20,000 revellers to get city's Hogmanay party underway

Published on Wednesday 29 December 2010 16:31

Record crowds of 20,000 are expected to flock to Edinburgh today for the start of the city's Hogmanay celebrations.

International visitors are expected to join thousands of local people for the annual torchlight procession, held one day later this year after the celebration was shortened from five days to three.

Crowds will follow the route from the Royal Mile to Calton Hill tonight, climaxing with a fireworks and "Son et Lumiere" display, with about 5,000 torches already sold in advance.

Meanwhile, the new Hogmanay hub, "Resolution Square" in front of the National Gallery on the Mound, launches tonight with a line-up of Scottish and Irish folk music, with a capacity for more than 2,500 people to visit through the evening.

With favourable, milder weather promised for the weekend celebrations, Hogmanay organisers yesterday urged people to travel early and not to carry any glass containers. About 350 police and 450 security staff are overseeing Edinburgh's Hogmanay this year.

The Torchlight Procession attracted crowds of about 15,000 last year, but several thousand more are expected, with the event moved from the 29th to 30th of December.

Edinburgh City Council pared its Hogmanay spending from 1.38 million to 1.04m this year, though the Scottish Government's Expo Fund has added an additional 200,000.

"We put it back a day because we learned through market research that people were disappointed that they had missed out, because they start arriving on the 30th and looking for things to do," said Councillor Steve Cardownie.

"We could well be surprised by the numbers. We will be able to care for them, but we could be pleasantly surprised."

Hogmanay organisers yesterday announced a new twist for the 2010 celebrations. People can text their New Year's resolutions, and see them shared with an expected 80,000 revellers via the giant screens on Princes Street.

The programme includes the Hogmanay Street Party on the 31st, the sold-out Concert in the Gardens, headlined by Biffy Clyro, and the new "One Day" concert and events on 1 January.

"This is the first time we have done the torchlight on the 30th, and there is a different dynamic to that," said Hogmanay organiser Pete Irvine. "We think more people will be in the city so whereas in the past it was may more main locals, there will be more visitors."

The city is hoping to use the new finale to the Torchlight Procession as a means to scoop worldwide Hogmanay television coverage, Mr Irvine said.

Sky Television will be filming on Calton Hill on the 30th. "We should get fireworks shots ahead of Sydney; we are really hoping for that," said Mr Irvine. "Every year, Sydney comes first, and they don't see us until the first.For the first time, maybe we are going to get ahead of Sydney."

For the past decade Hogmanay organisers have staged free "Night Afore" celebrations whether in George Street, the Royal Mile or the Grassmarket. This year it will focus on the Torchlight Procession and Resolution Square.

Mr Irvine promised "big plans" for next year, but said "to put on free events of such scale is not easy. For the time being it may be a three-day Hogmanay."

l People wishing to text their resolutions should text ELEVEN and their message or resolution to 82055. Calls cost 1, including a 25p donation to Help for Heroes, the charity for injured servicemen and women.