Release your party animal at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay

Visitors of this year’s Hogmanay celebrations are being encouraged by organisers to ‘Release Your Party Animal’. For the first year since the millennium, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations will feature sections of the iconic Royal Mile.

The three day festival takes place from Wednesday 30 December 2015 to Friday 1 January and welcomes over 15,000 people from around the globe annually.

 ‘Release Your Party Animal’

Known as the ‘Home of Hogmanay’, the three day festival in the centre of Edinburgh begins on Wednesday 30 December with a family-friendly Torchlight Procession. As 10,000 torchbearers wind their way through the city streets lined with tens of thousands of spectators, the procession moves from George IV Bridge towards the finale of the Son et Lumière display on Calton Hill.

On Thursday 31 December, the musical line-up across the seven stages in the centre of the city promises to deliver an exhilarating party soundtrack for the anticipated 75,000 revellers. The flagship Concert in the Gardens (which unfortunately sold out in a record 10 days) promises a very strong all-Scottish line-up for all to enjoy.

There’s a new look to the world famous Street Party with an additional stage and screens, expanded entertainment zones and dedicated ‘Food & Drink Villages’. The perfect ending to the event calendar for the Year of Food and Drink Scotland 2015, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay has created new food and drink areas around the Street Party arena. The Mound Precinct, leading into East Princes Street Gardens, offers a food and drink experience, with retailers from the Edinburgh’s Christmas European Market on hand with a feast of cuisine beneath the exhilarating Star Flyer and Big Wheel attractions, offering revellers a sky-high view of the capital.

Where to Stay: Leith Street

This one-bedroom pied-a-terre couldn’t be more central, located just seconds away from Princes Street – headed to the Concert in the Gardens? No taxi required!

Fancy a dance?

A new event for 2016 sees the annual sell-out ‘Keilidh’ move into its own exclusive outdoor arena on the Royal Mile to become ‘The Old Town Ceilidh’. The UK’s biggest outdoor ceilidh event becomes even bigger, with two live and ‘Ceilidh Makers’ on hand to make sure everyone knows the moves. (There’s no excuse not to be dancing!)

Participants will also join together at 11.00pm to attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the ‘World’s Longest Strip the Willow’. (The current record for the world’s biggest outdoor dance is already held by the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Festival.) Those wishing to participate in the record attempt should wear traditional dress – a kilt, tartan trews or a sash.

Where to Stay: Old Tollbooth Wynd

This two bedroom apartment is located in Old Tolbooth Wynd and has the added bonus of a secure parking space. Old Tolbooth Wynd lies in between the Royal Mile and Calton Road, so it’s possible to access the New Town and Old Town on foot very easily.

Light up the sky with Fireworks!

New Year revellers across Edinburgh and beyond will enjoy a feast of fireworks with countdown displays on the hour from 9.00pm, rising to the crescendo of the spectacular Midnight Moment as the fireworks lift from the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle and Calton Hill. The fireworks are followed by the world’s largest rendition of Auld Lang Syne as old friends and new join hands across the arena to sing Burns’ universal New Year anthem. Councillor Richard Lewis, Festivals and Events Champion at the City of Edinburgh Council said:

“Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations continue to be the envy of the world and once again we’re going to be THE city to be in to bring in the bells.”

Where to Stay: Rock House

If Calton Hill is where you’d like to be, there is no better place to stay than the fantastic Rock House. With a studio, a two bedroom property and a four bedroom property, Rock House is perfect for your Edinburgh Hogmanay stay. Views over the city are simply unparalleled and with a private terrace and garden, there is certainly no better way to bring in the New Year. To find out more, visit our website.

Get Involved…

Tickets for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Concert in the Gardens are already sold-out. Tickets for the world famous Street Party, The Old Town Ceilidh, and pre-booked Torches for the Torchlight Procession, are on sale now from www.edinburghshogmanay.com, by calling Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Box Office on 0844 573 8455 or by calling into the Hogmanay Box Office at The Fringe Office, 180 High Street, Edinburgh.