We all love a festival – whether it be the world-famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe, or some of the intriguing new festivals to be found within a stone’s throw of Stirling. So if you want to immerse yourself in the Edinburgh mayhem, or find something closer to home, here’s our guide!

Edinburgh’s streets are alive with impromptu performances during the Festival period

Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe run from 5-29 August and draw performers and audiences from across the globe. This international arts festival and its cheeky comedy sidekick are the largest arts festivals in the world – staging way more than 50,000 acts over a three-week period. The Edinburgh Festivals are where many of our best-loved actors and comedians earned their spurs, and if you want to ‘celebrity spot’, you should definitely spend some time in Edinburgh over the Festival period with a selfie stick at the ready. Bear in mind, though, that accommodation in Edinburgh is both extortionately expensive and booked out months in advance, so consider Stirling as your alternative base. A one-hour train ride will take you from central Stirling into the heart of Edinburgh, and it’s an attractive journey too. To find out more about the Edinburgh Festivals, see their websites: http://www.eif.co.uk/ and https://www.edfringe.com/

The Shindig is the name of the re-branded Stirling Fringe Festival. This three-day arts extravaganza runs 9-11 September in the grounds of Stirling Old Town Jail. The festival aims to celebrate Scottish culture of the past, present and future, and features everything from traditional storytelling and ceilidhs to cutting edge DJs, hip hop and contemporary art. The jail’s three stages will host live music, street performances, comedy, cinema, cabaret and much more, with a beer garden and food zone on hand too. Look out for impromptu street performances in central Stirling over the Festival. For more information, see http://stirlingfringe.com/

The Solas Festival takes place 17-19 June at Blackruthven, Perth, just 45 minutes from Stirling. The line-up spans everything from literature, music, and performing arts, to events aimed specifically at families like puppet theatre, adventure circus and outdoor ‘instinctively wild’ workshops. There will be lots of local food on offer, craft-brewed beer, and a bustling marketplace to enjoy too. For more information, see: http://www.solasfestival.co.uk/

Strathyre Music Festival, 27-29 May, is the largest small community-based festival in Scotland. It takes place in Callander, Perthshire, just 25 minutes from Stirling. Its wide music offering includes everything from traditional & folk to blues. Set in the beautiful natural amphitheatre of Strathyre, the Festival is inclusive, family friendly, and includes a Festival Market place for food and drink and local crafts. For more information, visit: http://www.balvaig.co.uk/

Mhor Festival, Lochearnhead, Perthshire, is definitely one for the foodies among us on 28-29 May. Bringing together some of Scotland’s top chefs alongside bread-making workshops, a raft race, a Bugsy Malone Bar (with splurge guns), a hog roast, afternoon teas, a Mhor Bake Off, omelette challenge and much more, this event claims to be one of the most unique in Scotland (and we’re inclined to agree). There’s a market, theatre, music and pop-ups. And for the kids there’s a mini Commonwealth Games, fairground stalls, entertainment with Magwitch Monsters and pot planting in the gardens too. That’s everyone sorted then! For more information, visit: http://www.mhorfestival.net/

Audiences come from across the globe to Scotland’s festivals

Photocredits: © Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society