Inverness gets ready to welcome visitors to Red Hot Highland Fling extravaganza on Hogmanay

Update:  The parade will commence in Falcon Square at 7.30pm, heading up Inglis Street, down High Street, over the bridge then down Ness Walk.

With Christmas 2023 now a memory, all eyes are focused on Inverness’s Red Hot Highland Fling on Hogmanay. 

The Highland capital is set to welcome revellers to the city to bring in the bells and celebrate the transition to 2024.  

The city will host one of the largest New Year’s Eve ceilidhs on the planet, with entertainment from some of Scotland’s top traditional musicians and singers. 

This Hogmanay organisers have placed the focus firmly on Scotland’s world-renowned ceilidh, where the dances are mixed with guest singers and musicians, and people will have the opportunity to get together and reflect on the past year before ushering in 2024. 

Inverness and Area Provost, Cllr Glynis Campbell Sinclair, said: “Hogmanay is all about tradition and bringing folk together and that’s exactly what this year’s Inverness Red Hot Highland Fling is all about. 

“The event comes straight from the heart of the Highlands and will showcase Scotland at its purest and universally loved best. If you’ve not secured your tickets yet, don’t leave it until the last minute, and avoid disappointment.” 

Everyone is invited to join the procession which will be led by Pyro Celtica and Harbinger Drumming Group who have previously led Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations. 

The procession will end at the Northern Meeting Park. In a change to previous years the event will be more about participating than just listening to bands. 

The Provost added: “We want people to really engage with what Hogmanay is all about. We’ve got one of Scotland’s Finest Ceilidh bands, Highland Fire who include local lads Calum MacPhail and Sean Cousins from the band Horo, to keep the dancers moving.” 

Skipinnish’s very own Norrie MacIver will be joining for some songs in both English and Gaelic. There’s also three-time winner of the Scots Trad Music Award and BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winner Siobhan Miller to lead reveller up to the bells. 

There will also be instrumental fireworks will be provided by multi- award-winning duo Ali Hutton and Ross Ainslie who were the driving force behind The Treacherous Orchestra. And they’ll be joined by Ewan Robertson from current winners of the “Scots Folk Band of the year” Breabach. 

Anyone who wants to join the Ceilidh at Northern Meeting Park will need to buy a General Admission ticket. Holders of plus one cards will gain entry but will have to be shown on arrival. 

The Parade element of the evening is free for anyone to join. 

* All under 18’s must be accompanied by a responsible adult. 

* Maximum of 2 under 18’s per adult. 

* Tickets are non-refundable. 

Tickets are available on the Highland Winter Festival website. 

Important Information: 

The Red Hot Highland Fling at Northern Meeting Park is an outdoor event. Please bear in mind that this is an open space with no shelter and specified seating. 

Due to the nature of a Ceilidh there will be a lot of movement and dancing, this is not a concert but a ceilidh relying on you the crowd to participate in the action to add to the atmosphere. 

This is a licensed event with a bar and a number of food traders on site for everyone to enjoy. The event license means you will not be permitted to bring your own alcohol to the event. 

Infants under the age of 12 months in a baby carrier will not require a ticket to gain entrance to the event, however any child over the age of one or an infant in a pram will require a ticket to gain entry due to capacity restrictions. 

Please keep an eye on the weather forecast and dress according to the conditions.