Drone videos replace traditional party as Scots celebrate Hogmanay

Scots celebrated the New Year without the traditional street parties, with the organisers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay instead releasing “drone swarm” videos.

With people urged to mark the end of 2020 at home, those behind the city’s annual New Year party issued a series of videos titled Fare Well.

They feature a swarm of 150 illuminated drones which form symbols and animals in a “beautiful ode to Scotland”.

Each video features narration by actor David Tennant and includes verses written by Scotland’s official poet, makar Jackie Kay.

While they appear to be flying above landmarks like Edinburgh Castle, the drones were flown elsewhere before being edited into other footage.

The third and final of the Fare Well series was released on Thursday, after the initial video showed the drones in Highlands landscapes.

Underbelly, the producers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, say it is the largest drone show ever produced in the UK.

The drones were flown in the Highlands before being “placed into shots separately filmed around Edinburgh” due to the coronavirus restrictions, they said.

Director Charlie Wood said: “With 2020 being the year it has been, we want to ring out the old year and hurry in the new year, with a message of hope at a world-class event.

“Hope will be the universal message of the turn of the year, and ours

will be no exception – Edinburgh’s Hogmanay’s mission is to sing it from the rooftops with a creatively-led and proudly Scottish celebration.

“We’re grateful to our creative team and to the City of Edinburgh Council, EventScotland, the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland who have supported us to create a unique and special moment for people

around the world.”

Earlier, Police Scotland warned people against Hogmanay gatherings which could break current restrictions and potentially spread the virus further.

All of mainland Scotland and Skye remains under level four restrictions, while the other islands are in level three.

Last year’s Hogmanay street party had around 100,000 visitors with live performances from Idlewild and Mark Ronson in Princes Street Gardens.