Edinburgh hosts the annual Hogmanay Torchlight Procession that traditionally takes place before its New Year's Eve celebrations.
The procession is one of the best-known events in Edinburgh's Hogmanay program. Participants carry flaming torches through the city, creating a moving river of light before the main New Year's festivities. The route and organization can change, and events may be adjusted or canceled for safety, weather, public-health, or operational reasons.
Edinburgh's wider Hogmanay celebrations include concerts, street events, fireworks, and traditions connected with welcoming the New Year. The torchlight spectacle is often associated with the city's Old Town and historic streets, giving the event a distinctive setting compared with celebrations held in open squares or on beaches.
The procession should not be confused with Up Helly Aa, a separate fire festival held in Shetland, usually in January. Nor is it the same as Scotland's national New Year's celebration as a whole: Hogmanay takes place across Scotland, while this particular large torch event is identified with Edinburgh.