Gypsy Arts Festival

25 - 31 August 2008, City Centre

A celebration of Gypsy and Traveller culture through its music, art, film, theatre, dance and literature. No one has inspired more tales, fables and dreams than the Gypsies and Travellers.

Fringe By the Sea

13 - 16 August 2008, North Berwick

North Berwick makes its entry into this year's festival mayhem – with a very bespoke and eclectic programme of musical events that will get the town really hopping.

Edinburgh International Festival

8 - 31 August 2008

The Edinburgh International Festival is an annual feast of classical music, opera, theatre and dance.

ome highlights of the 2007 festival included award-winning Hollywood actor Alan Cumming in The Bacchae and the critically-acclaimed Simon Russell Beale starring in Oedipus Rex. Music from Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, with exciting dance and opera programmes as well.

The 2008 Festival will see strong Eastern-European influences and a host of exciting premieres, including three world, two European and ten UK premieres, including a new work by controversial ballet choreographer Matthew Bourne. It will also feature the latest play from the National Theatre of Scotland to be staged at the Edinburgh Playhouse.

The end of the summer festivals is marked on 31 August with the breathtaking Bank of Scotland fireworks display, set to live music from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Past years have seen the score from Romeo and Juliet and great American music. This year, sees the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Nicolae Moldoveanu, featuring the swirling rhythms of central European folk dance music, through Dvorak and Brahms.