Edinburgh & Surrounding Area
Edinburgh
Transforming the Royal Mile into a hub of fire and light, and not forgetting an incredible music line-up including Madness, The Enemy, MYLO, Calvin Harris, Noisettes, Codein: “This year’s five day programme is shaping up to be one of the biggest ever. The Torchlight Procession starts proceedings on the 29th December and leads us into a host of new events from the Night Afore - Light Night to re:formation day on New Year’s Day, dance spectacular Off Kilter and Firelight with Carabosse are events not to be missed, transforming the Royale Velvet Club and Frightened Rabbit plus loads more…”
Glasgow & Surrounding Area
Glasgow
Rock in to 2010 at Glasgow's Hogmanay as Deacon Blue perform a spectacular greatest hits set at what promises to be the best New Year party of the year. Supported by rising stars Tommy Reilly, Bahookie and the winners of the 2009 Road to Hogmanay contest, Glasgow's Hogmanay will finish the year with a bang!
North East Scotland
Stonehaven
The Ancient Fireball Ceremony continues in this fishing village near Aberdeen and is one of the most unique Hogmanay festivals in Scotland. At the strike of midnight the High Street is lit up as sixty local fireball-swingers make their way through the town – swinging their fireballs above their heads – to the harbour where they are hurled into the sea. Additional entertainment includes an accompanying pipe band, drumming group & the fire poi troupe.
Highlands & Western Isles
Moray
The Burning of the Clavie takes place at Burghead at 6pm on the night of January 11 (the original Hogmanay before the calendar changed in 1660). The "Clavie" is a half barrel filled with wood shavings and tar. In the past, it would have been a herring barrel. Today, iron-hooped whisky barrels daubed with creosote are used.
Loch Ness
This five day festival climaxes with “Monster Streetparty” on Hogmanay, held in Drumnadrochit. Following a torchlight procession to the main event, the family friendly party will kick off in style with the help of Scottish music performers Gary Innes and the Darien Project.
Central Scotland East
Comrie
Another one of the fire displays so popular in Scotland is Comrie's Flambeaux – an ancient torchlight procession originally performed to drive evil spirits from the village. Followed by a ceilidh in the centre of the village.
Central Scotland West
Oban
This year the family-friendly Oban Hogmanay Street Party will put on display a diverse array of Scottish musical performers: with Donnie Munro headlining, along with Skerryvore, an Oban Pipe Band and the Argyll Gaelic Choir. As well as music, there is also a magical carnival atmosphere of a fairground, food, and of course a spectacular fireworks display to enjoy.
Stirling
At Stirling Castle’s esplanade this year Scottish X-Factor stars the MacDonald Brothers will headline, supported by Queen tribute act and winner of ‘Stars In Their Eyes’ Gary Mullen. The bells will be brought in traditionally – with pipes and drums crossing the castle drawbridge and a wonderful firework display to light up the historic town.
South East Scotland
Biggar
The Hogmanay Bonfire in Biggar, dates back to pagan times when fire was worshipped and believed to ward off evil spirits. It has continued at Biggar for hundreds of years.
Shetland & Orkney Islands
Kirkwall
Every Christmas and New Year's Day the "Ba'" is contested in the streets of Kirkwall. The game has been played in its present form since about 1850, but is in fact much older. A looser form of football had occurred for a long time before 1850 on the "Ba' Lea", possibly dating back to Roman-occupied Britain.
Lerwick
The abiding influence of the Vikings is celebrated on the last Tuesday of January every year by the largest fire festival in Europe – "Up Helly Aa". After a torchlight procession of up to a thousand "guizers" through the streets, a full-size replica Viking longship is ceremonially burned. The guizers and onlookers then head off for a night of revelry.