Edinburgh

Edinburgh Festival

2 — 25 August 2024

The Hub, Castle Hill

Widely hailed as one of the most important celebrations of the arts in the world, the Edinburgh International Festival is now more than 50 years old, and is held every year during …

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Edinburgh Festival

2 — 25 August 2024

The Hub, Castle Hill

Widely hailed as one of the most important celebrations of the arts in the world, the Edinburgh International Festival is now more than 50 years old, and is held every year during the summer months. Artists, performers, musicians, writers and anyone else wishing to partake flood the city from all over the world, and it is advised to book accommodation well in advance. Almost every public venue in the city turns into a theatre or gallery during the summer, and visitors often find it difficult to choose what to see and do. A short stroll down the Royal Mile will reveal a crowd of performers giving free previews of their shows to help visitors make up their minds.

The Military Tattoo takes place as part of the festival every year at the Edinburgh Castle and is so popular that it is sold out to over 217,000 people in advance and is synonymous with the festival. Part of the greater Edinburgh International Festival, the Fringe Festival is one of the world's largest and most famous art festivals, which had its beginning when unofficial theatre groups set up their shows around the fringes of the main festival in 1947. Unlike the official festival, performers do not need to undergo a selection process to take part, and as a result it attracts a huge diversity of entertainers with hundreds of shows expressing a wide range of cultural and artistic performances.

Website www.eif.co.uk

Hogmanay

New Year's Eve

The Hub, Castle Hill

Hogmanay is Edinburgh's famous New Year's celebration, when the entire city becomes one huge party. In fact, it is so popular that entry to the city is open only to those with adva…

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Hogmanay

New Year's Eve

The Hub, Castle Hill

Hogmanay is Edinburgh's famous New Year's celebration, when the entire city becomes one huge party. In fact, it is so popular that entry to the city is open only to those with advance tickets. Over the years the organisation of Hogmanay has become increasingly professional, and a slick festival-style event, attracting major international musicians and bands who perform in the castle or the city's botanical gardens. Visitors are well advised to book tickets and accommodation as far in advance as they can, due to the sheer size and popularity of this event.

The main festivities include a massive street party which attracts some 80,000 revellers to the heart of the city, where 12 giant screens and fireworks usher in the New Year. At the same time, the Concert in the Gardens hosts world-famous musicians entertaining the crowds. Another really popular event, taking place on December 30th, is the Torchlight Procession, in which about 35,000 people carry torches through the city streets for charity. Throughout the month of December, fun events and parties lead up to the main festivities, making it a glorious time to be in Edinburgh. Hogmanay is one of the most famous New Year's celebrations in the world.

Website www.edinburghshogmanay.org

Edinburgh International Science Festival

30 March — 14 April 2024

Various.

Every Easter, the city of Edinburgh becomes a gigantic laboratory of discovery, exploration, and entertainment. Non-stop shows, demonstrations, hands-on activities, workshops, and

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Edinburgh International Science Festival

30 March — 14 April 2024

Various.

Every Easter, the city of Edinburgh becomes a gigantic laboratory of discovery, exploration, and entertainment. Non-stop shows, demonstrations, hands-on activities, workshops, and exhibitions are presented to educate and enthral people all ages.

The Edinburgh International Science Festival is designed to encourage discovery about the sciences and a variety of exciting subjects including outer space, our planet, the inner body, and modern gadgets and technology.

Kids can feed their curiosity through a number of interactive exhibits and experiments. Meanwhile, adults can explore the chances of the survival of the human race in the 21st century, getting up to date on important scientific advancements and discoveries.

Edinburgh's Science Festival is one of the largest of its kind in Europe and should prove fun for everyone. There is also a Gastrofest, a mini food festival within the science festival which celebrates Scottish cookery and traditional dishes and explores the general science of food and drink.

Website www.sciencefestival.co.uk

Edinburgh International Book Festival

10 — 26 August 2024

Charlotte Square Gardens

Every year the gardens are transformed into an enchanting tented village that is home to one of the biggest and most animated literary events in the world. The International Book F…

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Edinburgh International Book Festival

10 — 26 August 2024

Charlotte Square Gardens

Every year the gardens are transformed into an enchanting tented village that is home to one of the biggest and most animated literary events in the world. The International Book Festival has a varied programme for adults and children, including debates and discussions, writing workshops, book signing and storytelling. The festival gives book lovers the chance to meet their favourite authors, discover new writers and buy books.

The festival welcomes more than 800 authors from diverse literary fields, including novelists, poets, scientists, philosophers, sportsmen, graphic artists, historians, biographers, economists, environmentalists and musicians. Many winners of the prestigious literary prizes, like the Booker and Nobel, make an appearance in Edinburgh during the festival. For kids, the Baillie Gifford Children's Programme offers plenty of entertainment and enrichment. The programme also includes events designed for teenage audiences, which makes the festival a fun affair for the whole family. Many of the hundreds of events on the kid's programme are free of charge. The official festival website provides visual documentation and details of past events for those interested in attending.

Website www.edbookfest.co.uk