Edinburgh, Scotland
2009 Festivals & Events
February 1 - March 16 Snowdrop Festival
Dedicated to the lovely snowdrop flowers which sprout very early in the spring and can even be found poking through a covering of snow. See snowdrop displays at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh as well as at several other famous gardens in and around Edinburgh.
April 6-18 Edinburgh International Science Festival
Events, workshops, talks and exhibitions in venues across the city including National Museums Scotland, the Royal Botanic Gardens and Our Dynamic Earth.
April 30 Beltane Fire Festival
Inspired by the ancient Gaelic Festival of Beltane, with its heady mix of drums, fire, theatre and pagan ritual, this exuberant event celebrates the arrival of summer.
May 26 - June 1 Childrens International Theatre Festival
A weeklong festival which aims to ensure that children of all ages can experience the delights of live theatre.
June 17 - 28 Edinburgh Film Festival
June 27 Pride Scotia
A traditional pride parade and rally where politicians, community activists, celebrities and individuals turn out to march through the city centre in a big rainbow parade.
August 7 - 31 Festival Fringe
The largest arts Festival in the world - featuring theatre, comedy, dance and physical theatre, music and musicals, children’s and street theatre, exhibitions and events, magic and mime, and more. This Festival transforms the streets of Edinburgh city centre in the month of August, with buskers, street theatre and live entertainment filling nearly every cobblestone.
August 5 - September 5 Art Festival
This event brings together the individual strengths of the city’s visual arts organizations to create a critical mass of activity within a festival framework. By bringing together an international season of visual arts for a wide public, the festival achieves a higher visibility for the participating arts organisations and artists, creating a stronger context for their work.
August 15 – 31 International Book Festival
October 23 – November 1 Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Scotland’s annual celebration of traditional and contemporary storytelling. The Festival brings together artists and audiences from Scotland and beyond in entertaining and inspiring live storytelling performances, thought-provoking talks, workshops and discussions and fun family activities - all held under the roof of the award winning Scottish Storytelling Centre.
July-August/TBA Jazz & Blues Festival
Taking place over ten days from late July and into early August, the Jazz & Blues Festival features more than 100 shows and events, from big band sounds to more intimate gigs across a wide variety of city venues. 2009 dates to be announced soon.
7 - 29 August Military Tattoo
August 14 – September 6 International Festival
August/TBA Mela Festival
A carnival atmosphere with a vibrant and exciting mix of theatre, dance and music, the Edinburgh Mela Festival is a lively event for all the family. The Festival is Scotland's leading celebration of cultural diversity through the arts, having been founded in 1995 by members of the city's minority ethnic communities. 2009 dates to be announced soon.
December 29 - January 1 Hogmanay
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is the largest New Year event in the world and its celebrations are internationally renowned. The Festival is best known for it's unrivalled New Year's Eve street party which attracts up to 100,000 people every year. Throughout the Festival there's an entertaining and engaging programme of festive celebrations, with activities suitable for the whole family.