Inverness Hogmanay Ceilidh 'might have an edge' over Edinburgh NYE party
Tickets are now on sale for what's believed to be the largest Hogmanay ceilidh on the planet
Plans have been revealed for the Inverness New Years Eve event, which is believed to be the world's largest Hogmanay ceilidh.
In a switch up from previous years, Highland Council are changing the format of the event with some of Scotland's top traditional musicians set to feature.
The event will be charged this year, with around 5,000 tickets priced at £12.50 per person on sale.
But organisers feel this won't put people off and the event will sell fast.
Ceilidh to include the "absolute best" from trad music scene - Cllr Ian Brown
To kick off celebrations, a procession will start from Falcon Square at around 7:30pm.
This will be led by Pyro Celtica and Harbinger Drumming Group, who have previously led Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations, and will finish at the Northern Meeting Park.
Leader of Inverness and Area Councillor Ian Brown explained what to expect after that.
He said: "In a change to previous years the event will be more about participating than just listening to bands.
"We want people to really engage with what Hogmanay is all about.
"We’ve got one of Scotland’s Finest Ceilidh bands, Highland Fire who include local lads Calum MacPhail and Sean Cousins from the band Horo, to keep the dancers moving.
"Then in those moments when a rest is required, we have the absolute best from Scotland’s traditional music scene.
“Skipinnish’s very own Norrie MacIver will be joining for some songs in both English and Gaelic."
The event will also feature three time winner of the Scots Trad Music Award Siobhan Miller, who will lead proceedings up to the bells.
Instrumental fireworks will be provided by multi-award winning duo Ali Hutton and Ross Ainslie who were the driving force behind The Treacherous Orchestra.
They’ll be joined by Ewan Robertson from current winners of the ‘Scots Folk Band of the year’ Breabach.”
Various food vendors will also be available throughout the night at the Northern Meeting Park.
The Highland Hogmanay Celidh will then come to a close at 12:30am.
City's Hogmanay event was "getting tired" - Inverness Provost
Provost of Inverness and Chair of the City of Inverness Events and Festivals Working Group, Glynis Sinclair feels the event will be a success.
She said: "I think what we're putting on this year is certainly comparably to what Edinburgh are doing.
"In fact I would just say we might have an edge this year.
"The Inverness Hogmanay event in my view, was getting tired.
"It hadn't changed up since 2008, it was three bands, a bar and food.
"With dwindling attendance numbers over the last couple of years I just thought, 'we need to either stop doing it or change it up.
"We've changed it up and we've changed it up big time."
The Red Hot Highland Fling, previously held at the city's Northern Meeting Park on NYE, was once free entry.
When asked if introducing a £12.50 fee would scare anyone off from attending, the Provost felt that won't be the case.
She added: "I don't think £12.50 is going to scare anyone from a good night out."
The Highland Hogmanay ceilidh is staged by The Highland Council’s Inverness Events and Festivals Working Group and is supported with funding from the Inverness Common Good Fund.
Head to www.highlandwinterfestival.co.uk for more information.