Edinburgh Festivals

 

 

“Mela” is a Sanskrit word meaning a community-wide meeting, gathering or celebration. It has become a well-known moniker for local and international festivals and gatherings which embrace ethnic and cultural diversity.

The Edinburgh Mela Festival first begun in 1995 by the ethnic minority communities in the town and has evolved into a large annual affair filled with programmes of music, dance, theater, sports, arts and crafts, and activities for children. The Festival lasts several days at multiple charming city venues and it draws thousands of guests from the United Kingdom and beyond.

It showcases ethnic art and experiences ranging from the trials and tribulations of immigration to African, Asian and Indian dance, fashion and music. Original commissioned works which draw together storytellers, musicians, actors and all manner of artists are one of its hallmarks. Intriguing food choices are abundant and the marketplace is thriving, so everyone will find something to delight and entertain.

Mela adds a unique dimension to Edinburgh’s many annual festivals and artistic performances and is a worthy destination for locals and visitors alike.

 

 

Storytelling – the oldest of the human arts, most likely began around a nighttime fire while the community worried about predators, both real and imaginary, with the storyteller strengthening everyone’s hearts and spirits. Even today nothing honors the story and the storyteller more than a live performance. Visitors to Edinburgh can enjoy this experience during the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, an annual event which draws thousands of attendees and hundreds of skilled storytellers from across the globe.

The event is held at the Edinburgh Storytelling Centre which includes the historic John Knox House and is complete with a theatre, gift shop and café. Guests at the Festival will enjoy ancient and contemporary storytellers from foreign climes such as China, Malaysia, and Thailand as well as from the ranks of professional storytellers in Scotland.

In addition to listening to stories, guests can participate in workshops, talks, and “Meet the Storyteller” sessions. Activities for younger members of the family are also included. The Scottish International Storytelling Festival preserves the oral tradition of the storyteller and is a unique experience which will be treasured by all who attend.

Leave it to the fair citizens of Edinburgh to ring in the Scottish New Year, known as Hogmanay, in style! New Years celebrations are held world-wide but scarcely is there a better place to party than in Edinburgh. This years Edinburgh Hogmanay 2018 festival spans three days from December 30th 2017 through January 1st 2018.

Book your accommodation now for Edinburgh Hogmanay 2018. Find the best room rates here

Edinburgh Hogmanay Torchlight Procession

The Hogmanay festival begins with the unbelievably gorgeous torchlight procession which wends its way through Edinburgh. Thousands of celebrants carry lit torches to create a visual “river of fire” from Parliament Square on the Royal Mile to Calton Hill. The crowning spectacle is the dazzling Son et Lumiere fireworks show on Calton Hill, which sets the city skies alight. Torches will be available for purchase in advance on www.edinburghshogmanay.com for £6 each or you can buy them on the night for £7. Proceeds from the sale of torches go to local charites Radio Forth Cash for Kids and Barnardo’s Scotland.

 

Edinburgh Hogmanay Street Party

Then it is time for the Edinburgh Hogmanay Street Party with live bands on multiple stages performing before enthusiastic crowds. Partiers can patronize the many outdoor bars while listening and dancing to live music. The Edinburgh Hogmanay Street Party is a ticket only event and takes place just off Princes Street with the Concert in the Gardens featuring a host of Scottish and international music acts, running along side in West Princes Street Gardens.

Similar to an Irish Ceili, the Keilidh in Resolution Square takes place within an exclusive area of the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party. Here you can dance along to traditional Scottish music, with a Ceilidh Caller teaching the crowd the various steps.

Edinburgh Hogmanay 2018 tickets

Tickets for the 2018 events are now on sale from edinburghshogmanay.com. Tickets for the Street Party cost £15, Concert in the Gardens tickets are £40/£35 and the Keilidh tickets are £35. Tickets for the Concert in the Gardens and the Keilidh also grant you access to the Street Party.  All tickets booked from Ireland will be mailed out by early December. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Box Office – International Enquiries 0044 131 226 0000.

Book your accommodation now for Edinburgh Hogmanay 2012. Find the best room rates here

New Year’s Day in Edinburgh

Visitors who are either brave or loony or both may later opt to participate in the Loony Dook, a wintery splash into the chilly waters of the River Forth. This eccentric event raises significant funds every year for local charities so those who dare venture in can be assured their sacrifices will be rewarded!  The Loony Dock swim is a ticket only event, with tickets going on sale in October.

The One O’Clock Run begins at Edinburgh Castle and sees runners head downhill along the one mile route, passing through the Royal Mile and finishing in Holyrood Park. This is a ticket only event (Entry £8), which usually sells out early. Registration on the day begins at 11am at Edinburgh Castle, where you will exchange your ticket for an official T-shirt.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is an unforgettable New Year’s experience not to be missed!

 

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, also known simply as The Fringe, is an iconic annual festival that is central to Edinburgh culture. Although the festival was not given a name until 1948, The Fringe first took place in 1947, when several local theatre groups did not receive invitations to participate in the Edinburgh International Festival. To this day, it continues to take place alongside the International Festival and several other Edinburgh events each August.

In 1959, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe became a bit more formal when the Festival Fringe Society was formed to provide organisation and management. However, it is important to note that much of the point of this festival is that it is entirely unjuried, which means no performer, artist or performance troupe is turned away. This unique approach to providing a stage for performers of any ilk and any level of ability has paved the way for many now-famous performers to get their start.

This unique Edinburgh festival has long since outgrown the other annual festivals taking place in Edinburgh at this time and is the largest art festival of this sort around the world. Visitors can expect to see all manner of art and performance, including theatre, comedy, art exhibits, dance performances and musical acts.

The list of well-known names that have graced The Fringe’s programme over the years includes: Sir Anthony Hopkins, Ricky Gervais, Emma Thomson, Jude Law, Christian Slater, Hugh Grant, Robin Williams and Susan Sarandon.

Visit the Official Edinburgh Fringe Festival website for further information