An Edinburgh Hogmanay favourite has been cut from the 2022 programme due to the economic climate and a “drop in available funding.”
The Hogmanay Torchlight Procession has been a mainstay feature of the festival, and has been the traditional kick off to the three day event since the first official events nearly 30 years ago.
According to a local travel blogger, the procession is “a fiery spectacle where over 20,000 torch-bearers carry burning candles through the city centre to celebrate the coming new year.”
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As reported by The Scotsman, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay organisers at Unique Events said: “We have been trying hard to find a way to bring the Torchlight Procession into Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations this year, however we are very disappointed to confirm that due to the current economic climate, and the drop in available funding, we are unable to go ahead with this event in 2022.”
In addition to scrapping the procession, organisers have also halved the usual capacity to 30,000.
City council leader Cammy Day said: "This is a new chapter for Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebration as we continue to build back following the pandemic.
"I'm sure many will be disappointed that the torchlight procession hasn't returned straight away, but we look forward to seeing it back next year, better than ever.
"Whilst I share the disappointment with many that we won't see the return of the torchlight procession, Edinburgh's Hogmanay will still be the best place to welcome 2023.”
The City of Edinburgh Council provides most of the funding for Hogmanay events.
Unique Events, the company which launched the festival in 1993, joined forces with Fringe operator Assembly to form a consortium, which secured a £4 million contract to take over the city's world-famous new year festivities for up to five years.
"So far Unique and Assembly have announced an exciting 'Night Afore Disco Party' with Sophie Ellis-Bextor, the return of the best street party in the world with Pet Shop Boys headlining the 'Concert in the Gardens' and have topped it off with an inaugural New Year's Day 'Final Fling' showcase,” Councillor Cammy Day said.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay full line up of events will be announced later this week, and they hope to bring the torchlight procession back in 2023.
“Our full programme of events, including activities for families and children, over the three days of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay will be announced later this week,” organisers said.
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