Where to go and whats on at New Years Eve and New Year Day in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Includes information about the Aberdeen Castlegate Hogmanay concert:

2010 Aberdeen Hogmanay Events

2010 Aberdeen Hogmanay Events will be added soon.

If you would like your Aberdeenshire or Aberdeen Hogmanay event listed for free on this page then please contact me with details. A link back to aboutaberdeen.com on your website would be greatly appreciated and will ensure your information is listed promptly.

Aberdeen New Year Customs

For a guide to how Scottish people celebrate Hogmanay in Scotland and throughout the World see our Hogmanay Customs page. This includes traditions like reading the fire ashes, first footing, why a tall black haired first footer is lucky, black bun, a lump of coal being lucky and the bells.

Start the New Year with a bit of exercise with the Temperance Walk at Cairnbulg on the 1 January or the Temperance Walk at St Combs n the 2 January each year.

If you miss out on the celebrations, perhaps because you've been working Hogmanay night, then you can always celebrate the original Hogmanay according to the old calendar before the date changes in 1660 by going to the Burning of the Clavie at Elgin.

The words to Auld Lang Syne

The Words To Flower Of Scotland

Black Bun Recipe

New Year Horoscope

Hogmanay Customs

Stonehaven Fireballs

BBC1 Hogmanay Show

Chewin The Fat

ITV Hogmanay Show

Scotch and Wry

We also run the www.findextrawork.co.uk website where there is information about earning more money from a range of part time and full time jobs which can be done at home or out and about. Visit for more information.

2009 Aberdeen Hogmanay Events

New Year Eve Party

Celebrate the eve of 2010 and see off 2009 with the fantastic New Year Eve Party at JP's University Bar and Grill. It may be 2 below zero outside but JP's will have the perfect cozy little bar with festive cocktails, delicious food and an awe inspiring line up of entertainment to fill you with New Year joy and keep you warm on hogmanay night. The new year eve party starts with three band's from the North East: Be Like Pablo, The Marionettes and Farewell Singapore. Rounding off the night is DJ Darren Millar providing you with Beats through to 2010.

The hogmanay entertainment will be followed by the Octpussy after-party at Warehouse until 4am with £1 drinks. Featuring their infamous Hot-Tub, Swimming Pool, Ball Pit, Wedding Chapel and more. Tickets are £7 and this includes a queue jump... available all night from JP's University Bar and Grill which is open all day from 12pm for food and cheeky pre-drinks.

Tiger Tiger in Aberdeen Shiprow is a stunning place to see in the New Year with friends and family. They have three floors, five bars, 3 DJ’s and one of the best atmospheres in town. Enjoy New Year Tiger style from just £10 per person. This super classy event will join the people of Aberdeen in an atmospheric, luxurious party so why not join Tiger Tiger to see out the old year in style! There will be your favourite local DJ’s spinning disco funk, funky house and party anthems all night with decadent décor, a lighting show and a piper at midnight!

Entry tickets are just £10pp or get a delicious 5 course meal in the Tiger Tiger restaurant on top of that all for £30.00pp. Tickets to this popular Aberdeen hogmanay event are selling fast so gets yours now by either buying online at www.tigertiger-aberdeen.co.uk or by phone on 01224 252434 or by popping past the venue.

The Giant Ferris Wheel Castlegate Aberdeen was thought to be open during the New Year but new planning permission was needed to be applied for due to gas pipe problems. The traditional Hogmanay concert at the Castlegate and the street party will not take place for 2009 and the early hours of 2010. Instead there will be a fireworks display at midnight from the Union Terrace Gardens and the Castlegate. To allow party goers to view the free firework display Union Street will be closed to traffic from 11pm until 1am. At 2345 hours a clock will be beamed onto HMT Aberdeen to start the countdown to midnight.

Local community groups can also celebrate Hogmanay in Aberdeen by applying for money from a £50,000 fund that has been set aside to pay for a venue hire, entertainment and staff.

Details of the Aberdeen Castlegate Hogmanay Concert 2010 and Aberdeenshire Hogmanay 2010 Events will be uploaded soon.

2008 Aberdeen Hogmanay Events

Hogmanay party at Tiger Tiger Aberdeen to see out 2008 and welcome in 2009 in style. Tickets for this 2008 Aberdeen Hogmanay event cost £10 and you can purchase them at
www.tigertiger-aberdeen.co.uk/reservations/?type=guestlist

There is also a five course dinner and entry into Tiger Tiger Aberdeen for £40. Please contact their sales team on (01224) 252434 to book this Aberdeen Hogmanay event.

Castlegate New Year Party 2008

The Castlegate New Year party to see out 2008 and in 2009 will be a real celebration for Homecoming 2009 which celebrates Scottish Talent and the 250th birthday anniversary of Robert Burns. Two performers of the Castlegate New Year party 2008 feature in the Homecoming adverts and celebrations and these are local lass Sandi Thom and fellow Scottish singer Amy Macdonald whose fiancé, Steve Lovell, played for Aberdeen Football Club until his move to Falkirk

Also performing on stage during this free Hogmanay concert will be Keith Jack who is one of the stars at HMT Aberdeen for the Peter Pan Pantomime.

The Castlegate New Year party takes place from 9pm until about 12:30am with the gates being opened from 8pm. More information such as safety advice, facilities, road closures, etc can be read further below in last years Castlegate Hogmanay celebrations.

Read more about Sandi Thom.

Sandi Thom will be making a helicopter dash to Edinburgh to perform in their Hogmanay celebrations and appear on live television singing Caledonia on the prestige spot of the last song for the BBC at Edinburgh Castle before the 2008 to 2009 New Year bells. It is thought she will take off from the Aberdeen beach area for the 40 minute flight. A surprise celebrity guest is on stand by should she not get to the Scottish capital on time after performing her set at the Aberdeen Castlegate New Year celebrations for 2008 to 2009.

£300,000 has been spent by Aberdeen Council in the Aberdeen Castlegate New Year concert and the stage started to be constructed several days before Hogmanay night. A £11,000 insurance policy was taken out against cancellation due to adverse weather conditions such as high winds or heavy rain that would force the New Year concert to be cancelled for safety reasons. Though the weather forecast looks good so it is hoped there will be no need to cancel what is considered by many to be the biggest free party in Scotland.

Aberdeen Castlegate Hogmanay Concert 2007

The Aberdeen Castlegate Hogmanay Concert 2007 headline act is the pop group Travis from Glasgow. Led by singer Fran Healy Travis also includes musicians Neil Primrose, Dougie Payne and Andy Dunlop. The free concert at the Castlegate on the 31 December 2007 will see more musical performances seeing in the New Year 2008.

Joining Travis for Hogmanay 07 to 08 at the Castlegate concert is local singer Sandi Thom and the Scottish tribal drumming band from Glasgow, Albannach, who were last in Aberdeen for Tartan Day. Read more about SandiThom in the AboutAberdeen Sandi Thom Biography page and read more about Albannach at www.albannachonline.com

Travis Hogmanay Street Party

The Aberdeen Castlegate New Year concert with Travis is organised by Aberdeen City Council with funding from the City Growth Fund and admission is free. Tickets for the Travis Hogmanay concert will not be issued. Instead of a ticket to the Aberdeen Castlegate Hogmanay concert 2007 there will be a wristband system in operation to allow safe crowd control. Wristbands will be issued upon entry to the Castlegate concert 2007 and should be returned when exiting to allow numbers of concert goers to be monitored. Entry to the Aberdeen Castlegate Hogmanay concert 2007 will be at special gates on the Union Street junction with Market Street. The gate opens at 8pm and the Aberdeen Castlegate Hogmanay concert 2007 will start at 9pm. There will be a large stage and the performances of Travis and other performers will be screened on a large screen which measures 30 square metres for optimum viewing around the Castlegate.

Those who are unable to get into the Castlegate Hogmanay celebration party concert can still enjoy the New Year Eve entertainment because it will be shown on a special big screen on the wall of the Aberdeen M&S shop by the Bon Accord Centre on St Nicholas Street.

The hosts for the Aberdeen Castlegate Hogmanay Concert 2007 will be Northsound DJs Andy James and John McRuvie.

Safety advice for the Travis and Aberdeen Castlegate Hogmanay Concert 2007 includes not taking any bottles and any alcohol or other drinks taken must be in a plastic bottle. Refreshments including alcoholic drinks will be on sale in the Castlegate area. These include the Castlegate pubs of Archibald Simpson's, Five and Old Blackfriars.

Below is a Union Street and Castlegate street plan which details where the toilets, bars, hot food outlets, meeting points, glass bottles and can exchange point, first aid and disabled viewing platform can be located for the Aberdeen Castlegate Hogmanay Concert 2007 to see in the year 2008.

Hogmanay Ceilidh and Supper

Aberdeen City Council have organised a Hogmanay Ceilidh and Supper at the Aberdeen Beach Ballroom from 7pm until late 0’clock! Tickets to the end of the year event costs £29 and are available to buy at the BeachBallroom.

Aberdeen Castlegate Hogmanay Concert 2006
The main event in Aberdeen City on December 31 Hogmanay night is the free concert at the Castlegate. For the last night of 2006 and the early hours of 2007 Aberdonians will be entertained by Scottish pop group Wet Wet Wet. The headline act are expected to draw thousands to the Hogmanay celebrations and booking the band of Marti Fellows was funded by Aberdeen City Council from the City Growth Fund. Wet Wet Wet should appear on stage at approximately 10:30pm. The Hogmanay event will be staged by Northsound Radio. It is a free event and will also mark 20 years since the first hit of Wet Wet Wet. They are expected to sing hits such as Wishing I Was Lucky which will be appropriate for those making New Year resolutions for 2007. The Wets, as they are nicknamed, last performed in Aberdeen in 2004 at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC).

Other bands and entertainment booked for the programme of events on Hogmanay night of 2006 in Aberdeen City at the Castlegate include:

Aberdeen Police Band

Cosmic Rough Riders - Band from Glasgow
The Finlay MacDonald Band, - Fiddle and Pipe Band
Grampian Police Band

The photographs on the left are of the Grampian Police Pipe and Drum Band.

Castlegate Pipe Band

The 2006 Hogmanay celebrations at the Castlegate will start at 9pm with entry gates on Union Street at its junction with market street opening at 8pm. There will be a big screen on stage so that the crowds can see close ups of the performers. No tickets are available for the Hogmanay bash - entry to the event is on a first come first admitted basis with revellers given a fluorescent wristband on entry to allow numbers to be monitored by the police and safety officials. So it is recommended that you get there early. No glass bottles, glasses or cans will be permitted in the event arena and revellers are asked to exchange any first footing alcohol bottles for plastic tumblers provided by the organisers. Several of the Castlegate pubs are included in the event arena and will be serving drinks in plastic glasses or bottles on a take out basis. These include Archibald Simpsons, Old Blackfriars, Snafu, Five and Henry's. These venues are also providing a free Hogmanay survival guide for New Year revellers which has tips on safety, road closures and available public transport over the New Year. Aberdeen Bye-laws which forbid drinking in Aberdeen City will be released to allow Hogmanayers open air public alcohol drinking.
The countdown to The Bells will be lead by Lord Provost John Reynolds.

The Castlegate and Union Street from Market Street to King Street junctions will close from 5pm on the 31 December 2006. There will be public bus services, at a flat rate of £4, until 4:30am on the 1 January 2007 and taxi ranks for Hogmanay 06 07 will be in operation at Hadden Street, Back Wynd, Diamond Street, Dee Street, Union row and Chapel Street. Buses will be diverted from Bridge Street to West North Street. Disabled parking can be found at the East side of Marischal Street and there is a designated viewing platform by Marischal Street for disabled people.

The 06 07 Aberdeen Hogmanay Castlegate concert will be broadcast live on Northsound radio. The presenters live at the Castlegate concert will be John McRuvie and Andy James.

Public toilets can be found at King Street, St Nicholas Street, Broad Street and Exchequer Row.

There is a first aid point at the Castlegate with first aiders at the concert.

Aberdeenshire Hogmanay 2006 Events
Grampian Police Pipe Band

Where better to spend Hogmanay and see in the New Year than Aberdeen. There's lots of great events going on throughout Aberdeenshire. The Stonehaven Fireballs is our particular favourite and is a great way to see in the New Year as the swingers hurl the flaming balls around the streets and harbour of Stonehaven. In the town centre there is some super street entertainment and fairs including jugglers and fire jugglers, music and cabaret. There's many restaurants and pubs offering a friendly welcome and warming cheer. More information and for pictures and photos.

Music Hall Hogmanany

There will be a traditional Scottish hogmanay party at Aberdeen Music Hall. The host for the evening New Year concert 2006 will be Fiona Kennedy with music and entertainment from fiddler Paul Anderson, Scotland the What? loons Steve Robertson and George Donald, singer Shona Donaldson, piper Jim Stevenson, Highland dancing demonstrations from Gordon and Laura Raeburn and the folk group The Whistlebinkies. Tickets cost £14 plus a booking fee and you can buy a ticket from the Aberdeen Box Office page. The Music Hall hogmanay event starts at 7:30pm and finishes at 10pm.

Pittodrie Stadium Hogmanay Party 2006
Pittodrie Stadium are holding a Hogmanay party in the Richard Donald Suite. Guests get champagne upon arrival, enjoy entertain which includes a disco and a piper, and refreshments including haggis, neeps and tatties and a fully licensed bar until 1am. For more information contact (01224) 650420.

Proclaimers Aberdeen Hogmanay 2005

At the Castlegate in Aberdeen there was an organised concert party and the 2005 Hogmanay year guests were popular Scottish group The Proclaimers, Liberty X and Indie Band The Coral. Other acts on the stage were Ceilidh band Shindig and the Grampian Police Pipe Band. Prior to this there was music and entertainment by Northsound from 9pm until 1am 2006. This was hosted by presenters Andy James and John McRuvie.

Access to the event was only from the Union Street and Market Street junction. Tickets were not required - it was first come first served so that the crowd could be safely limited. There were over 50,000 in the crowd. For safety reasons glass bottles were not permitted into the area. The gates were opened at 8pm.

The Proclaimers AECC Aberdeen

The Proclaimers returned to Aberdeen on Saturday 17 November 2007 to play at a packed out Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre. The Proclaimers had previously performed at The Lemon Tree and The Music Hall and not only was the AECC their biggest Scottish gig but the largest Proclaimers concert worldwide to date with a sell out crowd of 6500. Tickets to The Proclaimers concert in Aberdeen sold out quickly thanks to their popularity in Scotland and their recent TV exposure with the television Comic Relief performance of I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by a host of stars and celebrities led by Peter Kay and Matt Lucas.

The 2003 Castlegate Hogmanay Party and Concert was cancelled because of strong winds.