Keep an eye out for all sorts of shows by independent performers: comedy, magic, fire, etc.. The…read moreEdinburgh Festival Fringe is a joyous annual event that happens every August. Short street performances are spread throughout the city, particularly centering around the Royal Mile. We were unlucky with the weather in that it was pouring rain the day we visited. And so it was difficult to find shows as well as for the entertainers who had to stall until a large enough crowd had gathered. For the ones that we did stop to watch, they were quite enjoyable.

I happened to be visiting Edinburgh for a college reunion during the time of the Fringe Festival,…read moreso after meeting up with my friends at the airport, we all headed to the Royal Mile (which I fondly started calling the High Mile on account of its elevation and because so many people were high on life, drugs or alcohol!) to soak in the atmosphere. And what an atmosphere it was! Full of buskers, mimes, musicians, and eclectic acts - from Japanese pop to American tap dancing to an Eastern European theatre group performing a moving play about Jewish children interned at a Nazi concentration camp. It was a warm and sunny afternoon and the crowd was out in force, and I could clearly see the shimmering blue waters of the Firth of Forth in the distance. After stopping by for a wonderful meal of haggis and salmon and IPA at the Whiski Bar and Restaurant (different review for that one), we plunged back into the creativity and madness, enjoying the magical experience that's the Fringe!

It dazzles with somewhat lots of lights and has pre-recorded choirs tuned to lighting display…read more Sure it's good but I wouldn't say I was overwhelmed by it. Mind you saying that it's good for kids and it's free. I can't complain too much as it was free. It's set on the Royal Mile and it's a ticketed event. It last around 20 mins and your welcome to wander through the lights whilst listening to the choirs. There is about 4 choirs that sing a song each. All very good but pre-recorded. It's a lot of standing/ walking around and it's outdoors, so wrap up warm and be prepared for the seasonal Scottish weather because you ain't protected - at all! I had a good time, but I'm sure the kids would enjoy it too if you have them!

I first laid eyes on the Street of Light on the bus home. Oooh, shiny; I was drawn to the dazzling…read morebright lights in the distance. So, I made sure to visit the next evening that I was close by. I didn't take part in one of the free ticketed choir events but just walking through the tunnel of light was a dazzling thing in itself. Of course, it's not unmissable as others too have said, but it's a pretty nice little addition to Edinburgh this Christmas and could have you feeling in the festive spirit. This is a teeny tiny bit tainted by the 'Virgin Money' sponsor that shines from every illuminated archway. But yes, ooooh...shiny, indeed.

This was my first time and it did not disappoint. The beautiful music made me actually cry. It was…read moreAMAZING! My favorite was the Top Secret Drum Corp. SUPERB!

Is the show worth sitting in the pouring rain for hours? Absolutely. The two hours flew by so fast…read moreas performers after performers came out to captivate the crowd. Scotland pipes and drums, cultural dances, fiddlers, drill teams, and much more can be seen before a grand finale of fireworks behind the Edinburgh Castle. The military tattoo is an annual event that takes place during August. Performances happen almost every evening of the month and is held even in the rain. Umbrellas are not permitted, so make sure to wear a poncho for inclement weather. We were unlucky with the weather, but it is truly commendable how all the performers can pull it off in the rain. The sections with the best seats were already sold out two months in advance. We settled with seats at Row J in Section 4 for £145 each. Each section comes with packages causing the varying prices. For Section 4, it was the Wallace Package that included The Scotch Whisky Experience prior to the show. The spot had a adequate angle of facing the performances and was not blocked much by the surrounding audience.

Weird and wonderful and I'm so glad I got to experience this. Make sure you buy your tickets in…read moreadvance and come prepared for a possibly chilly/windy night in the darkness with few places to sit and only a few options for food and drink that will be very busy. There is a rough schedule but there are things going on in multiple places at once and you will end up missing some things, not being able to see some things and that's OK! It's basically a volunteer run event so don't expect a clean and set experience - go in with your perspective open and enjoy! The ground is very uneven and it is very dark so be very careful walking around.

Beltane is genuinely one of the highlights of my year. Not only is it utterly magical, it makes me…read morefeel like the rest of the year is magical too. It's the perfect opportunity to shed the last vestiges of my lingering winter blues before the first true rays of summer. All while on top of a Scottish hill positively wreathed in flame. The dozens upon dozens of folk who volunteer for this event put so much work into everything from the costumes, to the drums, to the performances themselves: It's completely self evident that it's a labour of love. I think that's ultimately what makes Beltane so spectacular. Not just for the retelling of some ancient rite, but for the opportunity to keep that ritual alive and dancing from one year to the next. Often half naked, buck-wild, and hovering a handful of degrees above freezing. If you ever have the opportunity to see the May Queen and the Green Man (along with the Whites, the Reds, the Processional Drummers...), dress up warm, grab a few of your closest friends, and hike up Calton Hill on the last evening of April. If you have even a trace of wonder in your heart, you'll not be disappointed.

Art and very good Art it is…read more You forget these Vaults quite easily on Market Street as they just merge into the city backdrop. They don't get used like this so it's a great way to use a space and i hope it's the start of something special for artists. The musty vaults host a series of arts and entertainment. I fell in love with two particular artist's work - David Martin and Miriam Mallalieu apart from the bit where I almost crapped myself going into Miriam Mallalieu's "Charnel House for Roadkill"!! We went in the daytime so know real entertainment to hear, but to see there were plenty of cool artists!

It's an exhibition - it's a party - it's a wonderland it's…read moreall of these things. And more. Every year Edinburgh's art scene opens the Vaults on Market Street and turn them into a world of its own. Sculpture, Fine Art, film, music, installation art and performances will take hold of you as soon as you step in. You will forget your everyday life for a couple of hours and feel like floating in a creative aquarium. I forgot that I was still in Edinburgh. the tickets at 10- 15 Pounds seem expensive but you'll be able to see several bands and DJ's and judging from their Opening Night yesterday, it's spectacular and I would (and will) happily spend it again. And they are a charitable fund! Oh and if you are too busy at night: the exhibition Vaults are open during the day - for free.

This year I was able to visit Edinburgh during the fringe festival. The city's atmosphere is…read morefantastic, full of music and performers and of course drinks. Throughout the city center, Assembly set up outdoor beer gardens complete with food trucks and performance spaces. Two large bars occupy opposite corners of the square with many specialty drink stations along the way. This year Edinburgh Gin was a big sponsor of the festival so many fancy gin drinks were available (I love gin so this worked in my favor heavily). Food trucks line the outer perimeter with huge variety in cuisines (tacos, greek, pad thai). During the day, families can picnic on the "grass" with their kids rolling about. I even saw a few magician shows offered to appease your children while you continue to day drink. Once stumbling upon George Square, I made sure to return. They are open much later than many of the bars and offer a great relaxed space to end your night rather peacefully. If you're lucky, you are able to grab seating under one of the many heat lamps set up for the cold, Scottish, summer nights. If not, huddle up for warmth and get to drinking. Beers, wine and cocktails cost anywhere from 3-5 pounds.

This is one of my favourite gardens to hang out in during festival time, which is probably…read moresurprising given it has a decent sized kiddies play area which would usually drive me potty. Here though it's outweighed by the strength of the food offering, both the line of food vans outside the entrance lining the cobblestones and also inside the enclosure. A chicken pad thai from Pad BKK this year would set you back £6 and was a great pick-me-up (or maybe that was the effect of the chillies). The next day my mate enjoyed his Well Hung And Tender burger (as well as the name) whilst I grabbed a tasty veggie dumplings with sweet chilli sauce snack from the Wings vs Dumplings van nextdoor, which was making a new appearance for this year. There's enought variety to cover any fussy eater friends I would think. Another plus point is the toilets. Portaloos yes, but kept among the cleanest at the festival so well done them. The gardens also have 2 spacious bars, one at either end, as well as other counters serving coffee and cake type snacks - so the whole place lends itself nicely to all day chilling. The patio heaters scattered around are good to cosy up to when it gets a bit chilly, though there isn't much cover from the inevitable rain - but obviously you wouldn't leave the house without a cagoule and a brolly in Edinburgh now would you?! Best enjoyed with friends in the early evening when all the lovely coloured fairy lights around the edge turn on :)

I feel like The Edinburgh International Festival is the more sensible, quietly confident and…read moreunassuming, but still amazing element of the Edinburgh festival as a whole. The International Festival, which runs from the middle of August to the first week of September, features a carefully picked array of opera, dance, theatre and music originating from countries around the globe. The programme is consistently made up of quality performers, artists and companies, and is a brilliant fusion of Scottish and international culture and flavour, with enough variety to suit every potential spectator. The Edinburgh International Festival was the original Edinburgh festival, founded in 1947, and it was the inspiration and success of the International Festival that has caused the other festivals which now feature alongside it to flourish so immensely.

Oddly enough now far more low-profile than the Fringe, the "proper" festival does benefit from a…read morelack of association with the horrendous street "entertainers" that litter the streets in August, and doesn't look to be edgy or push the boundaries of taste in order to grab headlines. Cheryl's right when she describes it as self-assured, and many of the performances attract the kind of people who also fit that bracket. 40 something, successful, and far more comfortable in their own skin than the 25 year olds with new romantic haircuts who favour The Fringe's more obscure offerings. Elegant, Upmarket, and decidedly up it's own arse, I don't yet fit the target demographic, but when I do, I'll be at the front of the queue with my gold card and smug, shit-eating grin.

I only started properly getting involved with the Edinburgh International Film Festival in the last…read morecouple of years, when it was moved from its former time slot in August to an earlier spot in the year in June. I think the move away from August and all the other festivals that happen in that month was a brilliant call by the film fest, as it can now bask in the glory it deserves, rather than being part of a month where too many good festivals are on at once. It packs a lot into its 10 day run, and last year saw a brilliant variety of world and UK premieres, and other events, panels and workshops, which give people an inside look at the film industry. I seem to have been quite lucky with celeb spots at the film festival for some reason, and for the last two years I've managed to get a fairly close up visual of Sean Connery, and as far as I'm concerned, after you've seen the great Sir Sean, no other celeb spotting is required for the rest of the year.

Edinburgh International Film Festival may not be as big as Sundance but it is a good effort. Set…read moreover 10 days in June the festival is a fantastic opportunity for film lovers to experience the next Oscar winner (Hurt Locker premiered here) or some up and coming British talent. The festival attracts some big names in the movie business such as Sean Connery and Sam Mendes, leaving the trashy starlets in LA. I saw Kiera Knightley in the distance during the festival, and yes she is that skinny in real life. It is for your more serious movie lover, you ain't gonna be watching Harold and Kumar or Transformers but it is great fun at the same time. The Festival uses a number of venues including Cineworld and Cameo, with tickets usually selling out pretty quickly. The Film Festival is one of my favourite Edinburgh Festivals, partly due to the fact it takes place in June when it's not horrendously busy like the August Festivals. The content is varied and interesting, so if you are lucky enough to get a ticket then it is a must do.