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