THOUSANDS of revellers welcomed in the New Year in Edinburgh last night at the sell-out street party.
Some 50,000 saw in 2024 at the massive bash that was headlined by Britpop stars, Pulp.
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Excited throngs packed out Princes Street as the ’90s favourites entertained 10,000 fans at the Ross Bandstand in the nearby gardens.
At midnight a six-minute firework extravaganza using 3 tonnes of fireworks and one tonne of explosives lit up the sky over the capital.
Despite the chilly temperature, the crowd partied in the street to a Hot Chip DJ set that was played across the arena on giant screens.
Punters guzzled £6 cans of lager and cider that were being sold from vans across the Princes Street arena.
Lavanya, a 27-year-old engineer from India, travelled from her home in Dublin to be in Edinburgh for the celebrations.
She said: “I came to Scotland for a few days and decided to come to Edinburgh for the street party.
“I was looking around online for the best places to celebrate and it was clear I should come here.
“The cultural events here have been really good so far and I can’t wait to see the midnight fireworks. I am sure they will be colourful and vibrant.
“I am looking forward to meeting new people who are also here to celebrate.”
Frank Connell travelled from Newry, Northern Ireland with his sons Coialean, 21, Nial, 23 and daughter Elena, 27 to experience the street party for themselves.
The 60-year-old driving instructor said: “This is my first time here for the New Year but Elena has been for the Fringe Festival a few years ago.
“We have seen the Edinburgh celebration on the news for years so we thought we should all go and do it for real.
“We started planning a few months back and got tickets for the street party so we are looking forward to that and seeing the fireworks.
“Edinburgh is a great city and people want to be here on Hogmanay and we are delighted to be here.”
Kaye Norris, 46 and her partner Alex Bianco from Guildford, Surrey enjoyed their first New Year in Edinburgh.
Nursery manager, Kay, said: “I have never been here and it is absolutely stunning.
“So we planned a short break so we could be in Edinburgh for the celebrations.
“We have been to Paris and London before but we have always wanted to come here so this was the year.
“I am really looking forward to seeing the fireworks and listening to the band.”
Personal Trainer, Alex, 45 added: “I am from Brazil and have also seen the Edinburgh party on the news.
“I have been to Edinburgh a few times but never for New Year.
“One of my friends is from Stirling so he has told me what to expect and I really can’t wait to see the fireworks and have some beers and whiskey.”
Al Thomson co-director of Unique Assembly – which organises Edinburgh’s four-day Hogmanay celebrations on behalf of the city council – said: “Fifty thousand people in the streets of Edinburgh enjoying good music, good company and one of the best fireworks displays in the world – there’s no better way to start the New Year.”
Elsewhere in Scotland eight-year-old Matthew McGurk, and his six year-year-old brother, James, aged five celebrated the New Year in Beith, Ayrshire.
Siobhan Miller, who won the Scots Trad Music Award three times and the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award twice, is bringing in the bells with a huge crowd in Inverness.
There will also be “one of the biggest ceilidhs on the planet” at the city’s Red Hot Highland Fling, according to organisers.
The Highland Council charged £10 for a ticket to the event, which was previously free, in a bid to generate £50,000.
The money is set to help cover the cost of the massive celebrations.
Many Scots will be back in the boozer for New Year’s Day meet-ups on Monday.
And pubs have bookings for the rest of the week, with schools still on holiday, festive attractions still open – and pals’ get-togethers ahead for the first month of 2024.
Boozers, now scrambling to restock cellars, cheered the wet January ahead.
Drinkers taking a break from the booze will also hit pubs, boosting spending, with a record array of non-alcoholic drinks available.
UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “In January, hospitality businesses are hoping for a continuation of the positive sales seen across the UK over the Christmas and New Year period.
“Pubs, bars and restaurants form a key part of local communities, so we’d encourage people to support those businesses this January.”
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