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Inverness, Granton-on-Spey, Loch Ness and Area , Hogmanay Hooleys in the Highlands

Mon, 2005-12-12 17:51 — Hogmans Helper

Fireworks explode over Inverness castle Considered the "capital of the Highlands and Islands", Inverness, is a destination hotspot.

Hogmanay Inverness style 2008-9

Inverness's Hogmanay has been historically a low-key affair,but this year things are different.

The Highland Council has announced details of the programme for the spectacular – and free - five-hour Hogmanay Party that will end the first Inverness Winter Festival.

Indie-Rock Band The Magic Numbers have been signed up to headline the show and anyone who caught their performance at the 2007 Belladrum Festival will know that their music will provide the perfect feelgood act for an audience bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new.

Opening the show at a specially-constructed arena built around the Highland Capital’s historic Northern Meeting Park at 8pm will be Inverness instrumental band Shutter who provided the soundtrack for last month’s Civic Fireworks Display.

They will be followed by Inverness-based Lowtide Revelry, who have established themselves as one of the premier bands in the Highlands in 2008 and who look set for bigger and better things in 2009.

Guaranteed to get the crowd dancing on the night will be Single Malt Sound System, a turbo-charged Ceilidh collective featuring some of the finest musicians in Scotland today. The band has already established a huge following thanks to an exciting mix of Scottish tunes on pipes, fiddle and accordion combined with a driving rhythm section. Featuring members of Wolfstone, Box Club and the Treacherous Orchestra as well as Highland piano legend Andy Thorburn, this band pack a musical punch.

Following the set by The Magic Numbers there will be a fireworks display and the sounding of the bells at Inverness Cathedral and other churches in the city to signal the arrival of 2009.

Scottish Pipes and Drums Band, Albannach, will then bring the party to a rousing close with one of their legendary pounding sets.

The Hogmanay Celebrations are being designed as a Family Friendly gathering and children will be welcome to attend the event which will be free to one and all. To cater for the younger audience on the night, a number of additional attractions with a Highland Fun and Games theme will be provided on the night.

The Northern Constabulary Pipes and Drums Band will be performing on the night and Evanton-based Arts and Motion will be projecting films that have not been seen in Inverness for almost three quarters of a century. having gained access to rare footage of Highland Games held in the Northern Meeting Park in the 1920s and 1930s.

The evening will also feature a unique moment in the history of Highland Games with the first live global Highland Games event with heavies representing the Inverness Highland Games competing with Heavies throwing at the famous Waipu Highland Games in New Zealand and Heavies representing the Highland Capital’s Sister Highland Games, the Triad Highland Games in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA in a 56lb Weight Over the Bar match.

Grantown on Spey - Strip the Willow

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 2009 in great style with one of the largest Hogmanay crowds in the Highlands.

Join in the Hogmanay Fun

PARTY IN THE SQUARE
Grantown-on-Spey
11pm 2007 - 1am 2008

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

Mon 31 December to Tuesday 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 5th 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

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Wed, 2006-12-27 20:11 — Auld Hog

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).