Hogmanay party could end festival

The launch event drew huge crowds (Pic: Allan Milligan)

Proposal to end the Highland 2007 Year of Culture with a free Hogmanay party in Inverness are to be discussed.

It has been estimated that 15,000 people turned out for Friday's launch, which went ahead after fears it would be severely affected by bad weather.

Highland Council is to hold informal talks about wrapping up the programme with a New Year's Eve party.

Meanwhile, festival chairwoman Alison Magee said she hoped interest in the launch would rub off on other events.

She said she was particularly looking forward to two events.

One is the Moray Firth Flotilla from 23 June to 1 July, when a fleet of traditional boats will sail from Wick.

Another thing I'm really looking forward to is the production of The Sundowe musical, which is the musical that won the Highland Quest Alison Magee Festival chairwoman

They will head along the Caithness and Moray coasts to Portsoy for the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival.

Ms Magee said the flotilla had attracted interest from entrants in Norway.

She added: "Another thing I'm really looking forward to is the production of The Sundowe musical, which is the musical that won the Highland Quest."

Danny Alexander, MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, backed the proposal for a Hogmanay party.

He said: "The launch showed Inverness at its best, making great use of the huge assets that we have in the River Ness and the town centre.

"I would welcome the idea that there should be a event on Hogmanay to close Highland 2007."