August in Edinburgh

A time where locals scramble to get their spare rooms clean and hospitable so they can charge a months rent per week for desperate tourists looking for that rare gem called Accommodation. Were other locals go so far as leave town (erm that will be me this year) while it becomes hell to move about and do regular things for the next month in city center, and buses become a locals hell. The rest will mingle in joy with all goodies that will be displayed for nearly 6 weeks of hustle and bustle

Yes that’s right, it’s Festival time again in Edinburgh - A time where tourists flood and swell the cities population to double and all that is Scottish – good and cheese – displays its wares on every street corner blowing it’s bagpipes for all it’s worth.

Lots of people always ask me what the festival actually is – so here is a brief as I can do run down of the Main Festival activities through Augustish.

I will admit if I was well and able bodied – I would enjoy the festival. There is so much going on. In fact the Edinburgh Festival is really a lot of different festivals running around the same time. Recently they have spread themselves out over summer – with the Film Festival in July and the Jazz & Blues Festival just finishing. The Film used to be held during August with the rest of its chums.

Lets start off with The Arts Festival, probably the longest running of them all – from 29th of July to September 5th with approximately 140ish single events going on for the Creatively included through out town – it’s truly a wealth of goodies to make any Artist or fan of the Arts drool. The hardest thing about the Arts Festival is deciding what to see. With loads of free events and few things costing no more then a 10ner, the only thing that makes it a chore is finding it all. Small galleries in streets I didn’t know exist. One year I will enjoy this festival instead of either working through it or not being well enough to participate in it.

6th of August through to the 8th is The Mela Festival – a brief festival celebrating Cultural diversity and the Arts – fantastic music can be found during this week

The Military Tattoo runs through August from the 6th to the big finally on the 28th. I’m not a fan if military music but I took my Mum one year and I have to say – it’s a moving event. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. It was stirring.

The Fringe Festival is the Fun of the Festival running from the 6th to the 30th of August – full of comedy events from the world over – street performers – pretty much anything you can think of can be found in the Fringe - If the Arts Festival is the Culture of Art then the Fringe is the life of it.

The International Festival is all about Dance – Theatre – Opera and all things Classical Music, Running from the 13th to the 5th of Sept it offers the best of all things classy and cultural.

Finally there is The International Book Festival that runs from the 14th to the 30th. This is the one I’m most sore to miss this year – it runs right through my holidays near from date to date. The book festival offers talks from renowned authors – workshops and fun; from Children’s illustration – through to all things Adult and Educational. If you are a bookworm and a lover of all things literature, this is a gem of a festival (mostly found in one place thank goodness) amongst the hustle and bustle of all other Arts type goings on.

Lots of Fun and things to do – even the usually crap Edinburgh weather isn’t a dampener for fun – and that one day of blue sky makes it all the more special lol. I used to work at the Sheraton Grand in town, the festival is one of the busiest times in Hospitality - then I got ill, so still I missed the joys - but one year I will spend the entire 6 weeks doing nothing from day to day but galleries - shows and soaking it up like a tourist.


oooo if anyone is looking to visit the fun next year be sure to book accommodation a good 6mths in advance at least.