Edinburgh Festivals' Cavalcade 2009

Some Edinburgh residents avoid the city centre when the annual festival season begins in August. I love the city in August. Because my work is festival based, I rarely get to attend any shows, but I always make a point of watching the Sunday cavalcade and taking a few walks along The Royal Mile to soak up the atmosphere.

Holyrood Park was stuffed with onlookers today and at times it seemed like the battle of the photographers, as professionals and amateurs alike shuffled for space in order to achieve the perfect shot.

Here are a handful of the more than 100 photos I took this afternoon. I hope they are enough to get you into the spirit of the three weeks of mayhem that lies ahead. My favourite photo is the one I have dubbed “Dr. Evil.”

Lobster Man:Dr. Evil:Massed Pipes & Drums (Edinburgh Tattoo):The most beautiful girl in the world:Highland Dancers from Australia (Edinburgh Tattoo):Random Monkey Man:Swinging Singer:Top Secret Drum Corp (Edinburgh Tattoo):Musicians, She Huo cultural troupe (Edinburgh Tattoo):All Smiles:If you were able to attend the Edinburgh Festivals, what kind of acts would you like to see? Would you show up early to hit the Jazz and Blues Festival? Make a bee-line toward the Book Festival tents in the hope of meeting your favourite author? Head to the Castle Esplanade for the Tattoo? Would you choose to see an opera at the International Festival? The Fringe (more on this next week) has everything from comedy to theatre, dance and music. If you had three free weeks to spend in Scotland’s capital during August, what would you want to experience above all?