Welcome These pages hopefully contain useful information on Edinburgh and its August festivals for all fellow punters, both established and new. It should be particularly helpful to those who are trying the festival for the first time. However, beware all you newbies - you may get hooked! To get a flavour of the effect that Edinburgh can have on punters and artists alike, read ... The World's Greatest Art Event and How to Survive It, written by comedian Stewart Lee (2006) Tales of the Unexpected written by Lyn Gardner (2007) Bloated, over-priced and unmissable by Richard Morrison (2008). Site last updated on July 1st, 2009.

Latest Top Items Connery criticises BBC coverage of Film Festival Amnesty International at 2009 festival All 2009 Edinburgh Festival programmes now launched Film festival review links Early Fringe box office problems Criticism of free fringe shows McCall Smith donation to Book Festival No sponsor for 2009 comedy awards Picks and Preview links See all news items ...

Here are some dates for 2009. The following will be updated as information becomes available, e.g. dates for programme launches plus dates when tickets will go on sale. If you want more information on a given festival you can subscribe to a festival mailing list or pay to become a Muse / Friend / Supporter with early access to information and booking. Click here for the links.

• International Festival. Programme was launched on 25th March 2009; public booking now open; festival dates 14th August to 6th September 2009
• Fringe. Programme was launched on 10th June 2009; festival dates 7th to 31st August 2009
• Book Festival. Programme was launched on 11th June 2009; public booking opens on 22nd June 2009; festival dates 15th to 31st August 2009
• Film Festival. Programme was launched on 6th May 2009; box office opened on 8th May 2009; festival dates 17th to 28th June 2009.
• Jazz & Blues Festival. Programme was launched on 5th June 2009; festival dates 31st July to 9th August 2009
• Art Festival. Programme was announced on 27th May 2009; festival dates 5th August to 5th September 2009
• Military Tattoo. Festival dates 7th to 29th August 2009
• The Edge Festival (formerly T on the Fringe). Initial lineup announced on 10th June 2009; festival dates 1st August to 29 August 2009.

If you want to look back at the 2008 festival:

• news snippets (Aug 2007-Aug 2008)
• info, plus links to launches, previews, articles, et cetera
• info on reviews and awards
• summary of punters' 2008 visit.

Apart from info on this year’s festival plus recent years you will find a freely available book, The August Feast: A Punter's Perspective on Edinburgh & its Festivals on this site. It includes the following sections which can each be browsed individually:

• a history of the main August festivals (also in pdf)
• a light-hearted personal account of visits to the Festival (pdf only)
• the problems of choosing from 2000+ shows on the Fringe (pdf only)
• useful links to individual festivals, venues, places to find reviews of shows, blogs, et cetera
• and finally, for those who are intrigued by the city and its architecture, a potted history of Auld Reekie (pdf only).

If you wish, you can download the entire book (pdf only).

I have added my thoughts on some of the threats to the future of the festival.

Information on individual venues can be found via this page.

And finally, you will find:

• some pictures
• bibliography & further reading for those who are interested in delving deeper