The torch light procession is the beginning event of Hogmanay, which commences on the 30th of December. With the ticket that you’ve purchase, it conveys what starting point that you need to go to collect your torch
Once you’ve arrive, you’re given a torch, and then you have to wait in the crowd for the flame to be passed down. The wait was long, I’ll say around 45 minutes. From there, you walk through ‘old town’ with your torch. What made this experience special was the sheer amount of people with torch lights, it was said that there were 12,000 people doing the event. This created great visuals for photos, videos, and to see in person.
This event has a charge, it cost around 11 pounds (forgot the exact price) to enter the walk, and to have a torch light. If you just want to walk in the event, which is inside the gate, then the price is half of the total price. Therefore, if you come in a couple, it’s recommended to buy one torch and walk ticket, and one walk ticket, and then you can pass the torch between each other.
Festival rating
Experience: 6
Atmosphere: 10
Uniqueness: 8
Price: 6
Service: 5
Overall: 7
This festival is a must-see event (esp. if you’re a photographer) as the atmosphere of people walking with torch lights along old town is an impressive scene. I put the experience as a 6, because you have to wait at least 45 mins before you can start walking, and once you start walking the novelty overtime wears off. To keep the excitement of the event, they should have music playing in the background, this would have increased the experience.
The service of the event needs improving, to wait for over 40 mins before you can start walking isn’t acceptable, they need to have a system to decrease the waiting time to optimise the experience. These factors reflect the price, if you’re going to charge that price, then you should get the management right, and have more elements to optimise the experience. In all saying, I still think it’s worth doing, as it’s something that you’ve experienced.
