Brilliant river of fire and Paolo Nutini see the Hogmanay extravaganza in full swing
Around 150,000 revellers expected for three-day party
A dramatic river of fire heralded the start of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations as more than 60,000 people brought the city centre to a halt before a sell-out Paolo Nutini concert below the castle.
Crowds lined pavements on The Mound, Princes Street and Waterloo Place as a band of “Up Helly Aa” Vikings from Shetland’s fire festival and a pipe band led torch bearers from the Old Town to Calton Hill.
Spectators queued for several hours to secure vantage points for the traditional torchlight procession, which had been staged every year since the capital launched official celebrations in 1993.
An estimated 30,000 people took part in the fire parade, which was still coming down The Mound two hours after the first participants set off, before fireworks were blasted into the clear night sky from Calton Hill.
The event kicked off three days of festivities in the city, which are expected to attract more than 150,000 spectators and generate more than £40 million for the economy.
The evening was rounded off by Scottish singing superstar Nutini at the first ever “Night Afore Concert” in Princes Street Gardens. The Paisleyborn festival favourite agreed to stage the extra show after his headline slot at the same venue on Hogmanay sold out within just three hours.
Mihoko Yotsui, 27, from Tokyo, who was among the participants in the torchlight parade, said: “I’m only in Edinburgh for one night. I was so excited when I heard the parade was on.
“It’s such a brilliant, vibrant event and it’s really exciting to hear Scottish music for the first time. There’s something special about everyone coming to Edinburgh to spend the end of the year together.”
Torchbearer Pow Song, 20, from China, who is studying media at Stirling University, said: “I read about the event on the Hogmanay website and thought it looked very impressive that everyone could get a torch and join in on the streets.
“The atmosphere has been very good and it is actually very similar to New Year in China. It is all very friendly. Edinburgh is such a traditional and beautiful city.”
Lawyer Adelaide Gleadow, 24, from Wellington in New Zealand, was taking part in the parade on a first-time visit to the city.
She said: “I’m in the city to visit a friend and actually didn’t know this was on until I got here yesterday. It’s really nice to do something that the local people do that is steeped in tradition. I do know that Scotland is supposed to be a great place to spend New Year’s Eve. I’m actually going through to Glasgow for Hogmanay itself.”
Canadian accountant Janice Mowe, 54, who was watching the parade on The Mound, said: “My daughter is working in London at the moment and we decided to come to Edinburgh for a few days to do something a bit different.
“We’ve had a great time, although the crowds have been a bit overwhelming for someone from a small town, but everybody has been so welcoming and friendly.”
“It’s such a brilliant, vibrant event. There’s something special about everyone coming to Edinburgh to spend the end of the year together”
MIHOKO YOTSUI (JAPAN)