Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
commerce. For details, call
&
0131/335-
6200.
Mid- late June.
Pride.
Scotland's annual gay celebration
alternates between Edinburgh and
Glasgow. You'll see a quirky, boisterous
parade through the heart of Glasgow or
along Princes Street in Edinburgh. Some
time in June.
West End Festival,
Glasgow. The city's most
vibrant neighborhoods throw a party that
includes live music, a street parade, and
other events. Throughout most of June.
Glasgow International Jazz Festival.
Jazz
musicians from all over the world come
together to perform at various venues
around the city. End of June.
JULY
Glasgow River Festival.
A 2-day event with
exhibitions, sailings, and other festivities on
the River Clyde. Mid-July.
Edinburgh International Jazz & Blues Fes-
tival.
Of the various events that dominate
the Edinburgh social calendar in summer,
this one is the first to kick off. End of July
into August.
AUGUST
Edinburgh Festival.
Scotland's best-known
event is actually a number of festivals in
one—Jazz, Book, International, and Fringe—
taking place concurrently in the Scottish
capital. The Fringe alone encompasses
some 1,800 performances. An arts bonanza,
it draws major talent from around the world.
For more information, visit www.edinburgh
festivals.co.uk. Throughout August.
Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
A spectacular
every evening at Edinburgh Castle Espla-
nade, featuring precision marching and
army bands from across the globe. Call
&
0870/755-5118.
Throughout August.
Piping Live!
Glasgow. Bagpipe players and
bagpipe bands from around the world
gather in the city for a week-long festival
that culminates with the
World Pipe Band
Championships
—an orgy of bagpiping, as
toasting with whisky and eating of haggis,
the arrival of which is announced by a bag-
pipe. January 25.
FEBRUARY
New Territories,
Glasgow. An international
festival of performance arts, especially con-
temporary dance and theater. Early Febru-
ary to mid-March.
MARCH
Glasgow Comedy Festival.
Inaugurated in
2003, this festival brings a diverse range of
funny men and women to stages around
the city. Call
&
0141/552-2070.
Mid-
March.
APRIL
Glasgow Art Fair.
Galleries from across the
U.K. set up stalls in big tents on George
Square. First weekend in April.
Glasgow International.
A fortnight-long
celebration of contemporary visual art at a
host of local galleries. Last 2 weeks of April.
Triptych.
As the name implies, this is a con-
temporary and avant-garde music festival
that takes place in three cities: Edinburgh,
Glasgow, and Aberdeen. Last weekend in
April.
Beltane Fire Festival,
Edinburgh. This one
celebrates paganism and the alleged arrival
of summer on Calton Hill with primal drums
and dancing. A bit of nudity is almost guar-
anteed. April 30.
MAY
Burns an' A' That,
Ayr, south of Glasgow. A
celebration of the life of Robert Burns with
contemporary artists and performers—
mainly musicians. For details, call
&
0129/229-0300.
Late May.
JUNE
Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Moved to June from its traditional dates in
August, this is the oldest continually run-
ning film festival in Europe.
&
0131/623-
8030.
Mid-late June.
Royal Highland Show,
at the Ingliston
Showground, outskirts of Edinburgh. This
show is devoted to agriculture and
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