Covid-19 has resulted in the annual the Inverness Hogmanay celebrations to be scrapped for 2020.
Following a record breaking crowd of over 15,000 revellers in 2019, the Red Hot Highland Fling hosted Dorec-a-belle, Torridon and Skippinish. It perhaps comes as no surprise following in the foot steps of the already cancelled Edinburgh Hogmanay event.
A spokesperson for Highland Council speaking to The National said;
“The City of Inverness Events and Festivals Programme has provided the City in the Highlands with a successful series of much-loved events for over 10 years.Sadly, the Covid-19 pandemic means that there are no events planned for the coming Winter Festival Season at this time.
Our focus is on giving the health and welfare of our community the highest priority and noting the current Government guidance on events, the council does not believe it prudent to commission any events at this at this stage. This means that regrettably, noting the lead-in times for arranging our Red Hot Highland Fling, there is no prospect of the Red Hot Highland Fling taking place this year. We are examining how we can offer alternative type events that will add to the vibrancy of the city.”
Understanding the true value not just financially of the celebrations in Inverness and from an Inverness Gigs’ perspective we do hope that the last line does ring true. Given the recent success of Virtual Belladrum and the online popularity of the likes of The Cowans and Graeme Mackay’s Ceilidh Cabin, it would hope that the Council could use and build on these to give the community a New Year boost.
