EDINBURGH has its fringe festival, Shetland has Up Helly Aa, while Stonehaven has its traditional fireball ceremony at Hogmanay.
All are iconic events, which have helped put them on the map.
Now, Inverness BID manager Mike Smith and his chairman Craig Duncan want to create what they describe as an iconic Inverness event and hope to open up a wide debate.
While they recognise the range of events already on offer, from the Inverness Highland Games to the city’s bonfire night and Hogmanay party, Mr Smith argues expectations are increasing and it is time to explore a new event.
"We are 10 years as a city and we have developed a wide range of events over that period," Mr Smith said.
"I am not suggesting we change any of this, but maybe now is the time to create something which actually celebrates Inverness.
"Such an event would seek to be special to everyone, something that attracts visitors to the area, while bringing our own communities together, something that celebrates elite performance as well as focusing on local people of all abilities and ages, something that enriches our communities culturally and socially as well as generating economic benefit.
"It could be a single day or festival length but it would be an event that is synonymous with Inverness when the city is spoken about."
Their idea is broad — a summer event based on the theme, Inverness celebrates Inverness.
"We see it as having a drama feature, and we could see it complemented by a major concert in the Northern Meeting Park, which we see as a really successful venue, and we’d bring all these elements together over a period of three, four or five years. The name will follow, but the concept is Inverness celebrates Inverness."
It would focus on Falcon Square, with perhaps a drama event on the city’s history, but spread throughout the city centre and community involvement would be key.
"There were comments about the fireworks at Highland 2007, but the torchlight parade was great – and great for involving families," Mr Smith added.
He used the example of Kendal, in the Lake District, as a small place which has created an iconic event. Every September the town, which has a population of 29,000, hosts Mintfest, an international festival of street art, attracting nearly 200 performers every year and thousands of visitors.
"It is something they have really taken on board in a big way," Mr Smith continued. "It is very much a thing which the local community go to, it draws in the tourists and fills the pubs."
And he thinks an iconic Inverness event will give the economy a major boost.
""The value of events to the economy is one of the issues for us – the experience coming out of the Boyzone concert is that it not only brought business but it involved business in the area," he said.
"I also think an iconic event adds to the confidence of the city – it makes a statement about the city. It will be accessible and will generate business and be great for our marketing of the city."
Mr Smith and Mr Duncan envisage money for the event could come from existing budgets in the first instance, perhaps with funding applications to Event Scotland, and they hope to hold discussions with other agencies including Highland Council, Eden Court Theatre, CK Events, and Inverness Old Town Art soon to see how the concept could be taken forward.
"We can start talking to others to see if we can find a common theme," he said. "It could be really exciting. It would’ve been great for the 10th anniversary, but hopefully we can bring something out for next summer. I just think it’s the right time."
Inverness councillor Roy Pederson, chairman of the Inverness Events and Festival Working Committee, welcomed the BID duo coming back with more information.
"There is a great deal going on in Inverness events wise, some of it run by our own working group, and lots of other things beside," he said. "We have a pretty rich programme of events compared to 10 or 20 years ago. At our next working group we are very happy to discuss things with Mike. It would be interesting to see what ideas he has.
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