Edinburgh's Hogmanay - 2002
Tenth Anniversary Hogmanay Street Party
Come to Scotland's Capital city, home to the world's best New Year celebrations, and welcome in 2003 with a bang - quite literally - as fireworks light up the night sky over the Castle, and enjoy a four-day feast of music, dancing, outdoor sports and entertainment.2002 marks the tenth anniversary of Edinburgh's world famous Hogmanay Street Party and this year the programme of events from 29th December to New Year's Day is more spectacular than ever. It will be a truly international event featuring a Street theatre extravaganza with performers from France, Spain and Belgium, jazz musicians from New York, traditional Scottish Celtic music, as well as the latest pop and rock sounds featuring a host of top singers, bands and Club DJs.
The theme of this year's wintertime festival is Mind, Body and Spirit to ensure that local residents and visitors alike get out and about to enjoy a refreshing and invigorating time, taking part in healthy outdoor activities, sports and walks around Princes Street Gardens, Holyrood Park and up Arthur's Seat. Beside the Scott Monument there's a winter wonderland of fun and games - an outdoor skating rink, a giant Ferris Wheel, carnival attractions, carousel and fairground rides for children.
The New Year celebrations begin on Sunday 29th December with a wonderful Torchlight procession, estimated to draw together around 12, 000 people. This is very much a family event where torches are carried for charity with the parade beginning at Parliament Square on the Royal Mile slowly winding its way to the top of Calton Hill for the finale - a stunning Festival of Fire, music and fireworks. A team from the island of Shetland will recreate their fantastic annual Up Helly 'A Viking Festival with the burning of a Longship.
Photo courtesy of City of Edinburgh Council.
New York - New Year
New York comes to town - a series of jazz gigs, exclusive to Edinburgh, will feature some of the top funk, Latin, soul, trad and R&B musicians direct from America. Performers include Mark Soskin, (Sonny Rollins' pianist), sax player Steve Slagle, the New York Jazz Quintet, Salsa pianist Roland Perrin and drummer and vocalist, Paul Mills, formerly of the Average White Band together with leading Scottish musicians. New York Jazz takes place from 28th and 30th December at the Bridge Jazz Bar and Beat Jazz Basement near the Royal Mile.The Night Afore Fiesta - Monday 30th December
You don't have to wait until Hogmanay night to begin to party. The biggest international street theatre programme on the night before Hogmanay is a free event for everyone to enjoy. The evening begins with a parade by the Massed Pipes and Drums starting in the Royal Mile down the Mound to George Street in the New Town.
Picture here is courtesy of Edinburgh & Borders Police.
An outrageous and breathtaking display of street performers, stilt walkers, flamenco dancing and acrobats travelling especially from France, Spain, Belgium and London will entertain the crowds. Take part in the longest open-air dance in the world and be part of the team to beat the record for the Scottish Country dance, Strip the Willow. Music from around the world will be performed on two stages featuring classic Cuban sounds, Ceilidh and Celtic music.The photo here is of the Edinburgh Lord Provost, Eric Milligan, dancing "Strip trhe Willow" in George Street. Photo courtesy of City of Edinburgh Council.
Hogmanay 2002
The beat begins to hot up as the clock ticks on towards the final hours of 2002 and the stroke of midnight. Whatever your taste in music and entertainment you'll find a wide choice of concerts, clubs and outdoor merrymaking. Tickets are required for all these special Festival events including the Royal Bank Street Party on Princes Street. Street Party passes are available with membership of the First Foot Club which offers other special VIP discounts, prizes and benefits. This is the official Friends Club of Edinburgh's Hogmanay.
The picture on the left, of the concert in Princes Street Gardens, in front of Edinburgh Castle, is courtesy of Lothian and Borders Police.The Hogmanay programme includes the New Year Revels at the Assembly Rooms with various dance floors for serious clubbers as well as a Scottish Ceilidh. Down at Ocean Terminal in Leith there's the Big Splash Club starring DJ Boy George, Trendy Wendy and Betty Ford controlling the party beat with hot sounds into the early hours of New Year. For a quieter and more reflective path into 2003, listen to a Candlelit concert at St. Giles Cathedral, featuring the BT Scottish Ensemble. Music includes Bach's Lutheran Mass in G Major, the Magnificat and the Fantasia on Christmas Carols by Vaughan Williams.
The Royal Bank Street Party
Princes Street is closed to traffic from early evening on Hogmanay to prepare for (probably) the biggest street party in the world which kicks off from around 10pm. Stages at each end of the street will feature live music performances, all of which are broadcast on giant screens so that you don't miss anything. A series of pop videos and short films will also be screened. Dress up warmly for a cool December night in Scotland - make sure you have a festive hat - Loch Ness Monster, tartan or illuminated bobble style - while catering vans serving hot drinks and snacks will keep you going into the wee small hours.
Photo courtesy of Lothian and Borders Police.
The Concert in the Gardens (a separate ticketed event) features the popular Eighties band Culture Club as well as Ms Dynamite and a line up of special guests.
At midnight on the dot, the music ceases as the 100,000 capacity crowd waits quietly in expectation for the finale of the night. From high up on the Castle rock a cascade of fireworks will be set off with a massive explosion of light, snap, crackle and pop. This is a truly spectacular and happy occasion, a huge outdoor street party shared with thousands of friends and visitors from around the world. Strangers wish each other Happy New Year and even the policemen watching over our safety, receive many a kiss, as everyone dances and sings their weary way home. (Photos courtesy of City of Edinburgh Council).
If you cannot obtain an invitation for Princes Street, don't despair. Fireworks are set off at the top of all the seven hills surrounding the city - Corstorphine, Craigmillar, Braid, Blackford, Castle, Calton and Arthur's Seat. So wherever you may be at midnight, you are sure to see the night sky lit up or hear the whooshing bangs at this, the biggest and most fantastic fireworks display held in Britain.
January 1st, 2003
After all the partying with perhaps a few drams to toast in the New Year, it's now time to refresh and revitalise mind, body and spirit. An exhausting programme of outdoor exercise, fun and games will take place on the first day of the year.
Join in a Fun Run from the Castle down the Royal Mile to Holyrood Park. Here there are organised exercise and sporting events, work outs, T'ai Chi, skate boarding and hill climbing on Arthur's Seat. For the seriously fit you can join in a swimming, bicycling and running Triathlon. For the less energetic you can watch a pack of huskies in sled-dog teams racing around the park.
If you are bold, brave and truly adventurous why not join in the famous annual Loony Dook at South Queensferry beside the Forth Bridge. Start the year with a chilly exhilarating plunge in the Forth and then be revived with a hot toddy and soup at a nearby hotel.
Entertainment and Culture
The city's theatres, cinemas and concert halls offer a wide range of pantomime, comedy, movies and music through the Festive period. Illustrated here is the Deabru Beltzak motorised cycles with fireworks from Spain. Picture courtesy of City of Edinburgh Council.
Music & Art on New Year's Day at the City Arts Centre and Fruitmarket Gallery is a free event featuring performances of guitar, folk, jazz and classical music against a backdrop of different art and sculpture exhibitions.
And if you still wish to party on, head down to Club Refresh, the Hogmanay Festival Finale with music, dancing and funky entertainment.
Edinburgh Castle, Palace of Holyrood House, Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh Zoo, Royal Museum, the National Galleries, guided walks and many other visitor attractions will be open on 1st January. Full details of what's on from the Edinburgh's Hogmanay Web site and published Edinburgh Hogmanay brochure.
Places to Stay, Eat and Drink
See the the accompanying feature on Edinburgh's Capital Christmas for a selection of places to stay, eat and drink.Other Useful Sources of Information
Here are some useful websites for visitors:
Where else would you like to go in Scotland?
