Edinburgh's Hogmanay 2007 to 2008

Almost 100,000 revellers flooded the streets of Edinburgh on 31 December 2007 to 1 January 2008 to join the city�s famous Hogmanay Street Party, once again confirming Edinburgh as the ultimate home of Hogmanay. Over ninety-five thousand people were in Princes Street and Princes Street Gardens to enjoy the music, dancing and spectacular Seven Hills fireworks which welcomed in the New Year with an enormous bang at midnight. The crowds also enjoyed a surprise appearance from rock icon Noel Gallagher at Concert in the Gardens.

Edinburgh�s Hogmanay, which includes the famous Street Party, the sell-out Concert in the Gardens, the outdoor Ceilidh in the Gardens and The Hoog, Edinburgh�s new indoor Hogmanay party, was hailed a great success by its organisers. Edinburgh�s festivals and events champion, Councillor Steve Cardownie, said: �Edinburgh�s Hogmanay Street Party is one of the best New Year parties in the world, and this year�s event showed once again that Edinburgh really is the home of Hogmanay. It was absolutely buzzing out there.�

Top rock band Kasabian headlined Concert in the Gardens, with special guests Idlewild and newcomer Calvin Harris, who played after the bells. There was also a surprise for the crowd when Noel Gallagher appeared on stage to join Kasabian for three songs before midnight. At Edinburgh�s Hogmanay Street Party, Princes Street rocked to music from three live stages featuring artists including singer-songwriter King Creosote, ethno-techno dance group Trans-Global Underground, Scotland�s latest stars The Red Hot Chilli Pipers, and party king, The Great Calverto.

In East Princes Street Gardens, the popular Ceilidh in the Gardens saw over 3000 people reel in the New Year beneath Edinburgh Castle to the sounds of Salsa Celtica, Mark Saul and the Sandy Brechin Band.

Pete Irvine, managing director of Unique Events, the organisers of Edinburgh�s Hogmanay said: �We are absolutely delighted with the event this year. The Torchlight night, The Night Afore in George Street and tonight�s Street Party are all very different but they make up something which is quite unique in the world. There have been suggestions in the media recently that perhaps Edinburgh has lost its crown, but at the end of tonight we can confidently say that Edinburgh is still and will remain the best place in the world to celebrate New Year. Ask anyone who was here!�

Lothian and Borders Police have also viewed the evening as a success, with no major incidents and only four arrests for minor disorders. Since introducing control barriers in 1999, there have been significantly fewer accidents.

Assistant Chief Constable Neil Richardson of Lothian and Borders Police said: �We�d like to thank the crowds last night for their patience and cooperation at the barriers, and for drinking responsibly. We were really proud to have the streets so full with so few incidents.�

As the celebrations ended, Council staff started the major clean-up operation at 3am to ensure the city centre will be as good as new by mid-morning.

Festivities conclude on 1 January 2008 with a varied day of outdoor events. Thousands of participants and spectators are expected to head to the Royal Mile and Holyrood Park to enjoy the Edinburgh Bicycle Triathlon, husky racing in Edinburgh�s Dogmanay, the IronKids Duathlon and The One o�Clock Run, a gentle one mile fun run from the Castle Esplanade down the Royal Mile, which is started with the One o�Clock Gun at Edinburgh Castle.

To contact the Edinburgh's Organised Hogmanay for more information, log onto the website below: