The iconic, opening event of Edinburgh’s four-day Hogmanay Festival was cancelled earlier tonight due to high winds.
In the planned Torchlight Procession, up to 20,000 torch bearers were due to create “a river of fire” as they paraded from the Meadows through Edinburgh’s Old Town to Castle Terrace.
However, this year’s Hogmanay has coincided with a series of Met Office yellow weather warnings of strong winds, heavy rain and snow across the UK up until 2nd January.
The fiery Hogmanay event was due to start with participants gathering at the Meadows from 6.30pm with the torchlight procession scheduled to set off at 7.30pm, led by Vikings from Shetland’s South Mainland Up Helly Aa’ Jarl Squad.
A little over an hour before the procession was due to head off, crowds were building at The Meadows, when Unique Assembly, organisers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, announced that it was cancelling the event due to public safety concerns.
The fact that the wax torches used in the Procession have a tendency to drip and hot wax can be blown by the wind onto clothing and exposed skin, has always been an occupational hazard for torch bearers. Edinburgh can be blustery at the best of times, but tonight the wind was considered too much of a risk.
In a statement released on its website and social media, Unique Assembly said:
“Due to on-going high winds at sections of the Torchlight Procession route, unfortunately tonight’s event is unable to go-ahead on the grounds of public safety. The safety of all attending is our top priority and following recent torch tests on the route, the winds are proving too strong to proceed safely.”
The statement continued: “We know that this will be hugely disappointing to all who wished to participate. For those who have collected torches, please deposit these with event stewards as you leave the Meadows or with Edinburgh’s Christmas box offices.”
In spite of the cancellation, many revellers tried to make the most of it with vikings in full battle dress found trooping through the Grassmarket.
Many disappointed ticket holders took to social media to say they received very late or no notice about the cancellation of the procession.
Others asked why the Procession could not have gone ahead without the fiery torches.
“There really should have been a contingency plan for poor weather,” wrote Rebeca Quigley on Facebook, “could the bands not have played / led a procession with people carrying led lights or similar rather than cancelling the entire event?”
Grace Bateman added: “If the procession had gone ahead with the bagpipes and drummers and just a march and cheer. It would have been wonderful.”
Previous Torchlight Cancellations
The Torchlight Procession has been a key event of the Hogmanay Festival since the last millennium.
This is not the first time that the fiery procession has been cancelled, although it is the first due to bad weather.
The Torchlight Procession was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to pandemic restrictions. When the Hogmanay festival returned in 2022, the Torchlight Procession was not part of the programme.
The Procession was reinstated in December 2023, however there were doubts that it would be part of this year’s Hogmanay Festival until an announcement was made on 31st October, following confirmation of £125,000 support from Scottish Government agency EventScotland.
Its future viability may come into question after tonight's cancellation.
Streetparty a Go?
In the past, the Street Party has fallen foul of Edinburgh's unpredictable weather. The Street Party was cancelled in 2003-2004 and in 2006-2007 due to strong winds.
There are further yellow warnings of strong wind for Edinburgh in the coming days, but the weather is expected to ease by Hogmanay night.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay organisers say the challenge has been in getting infrastructure in place during the worst of the weather, although they have erected the temporary stage in Princes Street Gardens for the Night Afore Disco Party with Hot Dub Time Machine later today (Monday 30th) and the Concert in the Gardens headlined by Texas on Hogmanay itself (Tuesday 31st).
Organisers are also all set for a 6-minute Midnight Moment fireworks and light show from Edinburgh Castle.
Update 30 Dec: Edinburgh's Hogmanay Outdoor Events Cancelled
Edinburgh's Hogmanay organisers have announced that due to continued high winds major outdoor events have been cancelled.
Indoor events will continue.
The cancellation includes tonight's Night Afore Disco Party in West Princes Street Gardens, and on the 31st December, the Edinburgh's Hogmanay Street Party, Concert in the Gardens, and the Midnight Moment fireworks.
In the announcement, organisers said:
"Due to ongoing high winds and inclement weather in Edinburgh city centre, we regret to announce that outdoor events scheduled for tonight (30th Dec) and the 31st December are unable to go ahead on the grounds of public safety.
We have unfortunately been unable to continue with preparations and necessary set-up for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay outdoor events due to extreme weather and forecast conditions. Therefore, for safety reasons we, along with our event partners, have taken the difficult decision to cancel all outdoor events."
Read more on the cancellation of Edinburgh's Hogmanay outdoor events here