RESIDENTS of Musselburgh will ring in the New Year in style with a fun-packed day of activities to celebrate Hogmanay today (Thursday).

Hosted by The Brunton, the events from 11am to 5pm will end with a lantern parade and fireworks display.

The year 2016 is an important one for the town, with the historic Riding of the Marches (RoM) festival, held every 21 years, taking place in July.

The event celebrates the marking of the boundaries of the burgh.

To get the RoM festivities under way, 'Hogmania', a family friendly New Year party with live music from The Back Green Band, will be held at 7.45pm at The Brunton.

Alistair Knowles, chairman of the Riding of the Marches and former Town Champion, said: “Hogmania will really kick off the Riding of the Marches 2016 and having a sell-out event ensures 2016 gets off to a terrific start, and things will only get better.

“It is great to be working with The Brunton for this event and the collaboration with all other organisations in the town is what will make RoM2016 fantastic for everyone.

“We are certain that 2016 will be a great year for the Honest Toun, maybe the best ever, so a Happy New Year to everyone.”

Councillor Tim Day, cabinet spokesperson for community wellbeing at East Lothian Council, said “We look forward to welcoming families from East Lothian, Edinburgh and beyond to celebrate Hogmanay in Musselburgh.

"This is the fourth year we have run this event with the support of Scotland’s Winter Festivals.

“Our focus is on fun for all the family and there is a real buzz in Musselburgh all day as a result.

"This year we are delighted to be teaming up with Musselburgh Riding of the Marches 2016 to present Hogmania.”

Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, added: “Scotland is the home of Hogmanay and I’d encourage families, friends and loved ones to come together to enjoy the full programme on offer at The Brunton and in Musselburgh.

"Hogmanay in the Honest Toun is part of the Scottish Government's Winter Festivals programme, which has been provided with a record £390,000 of funding to support 21 key cultural events in 15 local authority areas across the country.”

Manuela Calchini, VisitScotland regional director, added: “The Honest Toun has a fantastic line-up of activities that is sure to delight the whole family and give our visitors a chance to celebrate the beginning of 2016, the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design, in style.”

Ticketed events are:

  • Lantern making at 11am, noon, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm, when families can make their own illuminated lantern for the 7pm parade. Completed lanterns will be kept at The Brunton for collection at 6.30pm;
  • The Edinburgh Samba School will run drumming workshops at 11am, noon, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm and 5pm; l Sonsie Music will present 'The Starlicht Runaway', a storytelling session for three to six-year-olds, at 11am;
  • The Yugen Puppet Theatre will perform 'The Fisherman and the Seal' at 2pm and 4pm for children aged four and over. Based on the myths and legends of the Scottish Selkie, it is a comic tale of a lonely fisherman, falling in love with a seal;
  • The much-loved pantomime 'Cinderella' will be held at 1pm and 5pm, while a family ceilidh will take place from 3pm to 5pm;
  • Face painting and craft activities will run all day.

To book, email thebrunton.co.uk or call 0131 665 2240.

The free evening events start at 6.30pm as people gather at The Brunton for the lantern parade, which sets off at 7pm, led by the Edinburgh Samba Band, walk-about illuminated birds and Jacks of Frost.

The procession will make its way to Fisherrow Links for a fireworks display from 7.30pm to 8pm.