Events
January
New Year’s celebration starting
New Year’s Eve for 3 days
Edinburgh
Hogmanay
Hogmanay,
the Scottish celebration of the New Year, is marked with concerts, street
parties and a massive bonfire on Calton Hill. It features street theater; lively
processions, illuminated by firebrands; and the burning of a long boat. By 1997,
the crush to attend Europe's largest winter festival forced the city to limit
numbers, the consequence being that access to the city center after 8pm on New
Year's Eve is by ticket only. For details, call 0131/473-3800.
January 25
Burns Night
The celebration of the birthday
of Scotland’s national poet on January 25 traditional supper of haggis, neeps
(turnips), and tatties (potatoes), accompanied by a wee dram of whisky, while
listening to recitals from the works of Scotland's Bard, Robert "Rabbie" Burns,
whose birthday is being celebrated. Burns suppers are held in hotels and
restaurants all over the city.
April
Edinburgh Science Fair
Lectures and events covering all
branches of science and technology, held in over 40 centers city-wide.
May
Museum Week
Annual events to publicize
Edinburgh museums, with a series of art workshops, guided walks and
exhibitions.
Scottish International Children’s Festival
the largest festival of the
performing arts in the United Kingdom for children and young people. Public
performances Friday – Sunday. Telephone 0131 225 8050
Come to Britain's Biggest
Performing Arts Festival for Children and enjoy:
A unique live theatre
experience!
Cultural Diversity
Performances from the best
theatre companies from Germany, Denmark, England and Scotland
Dance Workshops And Story
Sessions
June
Royal Highland Show
Includes a huge variety of
events, such as pedigree livestock judging; show jumping; and agricultural
displays over a period of five days.
August
Edinburgh International
Festival
The Hub, Castle Hill, Edinburgh
EH1 7ND
0131/473-2000
open Monday to Friday 9:30am to
5:30pm.
The highlight of Edinburgh's
year comes in the last weeks of August during the various festivals. Since its
inception in 1947, I The International Festival has grown into one of the
world's largest and most important arts festivals. The festival has
attracted artists and companies of the highest international standard in all
fields of the arts, including music, opera, dance, theater, poetry, and prose.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
180 High St.
Edinburgh EH1 1BW
0131/226-5257
This festival began unofficially
at the same time as the Edinburgh International Festival and grew in tandem to
become the largest such event in the world. Over 500 amateur and professional
groups present every possible kind of avant-garde performance in venues all
around the city.
The Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Tickets and mail-order bookings
are available from the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Tattoo Office, 32 Market St.,
Edinburgh EH1 1QB 0131/225-1188
takes place on the Esplanade of
Edinburgh Castle. The show is an extravaganza of daredevil displays, regimental
drill, and swirling bagpipes and ends with a single piper playing a lament on
the battlefields. The Tattoo features the precision marching of not only the
British Army's Scottish regiments but also performers from some 30 countries,
including bands, dancers, drill teams, gymnasts, and motorcyclists, even horses,
camels, elephants, and police dogs. The music ranges from ethnic to pop and from
military to jazz.
Edinburgh International
Film Festival
88 Lothian Rd., Edinburgh EH3
9BZ
0131/228-4051.
This is the world’s longest
running film festival. It features both mainstream and independent new
releases, with interviews, discussions, and debate. It occurs at the same time
as the Military Tattoo.
Jazz and Blues Festival
Also at the same time as the Military Tattoo.
This festival runs the gamut of jazz forms.
Edinburgh Book Festival
Scottish Book Centre
137 Dundee St.
Edinburgh EH11 1BG
0131/228-5444
occurs annually. The festival
occupies a tented village in Charlotte Square and attracts a wide spectrum of
visitors.
September
Fireworks Concert
A fantastic fireworks display
against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, accompanied by classical music.
Open Doors Day
Cockburn Association
Trunk’s Close
55 High Street EH1 15R
0121 557 8686
Some of the finest private homes
in Edinburgh are opened to the public on one day of the year, in September.
Late November
Edinburgh’s Capital Christmas
One of Europe's finest Christmas festivals with a
month-long programme bringing warmth and festive cheer to Edinburgh as the city
transforms itself into a magical winter wonderland with lots of activity centred
around the world-renowned Princes Street Gardens.
December 31-January 1
Highland Gathering
An annual indoor music extravaganza catering for
25,000 people, this unprecedented event is designed to compliment the City's
traditional Hogmanay happenings, the Winter Festival, and the existing yearly
New Year's Eve celebrations.
Arts and Entertainment
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Usher Hall, Lothian Road,
Edinburgh, EH1 2EA
0131 228 1155
Usher Hall.
Playhouse Theatre
0131/557-2590
18-22 Greenside Place Bus: 7,
14
Edinburgh's largest theater, the
3,100-seat Playhouse Theatre, was built in 1929.
Queen's Hall
0131/668-2019
The Queen's Hall, Clerk Street
(0131/668-2019; Bus: 3, 33, 31), is home to the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and a
major venue for the Edinburgh Festival.
King's Theatre
2 Leven Street, Edinburgh, EH3
9LQ
Tel: 0131 529 6000
Bus: 10, 11
presents a wide repertoire of
classical entertainment.
Edinburgh Folk Club
077-8896-0732
In addition to pubs that
sometimes feature folk music, the Edinburgh Folk Club offers Wednesday
performances at changing venues from September to June.
Festival Theatre
13-29 Nicolson St.
0131/662-1112 for
administration
Opened in 1994 on the eastern
edge of Edinburgh, near the old campus of the university,
Motherwell Theatre
Civic Centre
Windmillhill Street, Motherwell,
ML1 1TW
Tel: 01698 267515
Fax: 01698 268806
Royal Lyceum Theatre
Grindlay Street, Edinburgh, EH3
9AX
Grindlay Street Bus: 11, 15
Tel: 0131 248 4848
A highly respected resident
company.
