Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations kick off tonight after last year's festival was cancelled due to a storm. The four-day event runs through New Year's Day and features a torchlight procession, street party, headline concerts, and midnight fireworks, with more than 60,000 travelers expected to fly into Edinburgh Airport in the two days before Hogmanay.
The traditional Torchlight Procession takes place on December 29, with 15,000 torch bearers creating a "river of fire" through the Old Town. The procession begins at 7:30pm after an hour of entertainment, with torches available for collection at The Meadows from 2pm. Rock band Wet Leg headlines the Concert in the Gardens on December 31, followed by midnight fireworks.
Broadcaster CNN will broadcast live from Edinburgh's celebrations for the full four days. The events mark the culmination of winter festivals that began in November and have already welcomed 2.5 million visitors to the city.
Road Closures and Transport Impact
Extensive road closures and bus diversions are in effect across the city centre from tonight until January 1. Middle Meadow Walk closes to vehicles and pedestrians from 3pm on December 29, with other procession route roads closing at 6pm.
Lothian bus services face diversions between 6pm and 11:30pm, affecting routes 2, 9, 12, 23, 27, 35, 45, and 47. Further closures and diversions will impact Lothian Country, East Coast Buses, Airlink, and sightseeing services between December 30 and January 1 for the Hogmanay Street Party.
Safety and Weather Preparations
Penny Dougherty, director of Unique Assembly events, said the festival «signals the start of New Year celebrations around the world». She added: «The weather this evening is due to be cold, crisp, clear and calm, perfect. That said, it is Scotland. It's winter. It's cold. The majority of our events are outdoors. We ask everyone to dress appropriately, dress up warm.»
Chief Superintendent David Robertson of Police Scotland emphasized attendee responsibility. He urged people to «think about your own safety, to plan your journey, to think about how you get in and out of the event, and to act on any suspicions you might have, if you see someone that's vulnerable, if you see someone acting suspiciously».
Councillor Jane Meagher, City of Edinburgh Council leader, stressed the events' accessibility. «We have four full days of events, with many of the festivities free to attend, and that is so important because this is a kind of celebration that we don't want to see imposed on the city, but integrated and very much a part of the life of the city», she said.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
