2010-03-10T13:36:40Z Inverness Winter Festival 2009 Copyright 2010, Inverness Winter Festival 2009 SPHPBLOG Dec 31st 1:30pm


(Picture by Simon Varley)

We are very sorry to announce that The Red Hot Highland Fling has been cancelled on the advice of Northern Constabulary due to the extreme weather which has arrived in the Highlands.

The main concern that we have is of course for the safety of our concert goers and those working at the event.

Sadly the difficulties that are currently being experienced by the spectators and performers heading for Inverness due to the closure or dangerous state of some of the roads around Inverness at the present time has made this an easy, but very painful, decision for us to make.

Unfortunately the only thing that we are unable to control during our Festival is the weather.

Despite this huge disappointment to everybody involved there is only one thing left to say ....

"Happy New Year Folks" ....we really did give it our best shot!]]> http://www.invernessfestivals.com/winter08/blog/index.php?entry=entry091231-140258 2009-12-31T00:00:00Z 2009-12-31T00:00:00Z The Red Hot Highland Fling which is guaranteed to bring our 2009 Winter Festival to an unforgettable climax.
]

Headlined by Scotland's favourite Hogmanay Party band The Red Hot Chilli Pipers and featuring special guests Blazin Fiddles and Peatbog Faeries, it really doesn't get any better than this when it comes to a line up for a Hogmanay show.The news that three of Scotland’s favourite festival bands will be performing FREE at a family friendly show in Northern Meeting Park Arena has been greeted with delight across the Highlands and we look forward to welcoming everybody who is travelling from further afield to join us.

The Gates will open at 20:00 and the show will open at 20:30 with the award winning winning group, Blazin Fiddles , who will showcase the distinct flavour of fiddle music from various regions of the Highlands and Island in a fiery blend that is guaranteed to get the party off to a rousing start.

Blazing Fiddles will be followed by The Red Hot Chilli Pipers who went down a storm at the 2008 Inverness St Andrew’s Days celebrations.

Winners of BBC one primetime show ‘When Will I be Famous’ and voted ‘Live Act of the Year 2007’ at the Scots Traditional Music Awards, The Red Hot Chilli Pipers have a huge following in the Highlands and are guaranteed to ensure that Northern Meeting Park is bouncing.

The Red Hot Chilli Pipers are performing in the middle of our show by popular demand in order to give some of the younger citizens of Inverness the chance to experience the sights and sounds of a band that have to be seen to be believed.

Taking us to the bells and the Fireworks display that will explode over Northern Meeting Park to welcome in 2010 will be the Skye based Peatbog Faeries who are one of Scotland’s best known names in contemporary folk music.

Their music embodies many styles and influences, including rock, jazz, electronica, and folk - but their main influence is traditional celtic music. The band's unique sound is created through a mix of programmed effects and traditional celtic arrangements, played on bagpipes, fiddles, and whistles.

Councillor Glynis Sinclair of the Inverness Festivals Working Group said “We are absolutely delighted to have signed up The Red Hot Chilli Pipers , Blazin Fiddles and the Peatbog Faeries for our Hogmanay Party.

All three bands are guaranteed to ensure that Inverness is going to have one of the most enjoyable traditional Hogmanay parties staged in Scotland this year and we are really looking forward to what should be a tremendous night with a Red Hot Hogmanay Party atmosphere”.

Hope to see you all in Northern Meeting Park Arena for an unforgettable night.]]> http://www.invernessfestivals.com/winter08/blog/index.php?entry=entry091221-202234 2009-12-21T00:00:00Z 2009-12-21T00:00:00Z

All the major outdoor events in the 2009 Inverness Winter Festival are sponsored by the Inverness Common Good Fund are free of charge .
You don't need to get a ticket in advance to get in to our free events. All you need to do is dress up warmly and turn up with a smile. Naturally if you have seriously overdone the pre-event cocktails, we reserve the right to refuse admission to you or the friend you are holding up.

All our events are family friendly gatherings and for those of you joining us for the first time we hope you will help us ensure that the younger members of community have a great time.]]> http://www.invernessfestivals.com/winter08/blog/index.php?entry=entry091221-012305 2009-12-21T00:00:00Z 2009-12-21T00:00:00Z
There are scores of photographs in our Gallery and we would love to see the photographs that you took at this great event.

]]> http://www.invernessfestivals.com/winter08/blog/index.php?entry=entry091220-234908 2009-12-20T00:00:00Z 2009-12-20T00:00:00Z On Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th December Santa and his reindeer hosted a wonderful party in Whin Park.Hundreds of families turned out to join in the fun and made this one of the most magical events in the whole Winter Festival. ]]> http://www.invernessfestivals.com/winter08/blog/index.php?entry=entry091220-150717 2009-12-20T00:00:00Z 2009-12-20T00:00:00Z
Scottie says

"Yes the Loch Ness Monster does exist and she will be swimming in Loch Ness on both December 31st and January 1st as usual.


If you have a question that you would like answering about the Inverness Winter Festival please leave it here and we will get Scottie to answer it for you.


Do I need tickets for the Hogmanay Party?


Scottie says

"No. Thanks to the members of the Inverness City Committee, this is a free event to which everybody is invited.

All you have to do is turn up at Northern Meeting Park Arena ready for the opening of the gates at 8pm dressed as warmly as possible.

You don't need tickets - just a great big warm smile is all we are looking for.

Remember this is a real family event so bring the wee ones and show them how Hogmanay should be celebrated!"

For the answers to more questions - click the comments link below
]]> http://www.invernessfestivals.com/winter08/blog/index.php?entry=entry091213-152525 2009-12-13T00:00:00Z 2009-12-13T00:00:00Z
The 2009 Hogmany Ecumenical Service will take place in historic St Andrew's Cathedral on the banks of the River Ness.

The annual Hogmanay Ecumenical Service is one of the most popular traditional events in the Winter Festival Calendar bringing together as it does the people of Inverness for an interdenominational service of thanks at the end of each year.

This year's Service will take the form of Choral Evensong and the Preacher will be Father James Bell from S. Mary's Roman Catholic Church Inverness.

Everybody is welcome to attend this Service and we hope that those of you visiting Inverness for the first time will take this opportunity to experience a service in our beautiful cathedral.
]]> http://www.invernessfestivals.com/winter08/blog/index.php?entry=entry091210-112509 2009-12-10T00:00:00Z 2009-12-10T00:00:00Z FUNDRAISING CONCERT - THE IRONWORKS - THURSDAY DECEMBER 17th

The Friends of Inverness Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre have announced that Fest-Aid, the Winter Festival’s first ever fundraising concert which was held in the Ironworks in Inverness on December 17th has raised over £1000.

Hosted by DJ Andi Candoo, Fest-Aid was one of the few concerts ever staged where folk had the choice of paying to attend or not and thanks to the generosity of sponsors, The Ironworks and the Inverness Common Good Fund and the Inverness Festival together with a wonderful line up of talent, a great night was had by all.

FESTAID LINE UP

Jim Hunter
Broch Inspectors
Canntaireachd Harmony Singing Group
Fèis a Bhàle
Fèis na h'Oige
Matthew Maclennan and Nicky McMichan
DJ Andi Candoo

Councillor John Holden said " I would like to thank everyone who supported Fest-Aid and help us raise such a wonderful amount. Thanks to the kindness of The Ironworks and the Inverness City Committee it has given the MS Therapy Centre a wonderful early Christmas present which I know will be appreciated by both the members and their families and the Centre's staff and volunteers!" ]]> http://www.invernessfestivals.com/winter08/blog/index.php?entry=entry091207-153625 2009-12-07T00:00:00Z 2009-12-07T00:00:00Z
Big Rory would like to apologise to the bus drivers of Inverness for Rudolph's behaviour.



]]> http://www.invernessfestivals.com/winter08/blog/index.php?entry=entry091206-094439 2009-12-06T00:00:00Z 2009-12-06T00:00:00Z


There are lots more pictures in our Festival Gallery

Don't forget to upload your pictures as well - we love seeing them!
]]> http://www.invernessfestivals.com/winter08/blog/index.php?entry=entry091205-184855 2009-12-05T00:00:00Z 2009-12-05T00:00:00Z Santa joined Cllr Roy Pedersen to welcome the Victorian Market Model Railway back for the 2009 Winter Season on Saturday 28 November.

The model railway runs around a track high above the Inverness Victorian Market's shops and is one of the most popular children's favourites in Inverness



To discover more about the Victorian Market click on the link below]]> http://www.invernessfestivals.com/winter08/blog/index.php?entry=entry091128-162211 2009-11-28T00:00:00Z 2009-11-28T00:00:00Z
Santa arrives by Rocket at Inverness Town House


The wonderful Gaelic Carol Singers of Coisir Og Inbhir Nis



]]> http://www.invernessfestivals.com/winter08/blog/index.php?entry=entry091110-134701 2009-11-10T00:00:00Z 2009-11-10T00:00:00Z

After two hugely successful years the third annual Highland Santa Run returns to Inverness on Sunday 29th November as part of the Inverness Winter Festival.

The 2008 Santa Run saw hundreds of people from across Inverness, the Highlands and Moray take part in this 5km fun run with a festive twist….all participants were dressed as Santa!

You can register to be part of the fun at the UK’s most northerly Santa Run now and we would love to hear what you think about one of the funniest events staged during our festival.


To find our more about the Santa Run or to register visit www.wilddayout.com or call 01667 458849



]]> http://www.invernessfestivals.com/winter08/blog/index.php?entry=entry091108-135257 2009-11-08T00:00:00Z 2009-11-08T00:00:00Z
It sounds like it could be a lot of fun so please click on the link below for further details and good luck! ]]> http://www.invernessfestivals.com/winter08/blog/index.php?entry=entry091106-210040 2009-11-06T00:00:00Z 2009-11-06T00:00:00Z http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HZII4D5nYw

]]> http://www.invernessfestivals.com/winter08/blog/index.php?entry=entry091106-040750 2009-11-06T00:00:00Z 2009-11-06T00:00:00Z
Joining the Inverness Winter Festival programme in 2009 was one of the most popular family events staged in the Highlands - the award winning Inverness Grand Bonfire and Fireworks Display at Bught Park.

By popular demand the start of the show was moved to the later time of 7.30pm to make it easier for folk to attend and what a good idea that turned out to be with a record crowd estimated to be in excess of 20,000 arriving on a lovely autumn evening to enjoy the show.

The action started in Bught Park Stadium grandstand at 7pm when the Falcon Drummers played their African Drums with their special guest for the evening BBC TV's famous Pudsey Bear who arrived to tell us all about the special BBC Children in Need Event on November 14th which you can read all about on the Children in Need Page to your right.

Also joining the Falcon Drummers was Hilton Primary School's Lewis Melville who won the competition to lead the countdown to the launch of the fireworks. Just for the record he did a splendid job!

Following the Falcons performance at 7.30pm Provost Jimmy Gray stepped forward to light the giant 40 bonfire supported by his special assostant for the night the 8 foot 6 inch legend Big Rory who delighted the crowd with his antics.

The bonfire was constructed over 4 days by the Highland Council’s Technical Services team and looked absolutely brilliant under the floodlights.

Our bonfire is one of the largest constructed in the UK each year and this year's monster was no exception.

Constructed from unwanted pallets donated by our business community, this was a real slow burner with smoke drifting upwards for hundreds of feet in the still air before the bonfire roared into life and created a roaring inferno that had to be seen to be believed.


The award winning Fireworx Scotland Display team returned to Bught Park determined to provide us with a memorable display and in complete contrast to last year’s display, when we enjoyed an excellent set by local band Shutter, this year’s display featured some of our classical music favourites.

The show was imaginative, varied and by common consent absolutely brilliant and over 20,000 spectators roared their approval.



]]> http://www.invernessfestivals.com/winter08/blog/index.php?entry=entry091105-204732 2009-11-05T00:00:00Z 2009-11-05T00:00:00Z
Haunted Ness Islands Blog
by Gerry Reynolds
SEE THE MOVIE HERE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HZII4D5nYw



There can be no doubt that the 2009 Winter Festival got off to a magical start

The reaction to Blackbeard's Haunted Ness Island has been amazing. And to think it all started with a few words written a long time ago....

“Nobody ever speaks of it but it’s something we now know, when darkness falls at Halloween – to Ness Islands they do go.”



The 2009 Inverness Winter Festival opened with an entry from the log of Lieutenant Robert Maynard of the Royal Navy who was given the job of hunting down and destroying the famous Pirate Blackbeard and his crew in 1717 and he was right.


To Ness Islands they did go and didn't we love them for it?

An estimated 12,000 Inverness Winter Festival goers joined Blackbeard and his friends on Ness Islands on October 30th and 31st and enjoyed one of the biggest and most ambitious outdoor theatrical, lighting, projection and audience participation experiences every staged in the Highlands.


The culmination of months of top secret workshops organised by Eden Court Theatre across the Highlands saw young performers and artists from as far away as Skye and Wick join up with their counterparts from Inverness area and top professional walkabout performers to stage numerous scenes around the 1300 metre performance trail to the delight of our spectators.


And what brilliant spectators they were. Our Festival goers played their part to the full with with hundreds of them turning out in fantastic costumes with smiles on their faces (or behind their masks) determined to create a night to remember.



So much so that sometimes it was difficult for us to work out where our show ended and the show being staged by the audience began.


Everywhere you looked there wes something magical to see and the creativity of John McGeogh of Arts in Motion amd John Beaton of the Highland Council's Lighting Department in transforming Ness Islands into a kingdowm fit for a Pirate King was appreciated by all.,

And what a magnificent 9 foot high Pirate King our utterly deranged but always funny Blackbeard turned out to be.



Any night where you can send hundreds of families happy and be introduced to two crazy giant Seagulls with attitude cannot be bad.






Now it is your turn

We would love to hear what you thought of Blackbeard's Haunted Ness Islands and don't forget to visit our Festival Gallery and share your photographs and videos with us. ]]> http://www.invernessfestivals.com/winter08/blog/index.php?entry=entry091101-094233 2009-11-01T00:00:00Z 2009-11-01T00:00:00Z THE GREAT PIRATE FLAG DEBATE


Some of you may have read in the papers that we decided to fly a pirate flag above the Town House on Monday 26 December and that some folk found it offensive.

Naturally we apologise for offending anyone who may have been offended and we would love to hear what you think.

For those who don't know, this is how we set the scene.

Despite repeated requests from Councillors in Inverness to behave themselves, visiting Pirates have been repeatedly climbing on to the Town House roof in the middle of the night, taking down the Saltire and hoisting the Skull and Cross Bones.

After speaking to Northern Constabulary, the Health and Safety Executive and the Harbour Master, Councillors have today decided to leave the flag flying over Inverness Town House for the opening week of the 2009 Inverness Winter Festival in order to prevent an accident.

Cllr Roy Pedersen of the Inverness Winter Festival Working Group said “Clearly the Council has a responsibility to prevent members of the public being hurt by a Pirate falling off the Town House roof in the middle of the night. We are not happy about the situation but we can assure everybody that the flag will be coming down as soon as their ship leaves the River Ness at high tide on Monday”.

A spokesman for Captain Blackbeard (also know as Edward Teach, Edward Thatch or Edward Drummond of Bristol or London depending on who is asking) said “We have nothing to do with the lead that is missing from the Town House roof and have never seen that flag before”

Blackbeard’s Haunted Ness Islands will be open from 6pm to 9pm on Friday 30th October and Saturday 31st October and it is expected that over 100 Pirates will be in attendance.


Were you offended by what we thought was a bit of fun? Did you enjoy the show?
Let us know what you think
]]> http://www.invernessfestivals.com/winter08/blog/index.php?entry=entry091027-193648 2009-10-27T00:00:00Z 2009-10-27T00:00:00Z Some of the best parts of the Inverness Winter Festival have been created by somebody simply saying "Wouldn't it be fun if ....?"



An example of that would be "Wouldn't it be fun if we projected lights on to the beautiful buildings and brought them to life?"

If you have an idea for a new event - or a suggestion how we could improve an existing event - please let us know.

The Festival Team]]> http://www.invernessfestivals.com/winter08/blog/index.php?entry=entry091001-080040 2009-10-01T00:00:00Z 2009-10-01T00:00:00Z