Stonehaven welcomed a five-figure invasion of New Year revellers for a rip-roaring start to 2014.
With the double draw of the town’s traditional fireballs ceremony and an Open Air in the Square event headlined by Scots rockers Simple Minds, 12,000 people flocked to the coastal town.
The music event saw a sell-out 5,000-strong crowd cram the centre of Stoney from 8.30pm for performances by a string of support acts before the main event involving Jim Kerr and his bandmates.
They thrilled the partygoers with a set described by fans as “awesome”, as the rain which it had been feared might spoil the night stayed away.
An estimated crowd of just under 8,000 lined the streets to enjoy the traditional fireballs spectacular to the full.
Fireballs Association vice-chairman Martin Sim said the windy conditions proved a challenge for the near-40 swingers in the ceremony but made for an even greater crowd spectacle.
“The winds were really quite high so it made the fireballs roar and gave them a louder voice than they would normally have,” he said.
“After the anxiousness of the flood warnings we had no issues and the additional fireworks and fire sculpture at the harbour were very well received.”
To blow away the cobwebs, many revellers then took part in a dook at the harbour on New Year’s Day.