Edinburgh likes to call itself the world's "Festival City," with up to 4 million tickets sold annually to 12 festivals. These are thumbnails of the festivals for the rest of 2011:
FESTIVAL CITY'S 2011 LINEUP
March 26, 2011 at 8:03PM
Edinburgh International Science Festival, April 9-22: Venues include the Royal Botanical Gardens and McEwan Hall at the University of Edinburgh.
Bank of Scotland Imaginate Festival, May 9-15: Theater, dance and puppetry for kids.
Edinburgh International Film Festival, June 15-26: In its 65th year, this event kicks off the summer season. "The Hurt Locker" got its first look at this festival in 2009. Argentina's Oscar winner "The Secret in Their Eyes" was a feature last year.
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, July 22-31: International stars mix with British talent, throughout the city.
Edinburgh Art Festival, Aug, 4-Sept. 4: Displays of modern and contemporary art.
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Aug. 5-27: A parade of military pageantry inside Edinburgh Castle. Last year, armies from Jordan and New Zealand were featured, along with British brass bands.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Aug. 5-29: The ancestor of Fringe Festivals throughout the world. This one remains the largest with more than 200 venues, not to mention all the free street theater.
Edinburgh International Festival, Aug. 12-Sept. 4: The granddaddy, ranging from classical music to theater to dance and opera. Last year, major orchestras from Amsterdam, Cleveland and Minnesota performed at Royal Usher Hall. Kronos Quartet was part of the chamber music program.
Edinburgh International Book Festival, Aug. 13-29: More than 700 authors represented, along with Nobel laureates, British poet laureates. Readings, political debates and book signings galore.
Edinburgh Mela Festival, Sept. 2-4: Scotland's largest intercultural festival uses theater, music and art to explore diverse peoples and places.
International Storytelling Festival, Oct. 21-30: Scots are known as great storytellers, going back to Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert Burns.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay, Dec. 30-Jan. 2: If your knickers are lined with fur and your constitution stout, four days of celebrations ring out the old year and ring in the new.
More information at www. edinburghfestivals.co.uk
GRAYDON ROYCE
about the writer
Here's how to pick the right shovel, from the classic to the crack-jumper, back-saver or the plow.