EDINBURGH, Scotland, July 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

An amazing line-up of international talent and the stars of the future will greet visitors this summerduring Edinburgh's world-renowned summer festivals. In 2012 as the eyes of the world look to the UK, world class and emerging artists and performers will be taking to the stages and spaces in Edinburgh. 

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There are seven festivals across the summer season, starting with the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival on Friday 20 July and concluding on Sunday 2 September with the Edinburgh Mela and the spectacular Virgin Money Fireworks Concert of the Edinburgh International Festival.

With the city immersed in art, ideas and entertainment on an unrivalled and intoxicating scale the capital becomes the source of inspiration for over twenty five thousand artists, producers, authors and hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the globe.

The festivals date back to 1947, when the Edinburgh International Festival began.  The Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Edinburgh International Film Festival also started that year and today Edinburgh truly is the world's favourite Festival City.

Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival 20 July - 29 July
In 2012 a programme of ambitious collaborations bringing together Scottish and international musicians will feature two Edinburgh Jazz Festival Orchestras including a World Orchestra directed by Joe Temperley. World of Jazz will present music from all over the globe with a highlight being a residency by Brazil's top samba musicians.

Edinburgh Art Festival 2 August - 2 September  
Scotland's largest annual festival dedicated to visual art featuring more than 45 exhibitions at over 30 venues and major new public art commissions across the city. Turner Prize winner Susan Philipsz' new work Timeline is a multi-site sound installation which spans the city centre. Activated in response to the firing of Edinburgh  Castle's famous One O'clock Gun, Timeline's speakers call out in a domino-effect towards the castle as the sound of the gun travels in the opposite direction.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe 3 - 27 August
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the largest arts festival in the world. Every year thousands of performers take to a multitude of stages all over Edinburgh to present shows for every taste including theatre, comedy, dance, cabaret, physical theatre, musicals, music, exhibitions and events.

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 3 - 25 August
Musicians from Switzerland, Norway and Australia will be among the sparkling line-up at this summer's 62^nd Tattoo. As part of this year's international celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen's accession to the throne, the Tattoo's Diamond Jubilee themed production is Scotland's Salute to the Monarch and is set to be one of the most impressive ever staged.

Edinburgh International Festival 9 August - 2 September
The Edinburgh International Festival presents the best of dance, opera, theatre and classical music by leading international artists and companies, to an audience from around a third of the world's nations. Founded in 1947 to bring together cultures, peoples and nations to share in a celebration of the best of humanity, it remains a prestigious invitation to artists and a mecca for culture fans. This year's Festival brings together artists from around 47 nations.  With world premieres and the cream of fresh performing talent celebrating the strong and exciting future of the arts, there is much to discover.

Edinburgh International Book Festival 11 - 27 August
The Edinburgh International Book Festival will welcome 800 writers, poets, politicians, journalists, thinkers and commentators from 44 countries to Charlotte Square Gardens for debates, readings, workshops and conversations.  This year, to celebrate 50 years since the seminal 1962 Writers' Conference, the Book Festival brings 50 authors from around the world to discuss the role of fiction in our society today in the 2012 Edinburgh World Writers' Conference.  Five debates will be broadcast live online creating a conversation which will reverberate around the world.

Edinburgh Mela 31 August - 2 September
Right at the end of Edinburgh's summer festival calendar, the Mela is a vibrant, joyous riot of sounds, sights, colours and tastes with great art, family fun, Bhangra beats and delicious food, all on the one site.  This year, the Mela World Dance Feste is a whole new arena for the festival's biggest programme to date: a stage dedicated to the best in international and Scottish contemporary dance.

To plan a visit and register for more information about Edinburgh's Festivals visit http://www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk.  Expedia have some great offers for this summer - visit http://www.expedia.com to book a 2012 holiday and secure a great deal.  For more information on the Year of Creative Scotland visit http://www.visitscotland.com/creative.

For further information on the 12 major Edinburgh Festivals visit http://www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk.

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SOURCE Edinburgh’s Festivals