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Plan for a new Inverness music festival at the Northern Meeting Park tabled as ‘exciting opportunity for something new in the Highlands’





The Northern Meeting Park's grandstand which is undergoing a major refurbishment.
The Northern Meeting Park's grandstand which is undergoing a major refurbishment.

This summer could see the arrival of a new music festival at the Northern Meeting Park in Inverness – if funding can be found to deliver the event.

Plans are already underway to set-up a new family friendly festival this August – on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 August – at the Northern Meeting Park.

The event would “celebrate the major investment” in the park and was described as “an exciting opportunity for something new in the Highlands”.

It was perhaps also prompted by disappointment at the failure to stage the rejigged Red Hot Highland Fling after a high profile rebranding exercise.

Though the proposals are at an early stage they have won support from Highland Council’s Inverness events and festivals forum and are on the city events calendar.

Councillors were updated by David Haas, the senior community development manager, and K Rait, the Inverness events manager.

Though precise details have not been determined, some parts of the proposal and what it entails at the events forum meeting.

The discussion centred on “last year’s Hogmanay celebration was cancelled due to cost and risk” with the council expected to deliver a this year’s new year party.

And there are other festivals and events to consider like the country music festival which is due to be held at the Northern Meeting Park on September 6, 2025.

In addition to that is the expectation that the Council would put forward a budget for this year’s Hogmanay celebrations.

The discussion on ticket sales considered how affordable it would need to be compared to other local events so families could attend at the end of their summer holidays.

It was also thought that additional visitors would be encouraged to come to the Highlands so the event should be “marketed internationally”..

The potential for sponsorship of the festival was welcomed and it was suggested that “this was achievable”


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