Locals plan to host own party after council cancels Inverness Hogmanay celebrations

Inverness locals are hoping to host their own Hogmanay celebrations after the council cancelled the official event due to access issues and increased costs.

Highland Council described the move to cancel the Red Hot Highland Fling as a “very difficult decision” citing “increased costings”.

The New Year party, which in the past has attracted acts such as The Red Hot Chilli Pipers and Skerryvore, faced infrastructure issues at its usual host venues, the Northern Meeting Park and the nearby Bught Park.

The festival is expected to return for 2025.

David Haas, from the Highland Council, said the announcement was made with a “heavy heart” – but that it was also the “right decision”.

Alexandra Park had their application to be a firework control zone rejected

Highlands & Islands

Inverness’ Hogmanay celebrations cancelled due to ‘rising costs’

Highland Council described the move to cancel the event as a ‘very difficult decision’.

He said: “There is a total understanding of the sadness that this will be greeted with. And it is with a heavy heart that the decision was taken by the working group.

“The officers stand with the councillors on this. It’s the right decision to take in the circumstances.”

Business leaders and local residents were united in their despondency at the decision to pull the plug on an event which attracted four-thousand people only two years ago.

The people of Inverness plan to hold their own party along the streets of the city. STV News

“People travel from across the world to come here to celebrate a proper Highland Hogmanay”, said Jo De Sylva, the Hogmanay Music Organiser.

“Of course, that’s been taken away from us this year, so I think there’ll be a huge number of very sad people.”

However, there may be hope for the townspeople of Inverness yet.

Jo De Sylva is part of the promoters behind the New Year event. STV News

The music promoters behind the New Year event revealed exclusively to STV News this afternoon that they’re ready to move forward with alternative plans along Church Street, in the centre of Inverness.

Jo added: “I have spoken to some of the businesses and business organisations along Church Street, here in Inverness.

“We are hoping, very much hoping, that we can put something on along Church Street.

“Get the streets blocked off, and have our own Highland Hogmanay celebrations right in the centre of town involving all the local businesses, all the business organisations, and of course all the people of Inverness.”