Festivals
The Fringe Festival tends to be more off beat than the main festival and
is made up of all manner of professional and amateur performers. As a
result it tends to appeal to a younger audience. The Fringe side of the
Edinburgh Festival is now regarded by the stage industry as so cutting
edge and innovative that it is viewed by many as a showcase for new talent.
The Film Festival also dates back to 1947 and so is the oldest such festival
in the world. It is now an established part of the film industry's calendar
and features both mainstream and independent films.
The Book and Jazz Festivals, whilst smaller,
also attract big names in their respective fields. These are more recently
established offshoots of the main festival, but nevertheless have become
equally popular.
And of course, one of the biggest attractions
during the festival is the army's contribution - famous Edinburgh Military
Tattoo, which is held on the Esplanade of the Castle. Held since 1950
this is the single most popular event in Edinburgh's International Festival,
with over 200,000 people watching it each year.
Click here to
view a 360 panorama of the Edinburgh Castle, location of the Military
Tattoo.
One of the International Festival's highlights
is the huge open air concert held in Princes Street Gardens, accompanied
by a massive firework display from the castle ramparts. This event takes
place on the final day of the Festival and is essentially the closing
ceremony - but best of all, it is free. The Edinburgh International Festival
is held annually in mid-August or early September. The programme is usually
available from around May time, and if there is something you particularly
want to see make sure you book in advance (especially for the Military
Tattoo).And whilst the Festival is naturally a great time to visit Edinburgh,
it is also worth remembering that accommodation is booked out months in
advance so make sure you get your hotel sorted before you arrive!
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Military
Tattoo