| Each year in the month of August, Edinburgh | | | | The military Tattoo is a tradition that most festival |
| Scotland is home to a collection of simultaneous arts | | | | goers will not want to miss. The tattoo is a military |
| and cultural festivals under the banner of the | | | | tradition, basically a call to arms dating back to the |
| Edinburgh Festival. The largest arts festival in the | | | | days when peasants ran in from the fields to defend |
| world began in 1947 when the Edinburgh International | | | | the fort. Today it is a performance of musical |
| Festival was established with the stated goal of | | | | prowess and military precision. Bagpipers from all over |
| providing a means of lifting the human spirit. Postwar | | | | in full regalia stage a show every evening at |
| Europe was in need of some uplifting. | | | | Edinburgh Castle from August first to the twenty |
| | | | | third. |
| Six major theaters and concert halls are surrounded | | | | The Art Festival runs from July 31 to August 31 and |
| by smaller venues (collectively known as the "Fringe") | | | | features contemporary visual art partnering with |
| providing comedy, musicals, drama, opera and more | | | | galleries and museums to bring the most exiting |
| progressive live arts. While the festival is ideal for | | | | arrangement of exhibits to be assembled in one city. |
| groups, organizing a coherent itinerary and schedule | | | | Mela is a Sanskrit word meaning gathering and the |
| of events on the fly can be daunting. Numerous | | | | Edinburgh Mela Festival celebrates the best work of |
| booking options are available, but one that specializes | | | | diverse communities around the world. Emphasis is on |
| in the needs of group outings is best. Transportation | | | | performance art and live arts with the Mela being |
| can also be daunting, and a coach is suggested to | | | | held on the waterfront this year near the Ocean |
| keep your group on time and on track. | | | | Terminal. |