Edinburgh Festivals
The Edinburgh Festival is an amalgamation of artisitic, cultural, scientific and creative celebrations brought together in one city spanning the calendar year. Originating in 1947, The Edinburgh International Festival embarked from post-war Britain with the aim of bringing together cultures from all over the world to celebrate creativity and 'provide a platform for the flowering of the human spirit'. However, the same year a number of theatrical companies gatecrashed the main festival and over the years flourished into the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Now 'The Festival' has become a loose term for the variety of independent festivals listed below. 
Science Festival 9th-22nd April
Bank of Scotland Imaginate Festival 9th-15th May
Film Festival 15th-26th June
Jazz & Blues Festival 22nd- 31st July
Art Festival 28th Jul- 4th Sept
Festival Fringe 5th - 29th Aug
Military Tattoo 5th-27th Aug
International Festival 12th Aug- 4th Sept
Book Festival 13th-29th Aug
Mela Festival 2-4th Sept
Storytelling Festival 21st -30th Oct
Edinburgh's Hogmanay 30th Dec-2 Jan