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The Hoog

Ceilidh dancersMain event: 31 December. Doors open 7pm, music 7:30m - 3am.
Family event: 30 December. Doors open 6:35pm, music 7pm - 10pm.

The Assembly Rooms, George Street

Main event: £50 per person
Family event: from £42 for a family of 3 to £50 for a family of 5

Update on 31 December: Tickets are still available for the Hogmanay event. 

For a barnstorming party the weather definitely can't spoil, look no further than the Hoog, the celebrated Hogmanay ceilidh held in the splendour of the city-centre Assembly Rooms. For many years this party was known as the New Year Revels: it's back now with a new name, a perkier image, and a family event the night before.

   
 

Mixing and matching the Hoog

When Edinburgh's Hogmanay was a smaller affair, the event at the Assembly Rooms thinned out at midnight as revellers decamped to Princes Street for the bells. But times have changed... and while taking in both the Hoog and the Street Party is still possible, it now takes black-belt organizational skills.

To cut a long story short, you'll need to leave the Assembly Rooms at 10:40 or so, to be sure of getting into the Street Party before the gates close at 11. (It's just round the corner, but you don't want to risk being stuck in queues on the way.) After partying through to midnight al-fresco, you can zip back to the Hoog and stay there till they chuck you out at 3am.

If you're still determined to do the double, remember you'll need tickets for both the Hoog and the Street Party.  If you just want to see the midnight fireworks, you can get by without a Street Party pass by watching from the junction of George Street and Castle Street - though be warned that you'll be looking through a gap in the buildings.

 
   

The Hoog is, first and foremost, a proper Scots jig; ceilidh bands top the bill, and Scots attire is much encouraged by the organizers. It's a classy and dressy occasion - no jeans and T-shirts here - and even those who don't turn out in full Highland rig are asked to pimp their DJ's with the odd bit of tartan and heather.

The massive Assembly Rooms on George Street have room for three stages.  Much-feted rock-ceilidh outfit Teannaich will bring their modern style to the massive Music Hall - the dances will be familiar, but the tunes won't be.  Next door, popular "twisted tartan" group A Whisky Kiss offer an uber-cool alternative, mixing ceilidh classics with clubbing riffs.  And if you can't quite face twirling the whole night away, we're promised a disco to offset the ceilidh bands and some chill-out rooms to boot.

If it all sounds just too good to be true, hold on to your hats as we tell you the prices: £50 a ticket.  Despite the prices, tickets sell fast, and will certainly be gone before Hogmanay itself.  You can book your tickets online, or by phone through Tickets Scotland on 0131 220 3234.

Oh, and if you're wondering - the curious new moniker's taken from the Flemish Hoog min dag ("Big Love Day"), one of numerous competing theories on the origin of the word Hogmanay.

The Family Hoog

In a brave, if possibly doomed, attempt to make ceilidh dancing cool to the teenage generation, the Hoog's running an extra family event this year.  The night before the big one - that is, on 30 December - the Assembly Rooms are once again throwing open their doors, this time welcoming adults and kids alike to jig along in aid of local homelessness charity the Bethany Christian Trust.

The good news about the Family Hoog is that tickets are much cheaper.  You can buy single tickets for £22 (adults) / £11 (under 16), but the best value comes with the family tickets, which admit 3 for £42 rising to 5 for £50.  Again, you can book your tickets online or on 0131 220 3234.

There's no age limit - either low or high! - but the Hoog organizers do suggest 9 years as a sensible minimum for stepping onto the dance floor.

In accordance with our policy on promoting charitable events, FringeGuru verified on 14 November 2009 that Bethany Christian Trust is a registered Scottish charity and is up-to-date on filings with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.

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