This weekend, 12 and 13 January, sees a host of events taking place throughout Inverness to mark the official launch of Highland 2007, Scotland’s year of Highland culture.

The celebrations begin at 7pm on Friday 12 January with the Highland 2007 Launch and Lifescan Monster Street Party.  First Minister Jack McConnell, will officially launch the year with the help of the Mod winning Inverness Gaelic Choir, the Massed Pipes and Drums of the Highlands, a spectacular fireworks display and, announced today, Blazin Fiddles.

As part of the launch of Highland 2007, specially commissioned work by Highland video artist Graeme Roger will be projected on to the windows of the ground floor building on the corner of Bank Street and Bridge Street.  This artwork, titled Northern Soul, incorporates film portraits of individuals, as well as imagery collected from throughout the Highlands.

The Lifescan Monster Street Party following on from the Launch features a breathtaking aerial ballet presented by French company Transe Express. And it is announced today that a second performance of Transe Express will take place on Saturday 13 January in Falcon Square at 8pm.

Everyone is encouraged to continue the Highland 2007 Launch celebrations on Saturday 13 January in Inverness.  Events include:

• 9am – 11am: Monster Family Splash at Inverness Leisure.  Tel: 01463 667505 for more details.
• 10am: Inverness Museum and Art Gallery re-opens after a £1.3 million refurbishment.  As well as the revamped permanent exhibitions, visitors are invited to the new exhibition Fonn ’s Duthchas – Land and Legacy, brought together for Highland 2007 and at IMAG until 17 March.
• 11am: Old New Year Shinty Match, Bught Park.  Continuing the Highland tradition of New Year shinty matches, Glen Urquhart and Strathglass compete for the Gaidhealtachd 2007 Cup.
• 1pm: Duthchas: The Legacy.  Eastgate Shopping Centre hosts a mini exhibition on contemporary Highland culture, from the national exhibition Fonn ’s Duthchas.
• 8pm: Transe Express aerial ballet, Falcon Square.

Highland 2007 Launch events are suitable for all ages. Many of the events are out of doors so please dress for the weather.

Ensuring Public Safety at Highland 2007 Street Party

Motorists are being advised of street closures in Inverness, which are needed to ensure public safety at the Lifescan Monster Street Party being staged between 7 – 10 pm on Friday (12 January) to herald the launch of Highland 2007, the year that Scotland celebrates Highland culture.

In preparation for the event, on-street parking will be suspended from 8am until midnight on Friday at Castle Street, Queensgate, Union Street, Huntly Street (from its junction with Young Street/Ness Bridge to its junction with Greig Street) and Ness Walk (from its junction with High Street/Bridge Street to its junction with Ardross Street).

From 6.30 pm until midnight on Friday, the following roads will be closed to cars: Eastgate, High Street, Inglis Street, Castle Street, Bridge Street, Bank Street, Fraser Street, Queensgate, Union Street, Baron Taylor Street, Church Street (from its junction with High Street/Bridge Street to its junction with Queensgate), Academy Street (from its junction with Millburn Road and Crown Road to its junction with Strothers Lane), Huntly Street (from its junction with Young Street/Ness Bridge to its junction with Greig Street), Ness Walk (from its junction with Young Street/Ness Bridge to its junction with Ardross Street), Young Street and Ness Bridge. Access for pedestrians and emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times.

Academy Street (from its junction with Chapel Street to its junction with Strothers Lane) will  be closed to vehicular traffic, except for buses and taxis, from 6.30 pm until midnight. Access for pedestrians, cyclists and emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times. Alternative routes for vehicles will be signed.

Those intending watching the opening ceremony are urged to walk to the west side of the River Ness (Cathedral side) or use public transport.  City centre car parking is available at Rose Street and Eastgate as well as the former Safeway Car Park on Rose Street.

Stagecoach services will be operating as normal but with departures from temporary bus stops in Eastgate for the South and East of the City and from Academy Street for the West of the City. Farraline Bus Station will be operating as normal.

To allow a stage to be erected in and around the Castle in preparation for a fireworks spectacular, Castle Road will be closed from 8 am on Wednesday (10 January) until 4 pm on Saturday 13 January. Traffic travelling from Holm Mills to the city centre should use Haugh Road and Castle Street, while traffic from Bank Street heading to Holm Mills should use Bridge Street, Castle Street and Haugh Road.

From 12pm on Wednesday (10 January) until 8am on Saturday 13 January a single lane will be in operation on Bank Street.  Both lanes will be closed between 6.30 pm and midnight on Friday 12.

And on Saturday between 7.30pm to 9.30pm, Academy Street (from its junction with Millburn Road and Crown Road to its junction with Union Street) will be closed to vehicular traffic for a public event in Falcon Square.