NEW YEAR’S DAY EVENTS

EDINBURGH

Loony Dook, South Queensferry, from 12.30pm: Thousands are expected to descend on South Queensferry to watch the fancy dress-clad crowds parade along its High Street before braving the icy waters of the Firth of Forth in the annual event, which has been running since 1987.

First Footers Family Ceilidh, Mcewan Hall, 12.30pm: The Mcewan Hall returns to the Hogmanay festival line-up with a twohour dance suitable for all ages and abilities. tickets are free but must be prebooked.

Capercaillie, Mcewan Hall, 4.30pm: The first of two gigs staged by Hogmanay producers Underbelly in collaboration with Glasgow’s Celtic Connections festival will see Scottish supergroup draw from a back catalogue covering more than 30 years.

Carlos Nunez, Mcewan Hall, 8pm: The Galician piping star is joined by a host of special guests from Scotland’s trad music scene for “very special evening of musical interchange.”

Message From The Skies, various locations, from 5-10pm: Specially-commissioned “love letters to Europe” from six leading Scottish writers - Billy Letford, Chitra Ramaswamy, Kapka Kassabova, Louise Welsh, Stef Smith and William Dalrymple - will be beamed onto the facades of Bongo Club, the Tron Kirk, the National Monument on Calton Hill, Summerhall, Leith Library and the former Custom House on The Shore.

AROUND SCOTLAND

Fire and Light, The Helix, Falkirk, from 4.30pm: The home of The Kelpies horse head sculptures is transformed by fire performances, interactive light installations, puppetry, sculptures, and animated projections.

Street Party, Pitlochry, from 1pm: Atholl Road, Pitlochry’s main street, is closed for a three-hour party featuring a ceilidh dance, children’s entertainment, barbecue and fundraising raffle.

The Ba’, Kirkwall, from 1pm: Orkney’s famous traditional game has been played in the streets of its main town for hundreds of years by two teams of locals - the Uppies and the Doonies.