Edinburgh International Book Festival

@edbookfest

The Edinburgh International Book Festival takes place this year from 10th-26th August. It’s been running since 1983, right in amongst the wider Edinburgh Festival and Fringe events, located in Charlotte Square Gardens and along to George Street. Chock-full of book-sellers, author events, workshops, storytelling and discussions, it’s a dream destination for anyone who loves books.

Entry to the Book Festival area is free, which is great if you just want to wander around and soak up the atmosphere. There are food and drink stalls – and if you’re concerned about your plastic usage, like me, there are water stations around to replenish your reusable bottle. Make time to pop to the Edinburgh Gin Bar!

The Book Festival is great for kids too – there are plenty of areas to let them run around, or sit and have a picnic. There’s an activity corner in the Baillie Gifford Story Box which is open daily from 11:00 – 16:30, and other events throughout the festival. Nurturing a love of books in my kids is one of my main #lifegoals and this seems a brilliant way of making the EIBF welcoming and accessible.

Then there are loads of events, both free and ticketed, which will appeal to just about any taste. Many are sold out but lots still have tickets available.

Try to see

No Homework Reading Group

Saturday 24 Aug, 11am

Eleanor Updale will read a selection of prose and poetry that echo the EIBF themes, followed by a discussion. May include any era or genre, famous or unknown writers. Expand your reading horizons!

George Alagiah, A Burning Ambition

Sunday 25 Aug, 6.45pm

George Alagiah is best known for his BBC broadcasting career, but his first book The Burning Land is set to thrill. Two childhood friends reunite in order to fight for the soul of South Africa, amidst dangerous propaganda and murder.

Buy The Burning Land on Amazon *

Edinburgh Book Fringe

@bookfringe

Just like the main Edinburgh Festival and its younger, edgier sibling, the Edinburgh International Book Festival has a Fringe event. Edinburgh has a number of thriving independent book sellers (more on those in later posts) and The Book Fringe is run by two of them – Lighthouse Bookshop and Golden Hare Books.

The Book Fringe is styled as “an alternative book festival of ideas”, and over the last decade has offered a variety of events and author appearances, with a particular focus on queer authors and authors of colour, and others who often are not given a voice in more traditional publishing and festivals.

The Book Fringe is accessible and inclusive – all its events are free.