Inverness Hogmanay Celebrations.

The Highland Council’s Inverness Hogmanay celebrations, The Red Hot Highland Fling, are to feature on BBC Scotland and BBC ALBA for the first time this year.

Hosted by comedian Craig Hill, this year’s show Northern Meeting Park Arena will start at 7.15 pm and will finish at 1am; and will star Big Country with special guests Skerryvore, Treacherous Orchestra and The Whisky River Band. It will also feature a nationwide Auld Lang Syne which will be broadcast live and will see Inverness joining with other Scottish cities shortly after the bells.

It is expected that up to 10,000 spectators will attend the free Inverness Common Good fund sponsored concert which has a family friendly policy of welcoming children who wish to attend. Arrangements have been made to site a number of hot food vendors and a bar inside the Arena and spectators are reminded that no food or drink is to be brought to the show.

Disabled parking will be available for Blue Badge holders at the front of the Highland Council HQ building on Glenurquhart Road on the night. Families intending to travel to see the Mother Goose pantomime at Eden Court Theatre are also reminded that there will be no parking in the Highland Council complex on the night; and to allow themselves additional time to make alternative parking arrangements.

This year’s party has also been extended to include a special event in the afternoon for children called the Wee Hot Highland Fling which is beings staged as part of Scotland’s Winter Festivals programme. The Wee Hot Highland Fling will start at Noon and will feature a number of musicians, cartoon characters, pipers, stilt walkers and dancers performing at various locations in the City Centre and giving free Auld Lang Syne lessons to anyone who if found not to know the words. The children’s event will culminate with the world’s first not so secret flash sing along which will take place in the food court at the Eastgate Shopping Centre at 2.45pm and will be hosted by MFR’s Nicky Marr.

Inverness Events and Festivals Chair Councillor Glynis Sinclair said: “It is really pleasing that The Red Hot Highland Fling is reaching a wider audience than ever before and we are all looking forward to a wonderful show and welcoming 2013 in style.”

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