Festivals & events in Edinburgh

The array of cultural events held in Edinburgh during August captures the headlines, but there are plenty of other festivals that enliven the calendar all year round. With the darkness of winter comes the light and festivity of the Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations, while spring and autumn throw up everything from pagan fire rituals to left-slanted literary get-togethers.

Critic's choice

Royal Highland Show

Where: Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston
When: late June
Tel & website: 335 6200/www.royalhighlandshow.org.uk
If sheep shearing is your thing, head to the Highland Show, which celebrates Scottish rural life with everything from organic food to fancy tractors. A day ticket is around £20; under-16s get in free.

The Edinburgh Festival & Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Where: throughout the city
When: Aug
See our Edinburgh Festival & Edinburgh Festival Fringe feature for information on Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh International Film Festival, Imaginate Festival, Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh Art Festival, Edinburgh Mela, Scottish International Storytelling Festival, Edinburgh International Science Festival, and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay.

Spring

Ceilidh Culture Festival

Where: various venues
When: late Mar
Tel & website: 228 1155/www.ceilidhculture.co.uk
Gaelic singing, traditional dancing, bagpipe blowing... it's all here in this month-long celebration of Celtic culture. Prices vary by event.

Beltane Fire Festival

Where: Calton Hill
When: 30 Apr
Tel & website: 228 5353/www.beltane.org
This druidic tradition, marking the transition from winter to spring, was revived in 1988 after two millennia in hiatus. It's grown into a mass of fire, drumming and exhibitionists, watched by roughly 10,000 people. Tickets cost around £3 in advance (from the Hub) or £5 on the night.

Summer

Royal Highland Show

Where: Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston
When: late June
Tel & website: 335 6200/www.royalhighlandshow.org.uk
If sheep shearing is your thing, head to the Highland Show, which celebrates Scottish rural life with everything from organic food to fancy tractors. A day ticket is around £20; under-16s get in free.

Edinburgh People's Festival

Where: various venues
When: 1wk, early Aug
Tel & website: 556 8869/www.edinburghpeoplesfestival.org.uk
Edinburgh People's Festival aims to 'bring the arts to the ignored indigenous communities' by staging shows in the city's more deprived areas. Tickets are cheaper.

The Edinburgh Festival & Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Where: throughout the city
When: Aug
See our Edinburgh Festival & Edinburgh Festival Fringe feature for information on Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh International Film Festival, Imaginate Festival, Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh Art Festival, Edinburgh Mela, Scottish International Storytelling Festival, Edinburgh International Science Festival, and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay.

Festival of Politics

Where: Scottish Parliament, Holyrood, EH99 1SP
When: 4 days, late Aug
Tel & website: 348 5000/www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk
Those interested in current events should investigate the four-day Festival of Politics. Launched only a few years ago and held at the Scottish Parliament building, the festival includes an array of talks, debates and discussions (the opening event in 2006 featured Sir Sean Connery in conversation with the parliament's Presiding Officer George Reid). Admission to most events is free to the public.

Edinburgh International Television Festival

Where: Edinburgh International Conference Centre
When: 3 days, late Aug
Tel & website: information & tickets 020 7278 9515/www.mgeitf.co.uk
A private industry jamboree, the Edinburgh International Television Festival is a weekend-long opportunity for media folks to navel-gaze. Here, the focus is on lectures, discussions and debates about the past, present and future of the idiot box. It's an industry-only event, the importance of which is later amplified by the excessive coverage it receives from those who forked out the £400 delegate fee to attend.

Edinburgh Interactive Entertainment Festival

Where: various venues
When: 2-3 days, late Aug
Tel & website: 01462 456780/www.edinburghinteractivefestival.com
The Edinburgh Interactive Entertainment Festival is another private industry jamboree, but it does at least open its doors to the public for brief demonstrations of upcoming video games.

Autumn

Doors Open Day

Where: various venues
When: 1 day, Sept
Tel & website: 557 8686/www.cockburnassociation.org.uk
The Cockburn Association persuades the owners of many of Edinburgh's finest private buildings, from sewage plants to stately homes, to open their doors to the public for one day a year. Admission is free.

Edinburgh Independent Radical Book Fair

Where: call for venue details
When: 4-5 days, Oct
Tel & website: 662 9112/www.word-power.co.uk
Readings, launches and discussions focusing on small, independent and radical publishing houses. The event moved from the Assembly Rooms to the Out of the Blue Drill Hall in 2006, which also saw it shift to later in the calendar year.

Hallowe'en: Samhuinn

Where: High Street, Old Town
When: 31 Oct
Tel & website: 228 5353/www.beltane.org
Samhuinn marks the end of the Celtic summer, six months after Beltane. The Beltane Fire Society takes to the streets once again, from Castle Esplanade, down the Royal Mile to Parliament Square, where the summer court, led by the Green Man, is banished to the magical realm for winter.

Bonfire Night

Where: various venues
When: 5 Nov
The fact that Guy Fawkes' gunpowder plot of 1605 was against Scotland's James VI is masked by the fact that it was also meant to destroy the hated English Parliament. The biggest fireworks display in the city is held at Meadowbank Stadium.

St Andrew's Day

Where: throughout town
When: 30 Nov
As if you needed an excuse to come to Edinburgh and go for a drink. St Andrew's Day is nowhere near as debauched as St Patrick's Day is for the Irish, but it's still a pretty decent reason to go and raise a glass.

Winter

Capital Christmas

Where: various venues
When: Dec
Website: www.edinburghschristmas.com
What started out as a few casual events to brighten up December has grown into a large and very popular festival. The event usually includes a Winter Wonderland in Princes Street Gardens, complete with fairground rides, a mini-market and the largest outdoor skating rink in Britain, and the Edinburgh Wheel, a large temporary Ferris wheel adjacent to the Scott Monument.

Burns Night

Where: throughout the city
When: 25 Jan
Tel & website: www.rabbie-burns.com
Robert 'Rabbie' Burns, Scotland's unofficial poet laureate, was born on 25 January 1759, and it's long been the custom of Scots to gather on the anniversary to consume haggis, sup whisky and recite the virtually sacred texts. Around Edinburgh, theatres and bookshops play host to readings of Burns's work. Some of the poems are very bawdy, although 'Tam o' Shanter' is a great story and the 'Address to a Haggis' is a true celebration of the working man.

Public holidays

Edinburgh shares some public holidays with the whole of the UK and others with only the rest of Scotland, and even has one holiday of its own. Many shops remain open on public holidays, but public transport services are less frequent. Virtually everything is closed on Christmas Day, and most businesses are shut on New Year's Day.

New Year's holidays 1 & 2 Jan
Good Friday
Easter Monday
Spring Holiday 3rd Mon in Apr
May Day 1st Mon in May
Victoria Day (Edinburgh only) 3rd Mon in May
Autumn Holiday 2nd Mon in Sept
Christmas Day 25 Dec
Boxing Day 26 Dec

Our listings

While every effort and care has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this guide, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors it may contain. Before you go out of your way, we strongly advise you to phone ahead and check the particulars.