‘Modest’ charge to Red Hot Highland Fling helps secure events programme
To help deliver the highly popular Inverness Events and Festivals programme, Inverness Councillors have agreed to introduce entry charges to the Red Hot Highland Fling event planned for 31 December 2023.
At a meeting of The Highland Council’s City of Inverness Area Committee today (28 August) Councillors agreed ‘to the Events and Festivals Working Group having the delegated power to extend charging for entry to the Red Hot Highland Fling event within the community events programme set by the working group.’
Leader of Inverness and Area Councillor Ian Brown said: “The events and festivals programme is very popular with locals and tourists and to maintain delivery of the events - within the context of a reduced budget - entry charges will help to sustain the delivery of the programme while reducing the risk to the Inverness Common Good Fund.”
Chair of the Events and Festivals Working Group Councillor Glynis Campbell Sinclair said: “With the delivery of a highly successful Inverness Highland Games on 15 July at which over 5,000 people attended, the Highland Games income was greatly enhanced through sponsorship and promotion, and we hope to attract high quality sponsorship partners to the Red Hot Highland Fling.”
The Hogmanay event charges are being introduced to help counteract a reduction in budget for the Events and Festivals Working Group which was previously agreed at the City of Inverness Area Committee in February this year from £0.303m in 2022/23 to £0.177m for 2023/24.
Councillor Glynis Campbell Sinclair added ‘Similar to the modest charge introduced at the Inverness Highland Games this year, there will be a charge for entry to the Red Hot Highland Fling. However, I am absolutely sure that Hogmanay revellers will enjoy our fun filled, but traditional programme to see out the ‘Auld Year’ and to bring in 2024.”
She added: “Planning within the available budget, the Working Group has had to prioritise and rationalise the events programme, resulting in the removal of the Halloween event from the programme this year. The working group recognised and prioritised - with the support of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service - the importance of providing a single mass community civic bonfire and fireworks events in November to help reduce public risk from small unofficial bonfires and fireworks displays. The working group also endorsed the significant economic benefits to the area from the Christmas lights switch on and Hogmanay events.”
The Red Hot Highland Fling ticket income required at £0.050m with a maximum expected attendance of 5,000 people will project a ticket price of £10 per person which is subject to an additional 20% VAT + £0.50p booking fee.
Further details of the Inverness events will be promoted in due course.