M&D's sponsors Loony Dook
Organisers of Edinburgh's Hogmanay, produced on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council, today confirmed that M&D's will be generously supporting the Queensferry Loony Dook on Thursday 1 January.
M&D's, who operate Scotland's Theme Park in Strathclyde Country Park has also run the Edinburgh's Hogmanay carnival, an integral part of the Festival, for the last 22 years.
The Loony Dook, also supported by the City of Edinburgh Council, EventScotland and Scotland's Winter Festivals, sees over 1,000 'Dookers', clad in fancy dress costumes ranging from the weird to the wonderful and cheered on by over 4,000 spectators, welcome in the New Year with a splash in the icy cold water of the River Forth in the shadow of the world-famous Forth Bridges.
The 2015 Loony Dook will start with the Dookers' Parade, led by the Beastie Drummers, at 1.20pm followed by the Dook itself at 1.30pm on Thursday 1st January.
Everybody wishing to take part in the Loony Dook should register in advance at Edinburgh's Hogmanay. There will be no registration on the day and all pre-registered dookers should check in at the Lifeboat Station in South Queensferry between 11.30am and 1.00pm.
A 10% donation from the £9 registration fee (including £1 booking fee) will be made to the South Queensferry branch of the RNLI. Spectators are welcome to cheer on the Dookers from various vantage points along the route. Public Transport from Edinburgh will be operating on 1 January for the Loony Dook and details can be found at Edinburgh's Hogmanay
Councillor Steve Cardownie, Festivals and Events Champion for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: "The Loony Dook is a great event with a terrific atmosphere, and I'm delighted it has been given the backing and support of M&D's and EventScotland. Every year, 1,000 brave revellers decide to kick-start the New Year with a trip to South Queensferry and a dip in the icy waters of the Forth. With an event like this it is important to have procedures in place to ensure the safety of those who take part, which is why financial support from sponsors is so welcome and why the Council has committed to supporting the celebrations."
Douglas Taylor, junior director of M&D's, said: "We are absolutely delighted to be supporting the Loony Dook this winter. The event is important to the people of Edinburgh and we are thrilled it will be able to go ahead this year with our sponsorship.
"Hogmanay in Edinburgh is always a great event and it is fantastic the Loony Dook will once again be part of the festivities."
Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland said: "The Loony Dook is an iconic event that kicks off every New Year, bringing significant numbers to South Queensferry on January 1st. It is an integral part of the Scotland's Winter Festivals offering, with the three day festival continuing to cement Scotland's international reputation as the perfect stage for events."
Pete Irvine, Director of Edinburgh's Hogmanay, said: "The Loony Dook has become an integral part of the Edinburgh's Hogmanay Festival, and is a flagship event for South Queensferry which welcomes everybody into its bars, cafes and restaurants which are all open on New Year's Day. This is a fun, photogenic and hugely popular event that generates news coverage around the world, reinforcing Edinburgh and Scotland as the Home of Hogmanay on the international stage and we would offer our thanks to M&D's, as well as all the other partners, for their support."
The Loony Dook is part of the Edinburgh's Hogmanay Festival which runs over three days and starts with the Torchlight Procession through the city on Tuesday 30 December, continues with the world famous Street Party, flagship Concert in the Gardens and Midnight Fireworks on Wednesday 31 December and ends with the Queensferry Loony Dook and Scot:Lands, the free festival within a festival presenting the very best in Scottish arts and music in 11 atmospheric venues across Edinburgh's Old Town on Thursday 1 January 2015.
The Edinburgh's Hogmanay Carnival, operated by M&D's, will be situated in Market Street and will be open from Saturday 27 December 2014 until 11.00pm on Thursday 1 January. Rides and attractions will include the ever popular Bungee, Freakout, Krazy Miami to name just a few.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay & Edinburgh's Christmas are produced by Unique Events ltd & Underbelly on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council.