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Thurso looks to bring back Hogmanay street party to welcome in 2026





Lord Thurso has given his backing to plans to revive Thurso’s Hogmanay street party.

He has also agreed to be the guest of honour, reprising the role he played 25 years ago at the Millennium New Year bash, which was the first of the modern-day celebrations.

Thurso’s Hogmanay street party before the pandemic – this photo is from December 31, 2017.
Thurso’s Hogmanay street party before the pandemic – this photo is from December 31, 2017.

The former area MP said: “I think it’s a lovely idea. Covid largely put paid to the street party but it would be great to see it return and I’m happy to do anything I can to support it.

“I well remember first-footing the Millennium party and I’d be delighted to do so again 25 years on,” he said.

Regular events before the pandemic had taken place opposite the town’s clock where a lorry trailer served as a makeshift stage.

John Thurso said he recalls attending his first Hogmanay party in the town in 1971 when the highlight was a mass strip-the-willow in Princes Street.

Joan Maclean, one of those spearheading Thurso Hogmanay Street Hoolie, said she is delighted with the response to the initiative to take in the bells at the start of 2026.

She said it is in the throes of setting up as a charitable organisation and looking into other administrative tasks such as getting liability and a road closure order and liaising with police and other public agencies.

She said: “We’ve been getting lots of offers of help from people keen to play at it and from a piper and it’s great John Thurso has agreed to be our first foot.

“We’ve also had lots of offers of raffle prizes and money but we can’t take up any of that until we get properly set up.”

The group has also been in touch with HAPPY – Hogmanay And People's Party Yearly – which runs the Hogmanay party in Wick.


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