EDINBURGH'S Hogmanay street party could be dropped as part of plans to reimagine the city’s winter festivals.
Edinburgh City Council is seeking new producers for Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay festivals from 2022-2025.
For the Hogmanay celebrations, producers are being asked to deliver the traditional aspects, including a “significant midnight moment” which could include fireworks, drones, lighting or some other major spectacle.
However, they will not have to provide a street party.
READ MORE: This Scottish town isn't even in the tourist guidebook - it really should be
The tender specification document states: “Whilst previous events have incorporated live music and a large street party, the contractor is not obliged to repeat this format but must propose alternative entertainment that maintains or increases the media and audience impact.”
The traditional Hogmanay street party in the Scottish capital has been cancelled for the past two years due to the coronavirus pandemic, but normally draws crowds of tens of thousands of people.
Producers will also be asked to extend Hogmanay Festival events and activities to other parts of the city outside of the centre, such as light installations at Granton waterfront and Leith.
Historically, Edinburgh’s Christmas has taken place over a six-week period from around the third weekend in November to around January 6 and has featured activities including a market, fairground, family attractions and an ice rink.
The council wants to see Christmas celebrations distributed more widely throughout the city centre to avoid overcrowding, and the introduction of alcohol-free times and/or areas.
It also wants to improve the environmental sustainability of the event, including through the local sourcing of products and minimising use of greenspace.
The specifications were devised in response to the findings of a major independent survey into the future of Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals conducted last year.
Edinburgh City Council leader, Adam McVey, said: “Through our citywide conversation with residents, businesses and stakeholders last year, it was clear that there was overwhelming support for the continuation of Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations in the Capital, but with a revised format.
“More than 8600 people and 35 organisations responded to the survey, with 87% expressing support for a Christmas celebration and 86% for Hogmanay.
“I’m confident that by acting on residents’ feedback, we can remain the home of Hogmanay and ensure our Christmas events, enjoyed by so many across the City, continue in a way that balances residents’ needs and aspirations for how they should look and feel in future.”
The tender responses will be used to draw up a shortlist for further consideration, and the council hopes to have a producing partner in place by the summer.
READ MORE: Campaign to attract young travellers to Scotland to boost post-Covid recovery
For Hogmanay, the successful contractor will be required to “maintain the city’s Hogmanay Festival status as a world class event that promotes the city internationally”.
Council depute leader, Cammy Day, said: “Our winter festivals are internationally renowned and, from our conversation with the city, we were pleased that the majority wanted the capital to keep its place on the world map for Christmas celebrations and as home of Hogmanay.
“As well as contributing to the wellbeing of our residents, our winter festivals deliver real economic impact, benefitting tourism, hospitality and leisure sectors in particular.
“With these new contracts, we want to continue to provide inclusive, high-quality, festive celebrations, further enhance the city’s reputation and allow the benefits to be shared across our town centres and communities.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel