The Edinburgh Festival.

1999 Official Festival - 15 Aug. to 4 Sep. Festival Fringe - 8 Aug. to 30 Aug. Tattoo - 6 Aug. to 28 Aug.

Last year the bright idea of having the Fringe starting a week before the Official Festival suited me, as it stretched the busy time for Taxis out from three weeks to four, but it didn't look as if it was a particularly bright idea otherwise. The first week of the Fringe seemed to be quieter than it usually is - the Tattoo had its usual crowds but the majority of them appeared to be there purely for the Tattoo and weren't very interested in taking in a show either before or after the big event. So we'll have to wait and see what this years event brings.

Any item concerning Edinburgh has to mention the Edinburgh Festival in some way. It's an awkward thing to try to define as for one thing it's really not one entity but a collection and for another it has taken up a life of its own over the years until no one person seems to know what the hell will happen next.
First, a few general tips for visitors.

Book your accommodation early! The city fills up very quickly and if you want a particular style or location of lodging, then it's up to you to try and arrange it before it's all gone. If you just turn up, hoping for the best, you'll probably get fitted in somewhere but it's hardly likely to be where you would prefer to be.
Get the Programmes early! The Official Festival and the Film Festival in particular have some items that sell out quickly, if you don't find out what you particularly want to see and book early you might well be disappointed. It's also a good idea to sit down ahead of time and check the timetable, with so much going on it can be impossible to see everything you want due to clashing times, so you'll have to set your priorities. Check out the Web! The logos at the head of this page should take you to the homepages of the main parts of the Festival.
Set aside some time for just wandering about. During the Festival there are impromptu shows, street theatre and various other things appearing without warning and you might regret having no free time to just enjoy the general atmosphere of barely organised chaos.
Check out the headquarters of the main organisers - the Official Festival is now housed in a converted church right at the top of the Royal Mile, called The Hub it has a cafe, ticket sales, information centre, etc. as well as the Festival Club. The Fringe offices are on the Royal Mile just a few doors down from St. Giles Cathedral (and usually surrounded by fringe performers handing out leaflets, performing(?), and enjoying themselves). The Tattoo Offices are in Market Street just round the corner from Waverly bridge where the main train station is.
Join either (or both) of the Festival Clubs. The Official Festival Club is in the Hub (see above). The Fringe Club is in the Edinburgh University Students Union at Charles Street - from the Royal Mile, turn into George IV Bridge, walk up to the end and follow the noise! The Festival Club is somewhere to sit and just about hear yourselves talk, meet some of the performers and catch up with the latest news. The Fringe Club is five floors of noise, drink and barely organised mayhem - pick which Club sounds more your style!
Make sure that you have a good, up to date map of the city and surrounding area. Some of the venues that you may be looking for are likely to be pretty obscure unless you are sticking to the official Festival, and that would be a shame as most of the fun is to be found lurking in the more esoteric areas of the Fringe.
Don't miss the Tattoo! It might seem to be a corny idea but it's very impressive, and the backdrop of the Castle makes it doubly so. Remember to take your camera and take some waterproofs and warm woolies too, I hope you won't need them but it can be a complete disaster if you don't have them (it's exposed up there!).

Festivals Information Scotsman Festival section