Old Town Festival June 2009

Old Town Festival 15 - 28 June

The Old Town Festival is the annual two-week celebration of Edinburgh’s Old Town area, for the city’s residents as well as the many visitors who flock to the historic World Heritage site each June. The festival is organised by the Scottish Storytelling Centre and supported by Edinburgh World Heritage.

2009’s Old Town Festival takes a ‘houses and homes’ theme, and this year there is something for everyone.

Learn how to research the history of your home and street (Down Your Street workshop, Wed 17 & Fri 26), exploring some of the Old Town’s stunning buildings (Royal Mile tours Thu-Sun)  or simply being entertained by Old Town tales (Chairman’s Tales, Thu 25-Sat 27 and Guid Crack, Fri 26), the Festival is all about taking opportunities to join in and find new ways to explore the Old Town first hand.

This year Old Town community-based groups have joined with larger cultural organisations such as the National Galleries of Scotland, National Museums Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Council Museums to contribute to the packed Festival programme, which is coordinated by the Scottish Storytelling Centre.

Programme highlights include Films of the Old Town at the National Library of Scotland (Tue 16, 6pm), live tales of Old Town mystery and intrigue at the Storytelling Café (Wed 17, 7pm) and chances to get involved in family open days at new partner venues such as Stills, Edinburgh’s leading centre for photography (Sat 27) and the Palace of Holyroodhouse (Sat 20 & Sun 21).

The Scottish Storytelling Centre hosts the Festival finale, with a story-filled open day and Storyfair (Sun 28) which sums up the celebratory mood of the Festival in plenty of live storytelling, live music, craft activities, face painting and family fun.

 Download the Old Town Festival programme...Click here (pdf 936KB)