The Edinburgh Festival Carnival occurs every year on the opening weekend, Sunday to be more precise, of the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival (EJBF), a ten-day celebration in mid-July. The main attraction of the Edinburgh Carnival is a vibrant parade. Dozens of thousands of spectators line the streets to see the procession and live entertainment afterwards.
Edinburgh Carnival Parade
The free street extravaganza involves about 750 performers, including African drummers, Balkan swirling pipes, Chinese dragons, stilt-walkers, and street theatre. The parade starts at 1:30 pm and heads from The Mound to West Princes Street Gardens, where it is followed by live music, drumming, dance, and kids' activities. This year’s parade featured KalentuRa Drums (the Netherlands), The Spirit of Montserrat (the Caribbean), and the Edinburgh Chinese Art & Culture Community. Featuring soca (Tropical Storm) and samba (Ilê Aiyê), the Ross Bandstand closes with a Latin American salsa showcase by The Latina Turners.
Festival at Princes Street Gardens
Princes Street Gardens, perched next to the iconic Edinburgh Castle, boast several carnival zones, dedicated to Chinese performances, dance shows, drum sessions, and also a Ross band stand. All acts offer free admission and are open to the public. Past lineups featured both national and international performers, such as Bombrando (Portugal), Gwanaval (France), Enjoy Street Theatre (Italy), Edinburgh Chinese Art and Culture Committee, Artscape Theatre (South Africa), Edinburgh Samba School, Meninos do Morumbi (Brazil), Barefeet Acrobats (Zambia), and La Paranxza del Greco (Italy).
Edinburgh Festival Carnival History
The largest multicultural town celebration, Edinburgh Festival Carnival, runs every year on the first Sunday of the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival. Carnival gathers local and international artists to create a wonderful display for all ages. Music, dance, costumes, puppets, circus, and acrobatics were performed by over 800 performers in Edinburgh's city center in 2023.
