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Torchlight Procession

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  • Fri 29 Dec 2023
  • 6pm – 8.30pm
  • The Meadows to City Centre
    (New start location!)
  • £20.00 per Torch (includes £2.00 charity donation and fees)
    £7.50 Procession Wristbands (includes £1.50 charity donation and fees) – only available when purchased alongside a Torch

Torchlight Procession in partnership with Social Bite

Social Bite: Ending Homelessness

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay have teamed up with acclaimed homelessness charity Social Bite to bring the Torchlight Procession back for our 30th anniversary celebrations!

Join 20,000 people for this annual sell-out event and carry a Torch to shine a light on homelessness, helping raise over £50,000 for Social Bite projects in Edinburgh and across Scotland.

Enjoy a carnival atmosphere at the rebooted event, with a new start location at the Meadows presenting a feast of live Street Theatre, Fire Performers, Pipe Bands and Drummers to get celebrations started, before Vikings from Shetland’s South Mainland Up Helly Aa’ Jarl Squad lead the procession, to create a stunning river of fire through the capital’s historic Old Town.

A donation of £2 from each Torch sold (£20.00 inc. fees) and £1.50 from additional Procession Tickets (£7.50 inc. fees) will be donated to Social Bite and the event will see torch carrying revellers draw attention to the issue of homelessness and the important work being done to tackle it in Edinburgh and throughout Scotland.

Procession Times:

  • 6pm – Entertainment begins at the Meadows
  • 7pm – Torchlight Procession leaves The Meadows
  • 8pm/8.30pm – Procession ends in city centre

Please Note:

  • You must have purchased a Torch or Procession Wristband to take part in this year’s Torchlight Procession
  • Anyone under 16yrs MUST be accompanied at all times by an adult over 18yrs of age
  • Please note you will need to purchase at least one torch per booking
  • If there is more than 1 person in your group, you will need to purchase additional torches or wristbands for them to take part in the Procession
  • We recommend carrying one torch between two persons in a group
  • A donation of £2.00 will be made to our official charity partner Social Bite from each torch to help eradicate homelessness in Scotland
  • A donation of £1.50 will be made to our official charity partner Social Bite from each Procession Wristband to help eradicate homelessness in Scotland
  • E-tickets will be scanned on-the-day at Torch Collections Points and exchanged for Torches & Wristbands.
  • Torch & Wristband Collection available from 2pm and locations will be publicised closer to the event
  • Torches & Procession Wristbands will only be distributed to ticket holders on-the-day
  • We recommend collecting your Torches & Procession Wristbands early on-the-day to avoid queuing closer to the event.

Top Tips:

  • Torchlight Procession is an outdoor event using wax-based torches, please dress appropriately.
  • Torchlight Procession is an incredibly safe event, but we need participants to help maintain this and follow all safety instructions from Event Stewards when carrying torches.
  • Please wear warm outdoor clothing and suitable footwear for walking
  • Torchlight Procession is a very busy, outdoor event, please ensure you have a charged mobile phone for communicating with friends and family… and for taking lots of photos
  • No children’s buggies are permitted in the procession
  • Torch collection points will be open from 2pm on-the-day and we would recommend collecting your Torches & Procession Wristbands early to avoid queuing closer to the event.

Safety Information:

  • Torchlight Procession is an incredibly safe event, but we need participants to help maintain this and follow all safety instructions when carrying torches.
  • Event Stewards & Staff are here to help you. Don’t be worried to ask for help in any situation, whether it is to assist with event information, lighting or extinguishing torches, or to report something or someone you are worried about.
  • Torches will be lit prior to departure by trained Event Stewards, participants must not light torches until instructed to by an Event Steward.
  • Torches are wax based (like a big candle), safety guards are supplied to protect hands from dripping wax.
  • Please note – when windy, wax from the torches can be blown onto clothing. Whilst easily removable (Top Tip – an iron and brown paper will remove wax), please dress appropriately and do not carry torches wearing delicate fabrics.
  • Please stay on designated paths and roads for the procession and be aware of other participants with torch flames.
  • All torches will be extinguished and disposed of at the end location of the Torchlight Procession. Extinguishing points will also be located throughout the route for anyone who wished to dispose of their torch.
  • Report any suspicious activities or safety concerns to event staff.
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