Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
By ticking the box and clicking submit you confirm that you have read and agreed to the terms of our privacy policy.
Love Scotland and want to share your stories – why not have a look at all the recent discussions and make a contribution or start a new discussion? Visiting Scotland and looking for some advice – why not ask a question or start a discussion or simply explore all the great content?
Join the conversation today and share your #scotspirit.
Edinburgh Festivals on a budget...
VisitScotlandEsther
Administrator, Moderator, VisitScotland Staff ✪
It's festival time in Edinburgh, and for me that means taking a week off to see as many shows as possible (I think I went to about 40 last year, but it's easy to lose count!). Over the last 10 years I've developed a few tactics to make my money go further and get the most out of the festival month.
Copyright VisitScotland / Kenny Lam, all rights reserved
1. Free street performances
During the Festivals the Royal Mile fills up with street performers, and so does the space by the National Galleries on The Mound. You can join the crowd and see everything from musicians to jugglers, contortionists and magicians. There's always audience participation. Many Fringe shows also do slots on a temporary stage on the Royal Mile, as a kind of advert, with several troupes taking the stage back-to-back.
2. Strategic lurking
Many promoters will offer 2 for 1 tickets to their Fringe shows if they want to fill a venue. If you have a few free hours, sit in the Pleasance Courtyard or in the bars at Bristo Square. You're especially likely to be offered bargain tickets if a show is expecting critics or reviewers, or if it's a week night when fewer people are out and about (I've received free ones this way too).
3. Digital lurking
You can also do some digital lurking. Keep an eye on the social media feeds and apps from the Festivals and local media, and you'll often find extra dates, cheap tickets or exclusive events that don't appear in official programmes.
People to follow on Twitter:
- @edfringe
- @edintfest
- @EdArtFest
- @edbookfest
- @EdinburghTattoo
- @BBCEdFest
- @AssemblyFest
- @Gildedballoon
- @ThePleasance
4. Free shows at the Book Festival
The Book Festival could keep you occupied for the whole of your time in Edinburgh, and many of its events sell out quickly. On most nights during the Book Festival, from 9-11pm there's a free show in the Charlotte Square Spiegeltent called Jura Unbound
Last year I saw Arctic poets, story-tellers and fabulous world music from Inuit musicians. The show has the air of a cabaret, with tables in front of the stage and booths at the back. It's different every night, playing on the themes of the wider Book Festival, and you don't need a ticket (but if you arrive late there may not be any seats!). There's a bar and last year I was plied with free whisky, from their sponsors, Jura. This is also a good way to get a taster of the other shows on offer, so that you can be sure you're picking performers you'll love.
5. Friends of the Fringe
If like me you're planning a full-on festival binge, and intend to see as many shows as you can, you might consider joining Friends of the Fringe. You can sign up for £30, and are then entitled to 2 for 1 tickets for up to 15 shows (2 per show). There are other tiers of membership which give you a greater number of 2 for 1 tickets, with up to six tickets per show.
This is especially good if you have large group - you could even split the cost of the membership between you. I saved a lot of money last year. As a friend you can also save time by skipping the queues for tickets with priority box office (very satisfying!).
Comments
6. Half Price Hut
For the second half of the Fringe, the Virgin Money Half Price Hut helps to bolster attendance to shows by offering half price tickets. It's usually located just outside the art galleries on The Mound, and is always a good place to scoop up a bargain.
7. "Free Fringe"
Just as the international festival spawned the Fringe, a number of small-scale satellite festivals have sprung up alongside the official Fringe. These usually take place in smaller spaces, like the basements or back rooms of pubs, converted into temporary venues. There's no charge to get into these performances, but some are ticketed, so you may need to turn up early on the day to be sure you'll get in.
On the way out, the performers shake a bucket at you for donations, and you can give as much or as little as you like. I've seen some fabulous stuff this way, though be prepared for one or two experimental and less experienced performances. In recent years, however, many bigger names have started to do two or even three shows a day, with one of their performances in the free fringe during the morning or afternoon as a kind of trailer for their other appearances. I've often gone to an official Fringe show after a taster at a free event.
Free programmes include:
You'll find paper programmes for the free festivals in almost every pub in the centre of Edinburgh, especially in the Old Town, in the area of the Royal Mile.
8. Edinburgh Art Festival
Edinburgh Art Festival runs from the end of July to the end of August, with a wide range of exhibitions, performances, commissions and events - many of which are free - and some great paid stuff too. This is a good way to spend a day at the festivals if your friends have bailed or you have an afternoon to yourself.
Dazzle ship, part of the Edinburgh Art Festival9. Spot the stars
#StareAtFamousPeople
People I've seen in the wild during recent years include: Phil Jupitus (about five times... I think he was following me); Jo Brand; Susan Boyle; Paul Merton; Simon Amstell; Nina Conti; Sue Perkins; Nicholas Parsons, and Will Self. An excellent place for celeb spotting is the upstairs bar in the Assembly Rooms, as is the smaller outdoor bar towards the back of the Pleasance (down the steps).
The great art is to observe the famous person without appearing to notice them, or even better to register their presence but pretend to be too cool to care. Hours of fun.
10. Opening and closing celebrations of the International Festival
Each year, the Edinburgh International Festival ends with a fireworks extraveganza, even bigger than the one at New Year. The display is synchronised to live music provided by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and lasts for about 45 minutes.
While paid tickets are available for an enclosed area of Princes Street Gardens, you can see and hear the concert from lots of vantage points in Edinburgh, including Calton Hill and North Bridge. The concert goes out live over the radio, so even if you're quite far from the gardens, you can still get the combined effect.
Have I missed anything? Does anyone else have tips for getting the most out of the Edinburgh Festivals?
The street performers on the High Street are always fun to watch too.
The fireworks from the tattoo each night are also a free treat together with the grand finale fireworks concert to close the festival.
I'm off to see Deep Time tomorrow - it looks like it'll be spectacular if the first few sneak glimpses are anything to go by.
Also the BBC has just released additional tickets for some of its fully booked (free) events if you go along on the day.
https://www.facebook.com/BBCEdFest
Has anybody else tried a show like this before?