Scalloway set to kickstart fire festival season
SHETLAND’S 2026 fire festival season will get under way full throttle tomorrow.
Guizer jarl Sidney Nicolson is set to lead his squad of more than 60 guizers through the streets of Scalloway on Friday morning as the first fire festival of the year kicks off.
Sidney and his more-than 60-strong squad, including 20 bairns, will set off from the NAFC Marine Centre after a hearty breakfast tomorrow morning, offering onlookers the first glimpse at their suits.
The guizer jarl told Shetland News earlier this week that it had been a busy few months for him and his army of helpers ahead of the big day, which kicks off Shetland’s long and varied fire festival season.
Asked what he is most looking forward to, Sidney joked: “I’ll be glad to get it over with!”
Those gathered at the fisheries college will be the first to hear and see the squad before they head out for their day of duties in and around the village tomorrow.
They will then be back at night for the evening procession, which is sure to provide some welcome warmth after a week of freezing temperatures across the isles.
Shetland News will be providing coverage from Scalloway Fire Festival throughout the day tomorrow, with a fuller piece with guizer jarl Sidney Nicolson to come tomorrow morning.
Scalloway leads the way at the beginning of the fire festival season, with Lerwick next on Tuesday 27 January.
That is then followed by the Nesting & Girlsta, Uyeasound, Northmavine, Cullivoe and Norwick Up Helly Aa’s in February.
Bressay, South Mainland, Delting and the Walls Junior Up Helly Aa round off the festival season in March.
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