Edinburgh Spotlight loves living in ‘Festival City’ and already has all these dates in its calendar – here’s the rundown of 2012′s festivals.

Mary King’s Ghost Fest TBC for 2012

Paranormal investigations, celebrity ghost hunts and other spooky goings on at The Real Mary King’s Close.

Ceilidh Culture 16 March – 25 April

Edinburgh’s traditional arts festival, featuring music, dance, storytelling and more.

International Science Festival 31 March- 13 April 2012
The International Science Festival features a host of fun and educational events, lectures and attractions celebrating all things scientific.

Beltane Fire Festival 30 April 2012
Beltane is an ancient Celtic festival and Edinburgh plays host to some colourful and exciting celebrations to mark the date.

Imaginate Festival 7 – 14 May 2012
The Imaginate Festival is Edinburgh’s children’s festival and has loads of plays, activities and fun things to do for youngsters of all ages.

Leith Festival 8 -17 June 2012
Come and celebrate all things Leith at this festival, featuring music, dance, art and other exciting events.

Edinburgh International Film Festival 20 June – 1 July
The Edinburgh Film Festival is an internationally-renowned event on the movie festival circuit and attracts premieres and stars from all over the world.

Edinburgh International Magic Festival 29 June – 6 July 2012

2012 will see Edinburgh host the third International Magic Festival with a range of performers show-casing their magical talents.

Edinburgh Art Festival August 2 – September 2
Edinburgh Art Festival celebrates the visual arts in all its diversity, from world-class exhibitions to strikingly original installations.

Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival 28 July – 6 August 2012
Get your gladrags on and party to the sounds of the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, a popular event which attracts international talent.

Edinburgh Fringe Festival 3 - 27 August 2012
Getting bigger, better and – some may say – weirder every year, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the highlight of many a festival-goer’s calendar.

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 3 – 25 August 2012
Selling out months in advance, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a spectacular event taking place on the Castle Esplanade.

The Edge Music Festival TBC 2012
Adding alternative music to the August festival mix, The Edge Music Festival attracts A-list bands as part of its programme.

Festival of Spirituality and Peace TBC 2012

The Festival of Spirituality and Peace features music, dance, talks and other events highlighting humanitarian issues and causes.

Edinburgh International Festival 10 August – 2 September 2012
The one that started it all, the Edinburgh International Festival is a feast of world-class music, dance and theatrical performances.

Edinburgh International Book Festival 11 - 27 August 2012
This literary event attracts major names in the writing, publishing and political fields to the serene Charlotte Square Gardens setting.

Edinburgh Mela Festival 31 August  - 2nd September 2012

Celebrating the cultural diversity of the city, the Mela Festival brings colour and exotic flair to Edinburgh in August.

Scottish Story Telling Festival 19-28 October
Celebrating the great Scottish oral tradition, the Story Telling Festival showcases the talents of national bards, poets and tale-spinners.

Edinburgh’s Christmas TBC – late November – End Dec 2011
Edinburgh sparkles at Christmas and features events, attractions and shows for all the family to enjoy during the festival season.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 30 December 2012 – 2 January 2013
End the year with the biggest street party in the world!

2011 Edinburgh Mardi Gras

Free Mardi Gras event in Edinburgh

As part of the 33rd Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, the annual Mardi Gras is one of our favourite events.

On Saturday 23rd July 2011,  the Jazz Parade will leave City Chambers in the High Street at 12.30pm and marches towards the Grassmarket.

Upon arrival, live music kicks off on multiple stages for three hours of top class entertainment. This year, there’s a fantastic line up of musicians, including: Hamish McGregor’s Jazz & Co, a new band led by the top alto sax and clarinet player, playing upbeat traditional jazz. Laurie Chescoe’s Reunion Band,one of the leading London based dixie/New Orleans outfits, with a host of great players.

Lorna Reid, who is making a name for herself as one of the classiest jazz vocalists on the scene and winning over audiences all over the UK. She’ll have a Quartet. The Rosy Blue Band, a five piece blues outfit, featuring the powerful vocals of Rosie Nimmo.
From England, Royal Park Rent Party play a mix of old swing and New Orleans jazz and blues. Top Scottish harmonica man Fraser Spiers will play with Eddie Walker.

The Criterion Parade Bandwill be leading the parade and performing in the open stage area in the Grassmarket, along with a host of other parade bands.

Grassmarket Festival

In addition to the bands, there’s a host of market stalls this year, and, of course, the many restaurants, cafes and bars ready to serve you. Details are still to be confirmed, but will be added here in due course.  You can visit the Grassmarket website.

You can follow the Festival on twitter and on facebook

2011

33rd Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival

The 2011 programme for Edinburgh’s Jazz & Blues Festival was announced today. 

You view the brochure online or download a PDF copy. 

The Jazz & Blues Festival uniquely spans all styles and there’s something for connoisseurs as well as those just beginning to explore the world of Jazz and Blues. 

We’re particularly looking forward Fat Sam’s Band playing at the Spiegel Tent in George Square and the annual Mardi Gras that sees the High Street come alive as the parade winds down to the Grassmarket (free event). You can read our information on the Mardi Gras event here. Acts that also caught our eye in the programme are the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and theGospel Concert featuring Lillian Boutte, held at St Cuthbert’s Church (charity event). 

Details of where you can buy tickets can be found here. 

 You can follow the Festival on twitter and on facebook.

A couple of pics from Jazz on a Summer’s Day.  Had a leisurely lunch in the Gardens until 3pm and then headed to the Castle (used my pass) and looked down and could still listen to it !    I Love Edinburgh during the festival.

For many, the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival Mardi Gras is the first event of the Festival season.

A free event in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, the Mardi Gras brings a slice of carnival atmosphere to one of the city’s oldest and most historic places, filling it with a riot of colour, sounds and people entering into the jazz (and alcohol) fuelled spirit of the day.

The weather was kind, and the sun put in an appearance for most of the event, shining down on the likes of the Criterion Parade Band and the infectious rhythms and showgirl glamour of the Edinburgh Samba School, whilst other artists, bands and singers entertained the packed crowd from temporary stages dotted along the cobbled street.

The atmosphere was relaxed and happy, as tourists on passing open-top buses stared down in envy at the buzz below and fortunate pub and restaurant owners reaped the rewards of having a captive hungry & thirsty crowd on their doorstep.

A great start to proceedings, the Mardi Gras ushered in the Festival with a splash of carnival atmosphere that hinted at the frantic and unmissable weeks to come.

The festival is almost here (it starts, officially, this weekend).