What's on in and around Edinburgh this August?
From late August, the heather on the hills is flowering a vivid purple. Walks in the Pentlands are punctuated with the blooms of old-fashioned hill grasses & herbs. Look for tasty wild blaeberries and lucky white heather to pick!
On the farm, the sheep are gathered. The first of the lambs are being taken to market and the wool is packed off to Galashiels for grading and sale.
vivid purple of heather in flower
Edinburgh comes alive with street performers, pop up bars, cafés, and venues. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe & Edinburgh International Festival run alongside each other to offer entertainment from opera and orchestra to dance, comedy and circus.
Edinburgh International Festival
Festivals & Events
The Edinburgh International Festival and Festival Fringe are the main events this month which makes the city busy, exciting and vibrant to visit. There is so much more besides with the Edinburgh Arts Festival celebrating the visual arts and the Book Festival setting up their tented village in Charlotte Square Gardens for two weeks of heated debate and discussion.
- Edinburgh Art Festival | tbc
- Edinburgh Festival Fringe | 1st- 25th August 2025
- Edinburgh Foodies Festival | 1st - 3rd August 2025
- The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo | 1st - 23rd August 2025
- Edinburgh International Festival | tbc
- Edinburgh International Book Festival | 9th - 24th August 2025
- Edinburgh International Film Festival | tbc
- Connect Festival | tbc
Edinburgh International Festival
Exhibitions
- Nurture Through Nature with Children’s Books | 19th April - 9th September 2025
- The World of King James VI and I | 26th April - 14th September 2025
- Andy Goldsworthy | Fifty Years | 26th July - 2nd November 2025
- Jupiter Artland | Late March - Late September 2025
- Little Sparta : The Garden of Ian Hamilton Finlay | open June, July, August & September
Escape the bustle of the city at Jupiter Artland
Outlander
To escape the city for a few days, follow our Outlander locations blog to explore some wild and wonderful locations locally, like the Royal Burgh of Curloss, Blackness Castle, or the eerily beautiful Glencorse Kirk just down the glen from Eastside.
Explore Outlander Locations-
Royal Burgh of Culross
Royal Burgh of Culross
Workshops and events for adults and children
- The National Galleries of Scotland have a huge number of events, tours and artist workshops for both adults and children.
- Hopetoun House and grounds often host ranger-walks and house tours throughout the year.
- Dalkeith Country Park is very similar, bushcraft, walks and foraging workshops are hosted frequently alongside their fabulous Fort Douglas Treehouse and adventure playground for kids and Go Ape course for adults.
- Dovecot Studios offer behind the scenes tours and workshops on tapestry, drawing and needlework.
- And last but not least, the National Museums Scotland host in-depth tours for grownups and fantastic exhibition interpretations for little ones.
National Galleries of Scotland tours
Food & Drink
We've listed some of our favourite Edinburgh and country based restaurants & shops and suppliers for your August summer break.
Foodie events in August
Edinburgh Foodies Festival
To pick your own fresh local produce head to Craigie's Farm Shop where this month their strawberries, raspberries, cherries, sunflowers, redcurrants, blackcurrants, gooseberries, peas, broad beans, french beans and runner beans are in season.
Brew your own
How about booking yourselves in to Craft Beer Kitchen. Stewarts Brewing has long invited the public in to try their hand at crafting the perfect pint. With expert guidance you can spend the day brewing your very own bespoke beer. If staying at Eastside the brewery are more than happy to send the beer on (within the UK) when it's ready. Not a bad holiday souvenir!
More Food & Drink Ideas-
The Scran & Scallie
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Timberyard
The Scran & Scallie & Timberyard both come highly recommended