For the first time, revellers at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2017 can expect to be enthralled by street acts alongside the festival’s usual stellar musical line-up.
![Sanjeev kohli unveils bold](https://i0.wp.com/www.edinburgh.gov.uk/images/Sanjeev_Kohli_unveils_bold_new_Tartan_for_Edinburgh_s_Hogmanay.jpeg?w=660)
Organisers of this year’s event Underbelly, which produces the festival on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council, has announced a colourful programme for 31 December featuring a ‘sense of welcome’ for everyone who attends the Street Party.
Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “The countdown to Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is on and one thing is for certain – this will be like no other celebration you’ve been to before. From aerial acrobatics to parkour, audiences will enjoy entertainment wherever they turn with podiums placed all over the arena and bands and DJs performing live all night. Be quick to get your ticket and first-foot it into 2018 with us, as we host a distinctly Scottish tradition in a bold new way for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay.”
“We want to create a sense of welcome, the best Scottish tradition”, say Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam, Directors at Underbelly. “As people arrive at the front door, they’re going to get a traditional greeting and, at the same time, feel the impact of this fresh new execution of one of Scotland’s great events.”
Upon arrival, visitors will be guided through traditional tenement doors, to be greeted by dancers teaching the steps to the Gay Gordons and Dashing White Sergeant.
A new floating DJ stage on Castle Street will feature Huey Morgan and The Mac Twins, while three podium stages will be dotted along Princes Street for street acts, including local parkour artists, fire acrobats and LED drummer group SPARK!.
The host for the evening will be Still Game‘s Sanjeev Kohli, who’ll update crowds on big screens around the arena.
When headliner Rag n’ Bone Man takes to the stage, aerial performance company All or Nothing will lead a massed choreography to some of his tracks and the buildings along Princes Street will be animated, creating a remarkable outdoor performance experience.
Fireworks will go off at 9pm, 10pm and 11pm before the main choreographed display at midnight. When ‘Auld Lang Syne’ finishes, the party kicks off again with confetti, glitter and music until 1am.
Tickets to the Street Party are still available.