Edinburgh's International Festival
Plan Your Edinburgh Golf or Romantic Getaway to Coincide – It’s a Must See
Cited as the world’s largest arts festival, the Edinburgh International Festival is an absolute must see. Throughout the month of August, Scotland’s capital city welcomes thousands of tourists from across the globe, eager to explore the plethora of events on offer, from stand-up comedy routines to dramatic performances, and one-man shows to full-scale theatrical productions. So, as this section of Scotland is central to the golf courses from one coast to the other, and that many international visitors arriving to play golf do so during August, it makes sense to add the Festival to your list of things you’d most like to do while in Scotland.
Established in 1949 as a way to promote an optimistic outlook for post-war Europe, the Edinburgh Festival has grown to become one of the world’s most recognized arts celebrations. It is impossible to define as merely one festival and is instead better described as a medley of independent events, which run concurrently throughout August.
Edinburgh is known as the festival city and this couldn’t be a more apt description. Just a handful of the events which make up the overall festival include: The International Festival, The Fringe, The Book Festival and The Military Tattoo.
Founded at the same time as the International festival, The Fringe was created on the principle of ‘open access for all performers’. Indeed, recognizing that there would be an interested audience and press coverage, six Scottish and two English companies decided to go along for the ride, performing on the ‘fringe’ of the main festival. Sixty one years later, the Fringe is still going strong, with 1.7 million tickets being sold in 2007 and over 300 free shows available for people to attend.
Edinburgh’s International Book Festival is also recognized as the world’s largest event. Designed to celebrate the written word, 2008 alone saw 750 events organized, with over 800 authors attending from across the globe.
Set against the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, The Military Tattoo is a highlight for many. The event is presented by the British Armed Forces, The Commonwealth and International military bands and display teams. The Tattoo boasts a huge international presence, with an annual audience of around 217,000 people, of which 35 per cent are said to be from overseas.
Ranging from music to theatre and opera, to dance, literature, street performances and comedy, the festival has it all. It is therefore wise to obtain one of the many programs available, in order to decide what you’d like to see ahead of time, since so many of the shows are sell-outs come performance day.
As well as the festival, it is also recommended to take some time to explore the city. With both its old and new towns classed as world heritage sites, the magnificent castle dominating its sky line and numerous closes and wynds to explore, Edinburgh offers so much to see and do.
With the city’s popularity reaching fever pitch by August however, it is absolutely vital to book accommodation early. There are numerous hotels in Edinburgh to choose from and with a bit of forward planning you can easily find one to suit your needs.
Whichever part of the town you decide to stay in, however, you can be sure of a fantastic view and a friendly welcome!
Isla Campbell writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
How to Get There
Look for the best airline and car rental deals, and hot travel offers, with these three aggregators, which provide travelers with an up-to-date search tool to compare prices on travel, airfares and car rentals of all ratings:
Check on Cheap Flights to Edinburgh
Check for Cheap Rental Cars in Edinburgh
You can also use this link to check for hot Travel Deals to Edinburgh
Know Before You Go!