6 Edinburgh Festivals to Look Out for in July 2018

Edinburgh’s known as the City of Festivals for a reason! There’s a flurry of festivals throughout the year but the arrival of July kicks things up a gear in preparation for Edinburgh’s International Festival and Edinburgh’s Festival Fringe which takes place in August. To ensure you don’t miss out, we’ve selected 6 Edinburgh festivals taking place this July you should definitely look out for.

1. Edinburgh International Film Festival

• 20th June – 1st July
• Various Venues
• www.edfilmfest.org.uk

Squeaking in at the beginning of July is Edinburgh’s popular Film Festival. Founded in 1947, the Festival is now the world’s longest continually-running film festival. Thier programming team scours the world looking for new, exciting, challenging, thrilling, provocative and sometimes plain old scary films to bring to us! 

2. Scottish Real Ale Festival

• 5th-7th July
• Edinburgh Corn Exchange
• www.sraf.camra.org.uk

The Scottish Real Ale Festival is back! Once again they will be showcasing the best real ales that Scotland’s breweries have to offer, as well as a great selection of real ales from Northern Ireland. With over 170 Real Ales, Ciders, and Perries on offer there’s something for everyone! There will also be a selection of foods to complement your choice of drink available to buy.

3. Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival

• 13th-22nd July
• Various Venues
• www.edinburghjazzfestival.com

Here’s one for all you jazz and blues fans! Set up in 1978 by banjo-player and guitarist Mike Hart, the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival has grown to be a major must-visit event in July. You don’t have to be a hardcore Jazz-expert to enjoy the festival as there will also be swing and more mainstream jazz and modern groups. The colourful carnival on the 15th is also something you should put in your diary!

4. Rum & Reggae Festival

• 25th-29th July
• Edinburgh Corn Exchange
• www.edinburghcornexchange.com/rum-and-reggae-festival

Whether the Scottish summer turns out to be a scorcher or not, the Rum & Reggae festival is sure to put you in a tropical mood! You’ll have the chance to try the widest selection of rums and relax with the smoothest selection of reggae music in the UK! Start your day off with a Rum Atlas and a Welcome Rum Punch upon arrival, then enjoy a rum journey around the world, plus enjoy some amazing reggae acts who will be performing all day across multiple stages.

5. Edinburgh Food Festival

• 25th-29th July
• George Square Gardens
• www.edfoodfest.com

Edinburgh Food Festival has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2014, welcoming 25,000 visitors last year! Not to be mixed up with the Foodies Festival, this is a free-to-enter event that takes place in George Square Gardens at the University of Edinburgh. The festival brings you the best of Scottish artisan producers, as well as interesting foodie talks, debates and demos.

6. Edinburgh Art Festival

• 26th July – 26th August
• Various Venues
• www.edinburghartfestival.com

This unique celebration of the visual arts is the event for any art lover – in fact this festival has grown to become the UK’s largest annual celebration of visual arts. There are pop-up exhibitions, new publicly-sited works across the city, partner exhibitions, evening tours, a showcase for artists at the beginning of their careers and so much more. And the best bit? Most of the programme is completely free making the festival open to everybody.

When you need a break from all the fun…

Festivals are a lot of fun but they can also be very tiring. The great thing about staying in a Dickins holiday home is you’ll know that you’re returning to a comfortable and spacious home to relax. We think you’ll feel very at home in this serene, central gem of an apartment on Broughton Street.  See more photos from charming 41a (2F2) Broughton Street here.