburgh's Hogmanay Street Party passes are available online at www.edinburghshogmanay.com or through the Box Office 08700 40 40 10 (£5 or £20 for Edinburgh's Hogmanay Party Packs which include Street Party passes and goody bags). For more information and prices on all other events including Concert in the Gardens, Celidh In The Gardens, Torchlight Procession, One O'Clock Run and Iron Kids Duathlon, see www.edinburghshogmanay.com.
