subject: A Guide To The Edinburgh Festival [print this page] A Guide To The Edinburgh Festival A Guide To The Edinburgh Festival
Taking place each August, the Edinburgh International Festival is the world's biggest and most accepting arts festival, inviting performers of all disciplines to put on shows at a hundreds of venues across the Scottish capital. Unlike other arts events, there are no barriers to entry at the Edinburgh Festival - and associated festivals such as the Edinburgh Fringe - meaning that anyone who can afford to put on a show is welcome. Those that can't can take their show out into the streets instead.
Visiting Edinburgh at the height of festival season can sometimes be a daunting and dizzying experience, with promoters being eager to distribute flyers and attract you to their show over the thousands of other performances competing for your attention. The trip north doesn't have to be a confusing experience when you take the time to check out your favourite acts beforehand in the festival brochure and on venue websites. Not everyone arrives in Edinburgh prepared, of course, and part of the fun of the festival can be trying something new - as even if a show turns out to be a dud, it will at least make the good ones stand out even more. Many of the country's best-loved comedy acts have started out in modest shows at the Fringe, so you never know if the young comedian you're buying tickets for could be the next Stewart Lee or Frank Skinner. By heading to the festival towards the end of the month, you will also have the benefit of several weeks' worth of reviews to draw on for guidance - unless you prefer the risky road to entertainment, of course.
Despite its reputation, visiting the Edinburgh Festival doesn't have to be a strain on your wallet, especially with initiatives such as the Five Pound Fringe that aims to give newcomers and lesser-known performers a chance by charging less than half the standard ticket price for Fringe shows. The popular Free Fringe takes things further still, with performers putting on shows for love rather than money - though voluntary donations collected at the end could be hugely beneficial to helping the artists survive in that demanding month.
Other parts of your festival trip don't have to break the bank either. Although many hoteliers will naturally push up their prices during the festival month, you can still find great rates on accommodation and trains to Edinburgh when booking ahead of your journey, rather than leaving it until the last minute.
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