This year's four-day Hogmanay festival will include pop duo Pet Shop Boys, and Scottish sensation, Paolo Nutini, jointly headlining The Concert in the Gardens at The Royal Bank Street Party with The Fratellis headlining The Waverley Stage.

At The Ceilidh in the Gardens, folk rock dance groups Capercaillie and Salsa Celtica will perform a mix of tunes that are sure to get everyone on their feet.

The official programme starts on Friday 29 December with the Torchlight Procession. This annual spectacular sees the path from St Giles’ Cathedral to Calton Hill alight with the flames from thousands of burning torches, escorted by The Up Helly Aa Vikings from Shetland. The procession culminates with the sensational burning of a Viking long-ship and this year’s willow and wicker effigy.

Night Afore

At The Night Afore International, on Saturday 30 December, Scotland meets Germany on the penultimate night of the year for a cross-cultural extravaganza featuring the best of street theatre, music and dance from both countries. George Street will turn into a carnival of colour, sound and dance for a free, unticketed event.

From Germany Theatre Titanick, Schnicklefritz, Zebra Stelzentheater and Irrwisch will put on a show as fantastical as their names promise.

From Scotland, a pipe band parade will start off the night, The Blazin’ Fiddles will headline the Scottish Ceilidh stage. The Portobello Ceilidh Band will also play, leading the longest Strip the Willow at 9 pm.

Hogmanay Night

On Hogmanay itself, Sunday 31 December, the celebrations commence in the stunning setting of St Giles’ Cathedral with the Candlelit Concert, a feast of classical music to provide a serene end to 2006.

Later that evening, thousands descend on the city centre for The Royal Bank Street Party incorporating The Concert in the Gardens and The Ceilidh in the Gardens.

The Indie/Rock line-up on The Waverley Stage will be The Fratellis, with The Dykeenies and The Complete Stone Roses performing live from 10pm. The Scott Monument Stage dedicated to Folk/Hoolie will set toes tapping with Watergaw, Lau and Burach. For Cheesy Pop into the wee small hours, The Great Calverto will headline at The Mound Stage supported by The Pop Tartz and rap with local accent from FBC (Fountainbridge Collective).

The Concert in the Gardens will be a music and fireworks spectacular with Pet Shop Boys performing Hogmanay Hits Extravaganza and the highlights of a year of their platinum album from Paolo Nutini.

The Ceilidh in the Gardens promises traditional Scottish Dancin’ with a twist. Local favourites Sandy Brechin’s Selection Box and Fraser MacNaughton Ceilidh Band will have people birlin through the bells while on Mound Square, Capercaillie celebrate twenty years of international prominence and Salsa Celtica round off their hugely successful European tour with a Hogmanay Homecoming Show. The Moonshiners’ own brand of Clydeside Bluegrass complete the line-up

Fireworks

The 7 Hills Fireworks at midnight, will set the heavens alight with colour, starting the new year with a sparkling spectacle which can be seen for miles around and is broadcast all over the world!

This year Scottish and Newcastle will help provide bars in the arena bringing refreshment to the revellers as well as promoting the responsible drinking message to all partygoers. In addition, Scottish and Newcastle will provide free night buses to ensure a safe journey home after what promises to be a fantastic night.

Through to the early hours, The New Year Revels at the Assembly Rooms on George Street will offer an evening of reeling and rocking with the choice of either a traditional ceilidh or disco to dance the night away, with a haggis bar perfect to charge the energy levels of partygoers.

Ne'er's Day

New Year’s Day, Monday 1 January, is action packed and full of sporting events. The One O’Clock Run from Edinburgh Castle down the Royal Mile to Holyrood Park is a gentle way to kickstart the year or, for the more adventurous, the Edinburgh Bicycle Triathlon consisting of a swim-bike-run race starts at the Royal Commonwealth Pool and into Holyrood Park.

Young people between eight and 15 with plenty of energy to release on New Year’s Day, should head for the Iron Kids Duathlon, two 600 metre runs either side of a two mile bike ride. Something for all the family is Edinburgh’s Dogmanay, a unique event which sees Alaskan Malamute, Samoyed and Siberian Huskies put through their paces in non-competitive sled-dog races.

For the first time ever, for added safety on Hogmanay night itself, Lothian and Borders Police is offering partygoers a dedicated service from the www.police.uk initiative.
Used all over the country to assist the police in gathering information, partygoers will be able to text POLICE EH2 2EL to 88588 and log on to receive updates direct to their mobile phone.
These updates will include information, before, during and after the event that will assist in crowd management, alerts on any safety precautions required and information, for example on extreme weather warnings.

Tickets

Tickets for all events are available from:

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Box Office, Hub Tickets, Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NE
Telephone: 0131 473 2000

Tickets Scotland - 0870 220 1116
127 Rose Street, Edinburgh & 239 Argyle Street, Glasgow

Ripping Music & Tickets (in person)
91 South Bridge, Edinburgh

Usher Hall Box Office - 0131 228 1155
Lothian Road, Edinburgh

Ticketing information:
Torchlight Procession
Unticketed event. Vouchers for torches £4 in advance or torches £5 on the night.

Night Afore International
Unticketed event

Candlelit Concert
£16 plus £1.50 booking fee. Unlimited number per booking.

The New Year Revels
£45 plus £1.50 booking fee. Does not include Royal Bank Street Party Pass. Maximium 4 per booking. Over 18s only.

The Royal Bank Street Party
Royal Bank Street Party Passes
£5 administration fee. Maximum 4 per booking. Not recommended for children under 16.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Party Pack
A Royal Bank Street Party Pass and official merchandise ( a Scotlandistheplace.com hat, branded lanyard with information cards, branded lip balm for kissable midnight lips, a mobile phone charm, temporary tattoos and a badge). Unlimited number per booking. Not recommended for children under 16.

The Ceilidh in the Gardens
£35 each plus £2.50 booking fee. Includes Royal Bank Street Party Pass. Unlimited number per booking. Not recommended for children under 16.

The Concert in the Gardens
Concert enclosure tickets already sold out. Concert gardens tickets £32.50, plus £2.50 booking fee. Includes Royal Bank Street Party Pass. Unlimited number per booking. Not recommended for children under 16.

7 Hills Fireworks
Can be viewed all around the city.

One O’clock Run
£7.50 each, includes souvenir event T-shirt.

Edinburgh Bicycle Triathlon
Registration fee varies. Unticketed for spectators.

Iron Kids Duathlon
£5 entry fee for contenders (must be between 8-15 years). Unticketed for spectators.