by Organizers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay are hoping to avoid a New Year’s bust, with forecasts of heavy rain having passed before the revelers ring in 2023.
The world-famous celebration has been canceled due to Covid for the past two years, but a sell-out crowd of 30,000 will bring the New Year to Princes Street on Saturday as part of the three-day event.
Al Thompson, director of organizers at Unique Assembly, said the expected worst weather would have to pass but urged party-goers to wrap up warm for the festivities.
He said on Thursday: “It’s winter outdoors in Scotland, but I’m really pleased that we’re coming to the end of some choppy weather this week, so from tomorrow until New Years we have a clear run.
“It will be cold but it will be dry, and that is the main thing.
“We’re just telling people to make sure they’re dressed up and dressed for the weather before heading out because most of the events take place outdoors.”
As the clock strikes midnight and 2023 begins, the Met Office predicts temperatures of 1C, with a drop to 0C by 3am.
The festivities kick off on Friday with Sophie Ellis-Bextor headlining the Night Afore Party in West Princes Street Gardens, hours after the 2pm rain alarm was lifted.
The weather warning, part of a series covering most of Scotland, comes as the deadly bomb cyclone that has plunged temperatures across the Atlantic makes its way across the UK.
Cammy Day, leader of Edinburgh City Council, said the Hogmanay celebrations were back with a bang and tickets were selling like hot cakes.
“It’s really good news that people want this to happen and it will, as always I believe, be one of the biggest and best events in the world here in the capital city of Edinburgh,” he added.
He said hundreds of thousands of people will take part in citywide festivities in the coming days.
“The big bang that we will have, bringing back the festivals and Hogmanay this year will be a good boon for the city both economically but also for us in the last couple of years who haven’t had so much fun, it’s a great feeling that the city is back “, he said.
Workers are busy putting the finishing touches to the main stage for concerts in West Princes Street Gardens, which the Pet Shop Boys will help carry into 2023 as part of Concert in the Gardens.
Organizers said all of Saturday’s events – the concert in the gardens, the Street Party, the candlelight concert at St Giles’ and the Ceilidh Festival’s Hogmanay countdown – were sold out.
Limited tickets remain available for The Night Afore Party and Final Fling on New Year’s Day, featured by Tidelines with guests Elephant Sessions and Hamish Hawk.
There are also a number of free performances on 1 January as part of the First Footin’ celebrations.
Police Scotland Superintendent David Robertson said a major policing operation would be underway across Edinburgh, with extra officers on patrol.
“We will have a dedicated police operation to support the organizers and council to organize the street party event,” he said.
Edinburgh Trams will offer free night services from midnight to 5am on Sundays between the West End and Edinburgh Airport.
Lothian Buses offers a special Hogmanay ticket on its night services.
