Anyone who lives in Edinburgh will know that August is the busiest month in the city for one reason and one reason only, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival! If you’ve never heard of the Fringe, it’s the world’s largest arts festival which runs over more or less the full month of August. You can see famous comedians, up-and-coming acts, and rising theatre productions, as well as performances of more or less anything you could imagine on the streets of Scotland’s Capital. This annual event should be experienced at least once in a lifetime, as there is truly nothing else like it, but there are however some guidelines which should be considered to help sustain yourself throughout the glorious but hectic Fringe Festival. Here are 9 survival tips which will hopefully give you an idea on what you could be up against!
The word festival may cause the mind to imagine sunny days spent outside, but this is Scotland remember, so bring a pair of sunnies and some sun cream but don’t forget your umbrella and a raincoat! Edinburgh can be really windy too, so layers are essential! This is one of the biggest tips to know about the Edinburgh Fringe Festival!
The whole of Edinburgh will be mobbed throughout the month of August, but the Royal Mile takes the winner. Here is where street performers and flyerers unite to advertise what they’ve got. If you’re truly interested in reading flyers and watching the street performers, it may be worth a visit just once or twice, but generally I would avoid the Royal Mile if you seek any peace from the chaos of the festival!
The best tried and tested method of finding the greatest shows of the Fringe is 100% by word of mouth, so if you’re unsure who to see, read reviews and ask about the city! Other festival-goers will always have advice on where to go and who to see.
The key to having the perfect Fringe Festival is PLANNING! Get the Fringe guide, figure out what you want to see and book tickets in advance! Don’t get me wrong, if you’re more interested in a spontaneous experience of the festival you can easily try get tickets on the day and try your luck!
Edinburgh is not a cheap city, so the Edinburgh Fringe Festival can be unfortunately expensive. The good side is that there are loads of free shows which simply ask for donations. You will come across loads of street vendor trucks, but food and drink prices are usually pretty high, although some places do put on good deals for Fringe-goers! Try and plan out your days based on your budget, as it can be easy to overspend at the beginning.
It’s easy to crash and burn at the fringe. Shows are on all day until late and most clubs and bars stay open even later. So whether you’re doing a few days, or a full week, or the full month, remember to take breaks and recharge!
The Cowgate is a great area in the Old Town of Edinburgh to go out after a day of seeing shows – Edinburgh is a small city so you might even bump into some acts! Try out the Cowshed for some live music in, quite literally, a barn, where you can spend the evening sat on a haystack.
The aim for all acts at The Fringe is to get their venue full and create an atmosphere, so don’t be surprised to find that discounted and even free tickets often become available at the last minute if you wait around the venue! Why not try your luck sitting in the beer garden at the Pleasance Courtyard or outside Teviot House at Bristo Square?
Finally, it’s easy to feel exasperated in the chaos of the fringe, and being harassed by street performers and flyers doesn’t help, but try to remember that they’re only doing their job. If you’ve got the time, listen to what they have to say about the show, a little patience and gratitude goes a long way at this festival!
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