Inverness, Granton-on-Spey, Loch Ness and Area , Hogmanay Hooleys in the Highlands
INVERNESS HOGMANAY
Inverness Hogmanay Party: 2010-2011
Considered the "capital of the Highlands and Islands", Inverness, is a destination hotspot.
The Red Hot Highland Fling
Inverness Hogmanay party 2010 - 2011
The Highland Council has confirmed details of the programme for "The Red Hot Highland Fling – Take 2" the five hour long Hogmanay Party that will bring this year's Inverness Winter Festival to a close in Northern Meeting Park Arena on Friday 31 December .
Following the late cancellation of last year's Hogmanay Show due to heavy snow, the determination of the Inverness Winter Festival team to stage one of the Highland's best Hogmanay parties is matched by an understandable nervousness following last year's experiences .
Inverness Winter Festival Chairman Councillor Roy Pedersen said: "Once again arrangements have been made for us to meet with Council Officials and the Emergency Services at noon on Hogmanay to receive the thumbs up to start the countdown to opening the gates. I have no doubt that everybody involved in the event will be nervously checking the weather forecasts between now and then but as we discovered last year, things can change rapidly. We are determined to stage a wonderful show and with a bit of luck we will get the opportunity to do so."
The Inverness Hogmanay Show is sponsored by the Inverness Common Good Fund and no tickets are required for this free event. The gates at Northern Meeting Park will open at 8pm and spectators will be greeted by a display of fire juggling and the chance to take part in a fundraising Chinese lantern launch which is being organised to raise funds for the Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre in Burnett Road in Inverness.
Hosted by Moray Firth Radio's Ken Kelman, the show will start at 8.30pm when Blazin Fiddles take to the stage. From remote village halls to the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, Blazin' Fiddles have delighted audiences with their Highlands and Islands tunes and it could be argued no other band has quite captured the excitement, passion and the sensitivity of Scottish music as they have. They are quite simply one of the most exciting and memorable fiddle ensembles ever to take the stage.
Topping the Hogmanay bill by popular demand (with a family friendly 9.45pm start time) are the band who won the prestigious MG Alba Scottish Traditional Band of the Year Award for the second time last month, The Red Hot Chilli Pipers – a blazing rock band that went down a storm at the 2008 St Andrew's Day concert in Inverness. Since then the band have been rocking the world from New York to Beijing and in October members of the Inverness Highland Games touring party got a taste of what's in store at Hogmanay when they watched the band perform on the main stage in front of 30,000 bouncing Basques in the Scottish Highlands Arena at the Nafarroa Oinez Festival in Pamplona.
The band given the task of ensuring thousands of Highlanders keep warm by dancing the night away is the Isle of Skye-based Peatbog Faeries. One of Scotland's best known names in contemporary folk music, the band will take to the stage at 11.00pm for a rousing 90 minute set that will include a short fireworks display by the award winning Firework Scotland display team at midnight.
The Red Hot Highland Fling will take place in Northern Meeting Park Arena which is located in Ardross Street behind Inverness Cathedral.
The gates will open at 8.00pm and there will be bar and hot food facilities on site. Disabled Car Parking for blue badge holders only will be available in the main Highland Council Car Park which is located in Glenurquhart Road. All other drivers are asked to use the City Centre Car Parks on the night and park considerately
This is a family friendly Inverness Winter Festival event and young children are welcome to attend,
Last year Hogmanay Inverness style 2009-2010
Inverness's Hogmanay has been historically a low-key affair, but this year things are different.
Inverness Hogmanay Party 2009 Line Up
In the past Inverness have had small Hogmanay celebrations and have often left it to Dornoch ,Drumnadrochit and Granton on Spey to put together the street parties. This year,the Highland Council have an exciting line up featuring three of Scotland's favourite festival bands for the 2009 Hogmanay Party which will take place in Northern Meeting Park Arena in Inverness on December 31st.
The free show will open with the award winning winning group, Blazin' Fiddles, who will showcase the distinct flavour of fiddle music from various regions of the Highlands and Islands in a fiery blend that is guaranteed to get the party off to a rousing start.
Blazing Fiddles will be followed by the Skye based Peatbog Faeries who are one of Scotland's best known names in contemporary folk music. Their music embodies many styles and influences, including rock, jazz, electronica, and folk - but their main influence is traditional Celtic music. The band's unique sound is created through a mix of programmed effects and traditional Celtic arrangements, played on bagpipes, fiddles, and whistles.
Taking the party up to the Bells will be The Red Hot Chilli Pipers who starred at the 2008 Inverness St Andrew's Days celebrations. Winners of BBC one primetime show 'When Will I be Famous' and voted 'Live Act of the Year 2007' at the Scots Traditional Music Awards, The Red Hot Chilli Pipers have a huge following in the Highlands and are guaranteed to ensure that Inverness welcomes 2010 in style.
Councillor Glynis Sinclair of the Inverness Festivals Working Group said: "We are absolutely delighted to have signed up Blazin Fiddles, The Peatbog Faeries and The Red Hot Chilli Pipers for our Hogmanay Party. All three bands are guaranteed to ensure that Inverness is going to have one of the most enjoyable traditional Hogmanay parties staged in Scotland this year and we are really looking forward to what should be a tremendous night."
Grantown- on -Spey
Party in the Square, Grantown-on-Spey 11pm - 1am 2010-2011
A great family tradition- seeing out the Auld Year and bringing in the New Year with friends and strangers/friends-to-be –over three thousand revellers attend This year we are beginning rehearsals for an eventual attempt at a Strip the Willow World Record. We need as many dancers as possible to join in the post midnight fun. If you know how to dance Strip the Willow, we would like to hear from you in advance - we need you to help those who are new to the dance. Hogmanay -- 31st December One of the highlights of the year, eagerly looked forward to by locals and visitors alike, is the Grantown on Spey Hogmanay Party in the Square ! Bring in the New Year in great style with one of the largest Hogmanay crowds in the Highlands. From 11pm until 1am enjoy music, dancing, the haggis and mulled wine, watch the Millennium Beacon and the midnight flares. Each year now they make an attempt at Strip the Willow World Record. As many dancers as possible are needed to join in the post midnight fun. If you know how to dance Strip the Willow, we would like to hear from you in advance - we need you to help those who are new to the dance. Phone David Elder on 01479 872260 and leave your name and number - do it now please, we need you! Any questions, call Hogmanay Committee member Norman Grant on 01479 851215 Grantown on Spey website
Boat of Garten Village Celebrations 31 December
Service for Last Day of the Year A good way to begin Hogmanay St. Columba's Church, Boat of Garten 10:00AM 31 December to 01 January - Traditional Highland Ceilidh Dance see out the old year and welcome the new with dancing to a Ceilidh Band. Boat of Garten Village Hall 8:00PM. Admission: £12.00 Adults, £6.00 children - licensed bar available.
Loch Ness Hogmanay
See Loch Ness Hogmanay Our 6th Annual Hogmanay Gathering, held in the Tourist Information Car Park - starts at 10.30pm with a Torch light parade following the Zurich Pipeband, from the Drum' Hotel to the carpark. Where this years music, headed by Gary Innes & The Darian Project, take over the party atmosphere to see in the New Year, finishing approx 1.30pm
WEST COAST and AREA, OBAN
Venue: Kilmelford Village Hall
Location: Kilmelford, By OBAN, PA34 4XD
Event: Village Hogmanay Party
Date: 31st December 2010
Time: from 9pm onwards
Event Details: Hogmanay Party, with Scottish Dancing and Games. Fun for all the family. BYO
Contact: Christine Roberts, Melfort Village, 01852 200257
Price: £4 adults, £2 children
| SKYE Hogmanay Fancy Dress Disco | |
| Description: | Welcome in the New Year in the newly refurbished Waternish Hall. There will be a Hogmanay fancy dress disco on the 31st December from 9pm - 2am. there will be a bar and food - come along and join in the celebrations, it will be wild and fun. |
| Open: |
Friday Dec 31st 2010 until Saturday Jan 1st 2011
21:00 - 02:00 Fri N.B. Open 9pm - 2am.
|
| Web: | |
| Event Contact: | Madeline Jones 01470 592346 |
| Waternish Hall | |
| Description: | |
| Address: |
Waternish
|
| Venue Contact: | 01470 592346 gnmsailaway@btinternet.com |
| Web: | |
- Login to post comments
Vital info
Hogmanay FAQs
What is Hogmanay?
What are its origins?
These and other questions answered.
Designated driver
So you drew the short straw. Here's some tips for surviving the night with your sanity intact.
Hangover cures
Don't wait 'til the morning after to consider your post-party recuperation possibilities.
Auld Lang Syne lyrics
Don't be left speechless at midnight.
What is Hogmanay?
What are its origins?
These and other questions answered.
Designated driver
So you drew the short straw. Here's some tips for surviving the night with your sanity intact.
Hangover cures
Don't wait 'til the morning after to consider your post-party recuperation possibilities.
Auld Lang Syne lyrics
Don't be left speechless at midnight.
Comments
The Highland 2007 on 12 January 2007
The Highland 2007 Launch and Lifescan Monster Street Party events taking place in Inverness on 12 January 2007. Marking an t-Seann Bhliadhn’ Ùr, the Old New Year, the Highland 2007 Launch and Lifescan Monster Street Party is the first major event in the programme for Highland 2007, the year Scotland celebrates Highland culture.
The Highland 2007 Launch and Lifescan Monster Street Party are open – and free – to everyone, providing family entertainment from 7pm until 10pm on 12 January 2007.
The first part of the evening, the Highland 2007 Launch, will commence at 7pm with First Minister Jack McConnell guest of honour at the celebrations. The event will feature:
* a dazzling display of fireworks by Pyro1, winners of the UK firework company of the year;
* the award winning Inverness Gaelic Choir in a dramatic presentation against the backdrop of Inverness Castle;
* the Massed Pipes and Drums of the Highlands in a stunning arrangement overlooking the River Ness;
* many other spectacular surprises!
Viewing areas for the Highland 2007 Launch event are situated on the west bank of the River Ness on Huntly Street, Ness Walk and Young Street. Those attending the Highland 2007 Launch are advised to access the viewing areas from the west where possible and to allow sufficient time to travel to the event.
The Lifescan Monster Street Party follows immediately after the Highland 2007 Launch event and features the thrilling Transe Expresse from Marseilles. The highlight of their performance will be a breathtaking aerial ballet performance – The Music of Angels – which will include an extraordinary rendition of the Mingulay Boat Song.
As the home of Nessie, the world’s most famous monster, the Highland capital will welcome a host of monster cousins to the Lifescan Monster Street Party. Weird and wonderful creatures of all shapes and sizes from far and wide will travel to Inverness to excite and enthrall their Highland audience. Over a dozen companies from Holland, France, Spain and England will provide entertainment in the main streets of the city centre which will all be closed to traffic. This will be one of the biggest gatherings of international street theatre ever seen in the UK.
The launch and the street party have been created and devised by Unique Events, producers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and many of Scotland’s major festival programmes.
As a result of the Highland 2007 Launch and Lifescan Monster Street Party there will be a number of road closures in Inverness city centre on 12 January, coming into effect at 6.30pm. The road closures will create a safe, vehicle free, public area in the city centre.
Public car parks will remain open for the event on both sides of the river. All motorists are advised to allow sufficient travel time and to be aware the city centre roads will be closed to vehicles from 6.30pm.
Temporary bus stops and taxi ranks will be situated on Academy Street and Millburn Road for the duration of the event closures (please check with local bus companies for details).
Full details of all road closures and parking restrictions can be found on below.
The Highland 2007 Launch and Lifescan Monster Street Party are outdoor events – please dress for the weather.
Councillor Alison Magee, chair of Highland 2007, said: “Highland 2007 represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to raise awareness of our culture not just here in the Highlands but across Scotland, the UK and beyond. The exciting programme for the Highland 2007 Launch and the Lifescan Monster Street Party sets the tone for the year ahead, combining elements of our traditional culture with contemporary influences as we showcase the cultural importance of the Highlands on a international stage.”
Pete Irvine of Unique Events said: “It’s a real pleasure and privilege to be involved at the beginning of this brilliant year for the Highlands and Islands. It’s also a challenge. We know a wee wind can blow down the Ness and though most of what we plan can go ahead in almost any weather, we would advise people to wrap up well. When we planned this event we did think of Hogmanay or even later in the spring but we wanted this to be a very significant night unaffected by anything anywhere else and at the very beginning of a year where there is so much happening. Of course we wanted to invite Nessie him/herself but it proved impossible to make contact. However all the other monsters were delighted to accept our invitations. It’s going to be a ball and a real night to remember.”
Michael Crowe, Managing Director of Lifescan said: “This is going to be an amazing event and LifeScan Scotland is proud to be associated with such an innovative and creative show. This is a really exciting time for Inverness and the Highlands and we will be continuing our support throughout 2007.”
David Williams, Chief Executive of EventScotland said: “The launch of Highland 2007 provides a terrific platform for the celebration of Highland culture and for Scotland’s reputation as a premier events destination. Our investment of £1.76 million in the year long celebration is helping to deliver a programme of events that will help to promote Highland and Scottish culture."
The Highland 2007 Launch and Lifescan Monster Street Party was made possible through funding from EventScotland and Lifescan (Scotland).