So, the Fringe festival may be over, but this weekend we have another bright, colourful, loud festival in the form of the Edinburgh Mela on Leith Links.
On both Saturday 31st August and Sunday 1st September from 12 – 8pm, the Mela features lots of food stalls, music stages, shopping stalls and a kids area with inflatables and trampolines.
So, the festival is almost at an end…what better way to get out of town and relax by the sea and be reminded of all the homegrown Edinburgh talent we have!….the Portobello Big Beach Busk is back and is happening on Saturday 31st August..
Here’s everything you need to know…
1 – The Busk is always the last Saturday of August.
2 – The Busk starts at Noon and finishes around 6pm
3 – Anyone can join in. You don’t need to ask.
4 – It doesn’t have to be music but try to make it entertaining.
5 – An EH15 postcode will get you here. Try to come by bus, by bike or by foot. Parking’s tight.
6 – Be kind and considerate to buskers, residents and visitors.
7 – Busk for charity or Busk for yourself. It’s up to you.
8 – Businesses are perfectly welcome. You’ll need to sort out your own license with the council.
9 – Have fun.
It’s that very sad time in August when we have to say goodbye to all the festival fun for another year. The fiery finale in the form of the Fireworks concert brings the Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh’s summer festival season to a luminous conclusion.
This year the fireworks will be on Monday 26th August, set against the iconic backdrop of Edinburgh’s historic Castle, this event brings together stirring orchestral music from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and magnificent pyrotechnics, specially choreographed by international fireworks artists, Pyrovision.
Over 400,000 fireworks launched from the Castle make this one of the biggest fireworks concerts in the world. Edinburgh-born mezzo soprano Catriona Morison, winner of BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2017 — the world’s most prestigious vocal competition — joins the SCO for a selection of vocal and orchestral music from Bizet’s Carmen.
After the dazzling colours of Glinka’s Ruslan and Ludmila Overture, get set for a thrilling ride into a world of musical magic and mystery. Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice was made world famous in Disney’s Fantasia. Berlioz’ Symphonie fantastique closes with a fiery finale.
The event starts at 9pm, the first half of this will be without fireworks.
Children are welcome in the gardens. Children under 5 are free but ticketed. Standard price tickets are available for children over that age.
You can enjoy the fireworks from other vantage points around the city though, including the links, Meadows and the various hills around Edinburgh too !!!
The last weekend of the Fringe is fast approaching and you still have time to get out there and explore all the corners of the festival and everything out there ! There are some unique venues this year that we have loved visiting – two hidden gems that are well worth a visit if you can are :
Pianodrome – Also finishing up on the 25th August is the incredible Pianodrome – if you have never visited this amazing venue before – don’t miss out. The biggest small venue in town. This year their majestic 100-seater amphitheatre made entirely from upcycled pianos goes wild downtown in a post-industrial warehouse in Leith. Join them for new music, new writing, street food and drinks. All singing, all dancing, all welcome. Intimate. Epic.
We have been busy squeezing in the last of the shows before the schools went back this week, and are all a little sad that our particular period of fringe madness has passed for another year !
But there is still loads of time to get out there and enjoy some great children’s shows if you can, and spend some time in the Pleasance Kidzone, or eating donuts or delicious ice creams in George Square Gardens….we’ve also spotted a gyoza stall in Bristo Square that we are going to investigate soon…
Top picks this week have been :
Tom Brace: Brace of Spades – we loved the super cool tricks and were genuinely baffled by his magic. Lots of audience participation enhanced the show further and all delivered in a charming manner !
Mustard Doesn’t Go With Girls – This romping musical number was brilliant, with colourful characters, great songs and a little bit of menace added into the mix ! Made even better by a strong feminist message at it’s core too…
Dexter and Winter’s Detective Agency – A cool criminal caper, delivered with superb storytelling skills – all within the amazing Roundabout venue. On at weekends only…
For the wee ones we LOVED..
Little Top – A beautiful visit to the circus for babies – juggling, acrobatics and loads of interaction and equally engaging for the adults too !! A total treat….
For the whole family, we enjoyed
Elements of Freestyle – Lots of wheels, incredible break dancing and parkour, lots of impressive staging and beautiful choreography combine to make this most stunning show with an exceptional live music soundtrack. .
