Since 1987 the London New Year’s Day Parade (LNYDP) has weaved its way across the West End. 

The biggest of its kind, LNYPD invites participation from the capital’s 31 boroughs, raises money for a number of charities and attracts more than 1m spectators.

Organisers shook up the model this year, production company NSR bringing in Midas, the event’s first independent power supplier, to drive the light entertainment hubs across the two mile route. Further machines were fitted on two floats and, at the client’s request, all were fuelled with 100 per cent biofuel.

“Midas is a recognised supplier for Westminster Council. On top of that, using biofuel cut the noise level and the carbon footprint,” Production Manager, James Walker, says. “It was happy to go beyond the brief in the best interests of the event and not having to worry about the power element of the parade took a significant pressure off me.”

The contract came less than four weeks out, at the end of another record-breaking year for Midas, but the company made the commitment and was on parade this January 1st, from Piccadilly to Parliament Street.

“We started at 3am, working backwards around the route putting single sets into each of the entertainment zones,” Midas Managing Director, Dave Noble, says. “Getting the roads open afterwards was a key priority so, together with a number of other suppliers, we followed the procession, picking the kit up again. James has put a good team together and the process worked perfectly.”