Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party has been hailed a major success, retaining its world-wide reputation as the home of Hogmanay.
According to The City of Edinburgh Council and Unique Events, the producers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, an estimated 75,000 revellers celebrated the New Year at the Street Party, Concert in the Gardens and The Keilidh, where party-goers from far and wide enjoyed top class music and entertainment.
The midnight fireworks were choreographed to music for the first time, featuring a mix of four tracks from contemporary Scottish artists who have played at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay in the last 20 years: Calvin Harris, Feel so close; Primal Scream, Get your rocks off; Peatbog Faeries, The Folk Police; and Biffo Clyro, Bubbles.
One of Scotland’s most successful bands, Simple Minds were joined by The View and Bwani Junction and wowed the crowds at the sell-out Concert in the Gardens. We are very fortunate that © Kat Got The Cream Photography were there to take all of these wonderful photos for us of the headline act at the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay events!
Among the other highlights at the world famous Street Party were The Maccabees and OK Social Club while, on the Scottish Stage, revellers were entertained by Lau, Shooglelnifty and Admiral Fallow. For the first time this year revellers throughout the Street Party were all dancing to the same tune, as REW1ND3R: The Biggest Party… in years relayed the floor fillers and best-selling songs from 50 years of pop through screens and sound systems the length of Princes Street.
The Keilidh saw around 2,750 revellers enjoying Scottish roots artists including Hugh McDiarmid’s Haircut, Brechin City Rollers and Ceilidhdonia as well as having fun on the Edinburgh Wheel and New Year Carnival.
Edinburgh’s Festival and Events Champion Councillor Steve Cardownie said: “Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations have long been the envy of cities across the globe and it was only right that tonight, in our twentieth year, we laid on one our finest artist line-ups yet.
“It has been a truly fantastic event, bringing together 75,000 good-natured and enthusiastic revellers from all over the world to see in the bells in the heart of Scotland’s Capital.”
Assistant Chief Constable Graham Sinclair, from Lothian and Borders Police, said: “This year’s street party has once again been a fantastic celebration, and on behalf of Lothian and Borders Police I would like to thank everyone who attended for cooperating with police and stewards to ensure a safe and enjoyable start to 2013.
“I would also like to acknowledge the invaluable support of our colleagues from the Council, other emergency services, and the event organisers, tonight and throughout the planning process.
“Together we have played our part in ensuring revellers in Edinburgh have seen in the New Year in style, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone well for 2013, and we look forward to next year’s celebrations.”
Partygoers were generally very good-natured and waited patiently as police and stewards checked their tickets and bags at the entrance gates. There were only four arrests for minor disorder.
Pete Irvine, Director, Unique Events said:- “What a way to celebrate 20 years of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and to welcome 2013 with great style. REW1ND3R got the entire street party rocking, and once again we have shown that Edinburgh is the true home of Hogmanay.”
The big clean-up began at around 3am, after the celebrations ended. With Council staff from Services for Communities clearing up, most of the 60 to 75 tonnes of refuse will be collected by the middle of the morning. The majority of the waste will be plastic bottles, with the remainder made up of food cartons, clothing and glass. This year, the Council is working closely with Unique Events to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill: there will be recycling bins at entrance points for packaging and glass waste.
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