A bit of history
Written records of the Biggar bonfire go back to the early 1800s, but the custom is thought to be much older, part of a family of midwinter fire traditions found across Scotland. It has only been called off entirely a handful of times, including during wartime and the Covid pandemic. Today it is organised by Biggar Community Council and the Biggar Cornets Club Bonfire Committee, which raises money through local and online fundraising.
What you’ll see
For 2025 the council approved a procession from Biggar Business Park on Station Road at 9.15pm, with around 40 torchbearers and the Biggar British Legion Pipe Band, heading up the High Street to the fire site by the Corn Exchange. The bonfire is then lit, usually by a senior local resident invited as guest of honour, and burns for hours while the pipe band plays. Calendar Customs notes that in 2024 high winds kept the big bonfire unlit, and a small fire was lit instead so the tradition carried on.
Watching, taking part and tips
The torchbearers are part of the organised procession; visitors line the High Street to watch. The bonfire is big and hot, so follow the stewards and keep well back. Dress for a cold Scottish night, with hat, gloves and boots. Weather can force late decisions, so check the event’s Facebook page on the day. Biggar has a few inns and guest houses, but rooms go quickly at New Year, so book well ahead or consider staying in Lanark.
Joining in
A bonfire in the middle of the High Street doesn’t happen by magic, and the Friends of Biggar Bonfire fundraising appeal shows what it takes. The 2026 appeal names insurance, traffic management and first aid as costs that have to be covered, on top of what community groups raise and what people donate. So if you’ve enjoyed the flames, there’s a good case for chipping in. Use the current official community links to donate, and read the campaign details first so you know where your money goes.
The appeal isn’t a procession entry form or a ticket, and a donation doesn’t earn you a torch. If you’d like to roll up your sleeves and help with the work itself, contact the community organisers. The campaign mixes 2025 and 2026 wording, too, so don’t lean on it for timings — wait for the current programme and any road arrangements. Enthusiasm keeps the tradition alive, but it’s the practical preparation that gets the fire lit.
Practical bits
Getting there and home
There is no railway station in Biggar. Lanark, at the end of the line from Glasgow, is about 12 miles away, and Carstairs on the West Coast main line is a similar distance, but rail services on Hogmanay evening are very limited and there is little public transport late at night. Most people drive. The town is on the A702 between Edinburgh and the M74. Road closures and parking restrictions are in place, so arrive early.
Access and families
Pick a daytime attraction that suits everyone in your party. Biggar Museum’s visitor information lists wheelchair access, an accessible toilet, a hearing loop, large-print guides and audio transcripts. It also mentions the possibility of flexible opening for people who need a quieter space — but that needs arranging with the museum in advance rather than asking on the day, and its usual seasonal closure still applies unless a visit has been specially set up.
The puppet theatre’s age ranges help when choosing a show; for seating, access or sensory questions the programme doesn’t answer, ask the theatre directly. At the bonfire itself, we couldn’t find a dedicated family viewing enclosure or accessible event platform, so check with the community organisers before counting on any particular arrangement. One easy plan for families: a puppet show on another day, and just a short spell outside for the fire, rather than dragging everyone through the same long evening.
Questions people ask
Does donating give me a place in the torch procession?
No such arrangement is advertised. The appeal is about funding; ask the community organisers about any active role.
What costs does the fundraising appeal identify?
Insurance, traffic management and first aid are among the costs of staging the bonfire. The campaign explains how spectators can help.
Is Biggar Museum definitely open on Hogmanay?
No — its published main 2026 season ends on 20 December. Don’t expect 31 December admission unless specially arranged.
Can I see a puppet show during a longer Christmas stay?
Biggar Puppet Theatre lists late-December performances with different age recommendations. Check its programme and book a suitable show.
Plan your trip
Stay the night
Search places to stay in and around Biggar for 31 December 2026. Rooms near popular events go early, so check cancellation terms.
Find a place to stay on Booking.comNearest station: Lanark
Biggar has no station; Lanark is about 12 miles away and trains are very limited on Hogmanay, so most visitors drive. Arrive early, as roads close and parking is restricted.
Check trains on TrainlineBooking.com and Trainline links are affiliate links. What that means.
Where it is
The pin shows the approximate area. Open in OpenStreetMap
Make a weekend of it
Biggar and Upper Clydesdale Museum on the High Street paints a wider picture of the area’s people and past. Its visitor page suggests allowing at least an hour, with galleries running from early settlement to rural life and the Gladstone Court streetscape. One catch: the published 2026 main season ends on 20 December, so it won’t be a warm indoor stop before the Hogmanay procession. Save it for another visit when it’s open.
Biggar Puppet Theatre, home of the Purves Puppets, is a real treat for a longer festive stay. Its current programme separates the shows for younger children, Pips and Panda, from Cinderella for ages five and above, with performances listed in late December. Choose the right show and book through the theatre’s own programme — don’t assume there’s one on 31 December. It’s a lovely contrast to an evening round the fire. Just remember that theatre and museum tickets are separate from the community bonfire and don’t save you a spot outside.
Odd things nearby
- Lanimer Day 10 miles away, 10 June 2027
- Whuppity Scoorie 11 miles away, 1 March 2027
- The Burryman 26 miles away, 13 August 2027
Also in December
- Glastonbury Holy Thorn Cutting Glastonbury, Somerset
- Burning the Clocks Brighton, East Sussex
- Tom Bawcock’s Eve Mousehole, Cornwall
- Kirkwall Ba’ Game Kirkwall, Orkney
Featured in Hogmanay & New Year’s Strangest Traditions, Scotland’s Winter Fire Festivals, Odd Things to Do Near Edinburgh.
About this guide
Check before you go. Confirm on the Biggar bonfire Facebook page on the day, as wind can stop the main bonfire being lit.
About the date. Held every Hogmanay; South Lanarkshire Council granted the procession for 31 December 2025, starting at 9.15pm. Next date computed as 31 December 2026.
Researched from the sources below and last checked on . We haven’t visited every event or tested every journey, and the organiser’s own information always wins.
