The Edinburgh Insider Blog

One aspect of the culture-fest that is August in Edinburgh that perhaps gets less attention than it deserves are the bands.

Formerly known as T in the Fringe, The EdgeFestival will bring scores of underground indie talent and mainstreamchart-hoggers to the city for three weeks.

Much of the focus is on local talent. A bunch of Scotland's finest artists and bands will be playing to crowds in a variety of venues across the city, including The Picture House on Lothian Road, The Corn Exchange and the recently-reopened Liquid Rooms on Victoria Street.

If you’re looking for a day trip from Edinburgh, you might want to consider Traquair House. Its white-painted turrets are a good destination if exploring countryside around the capital.

Traquair dates from the 12^th century, making it the oldest inhabited house in Scotland. Sited in the heart of the Scottish Borders, visitors have Mary, Queen of Scots.  You can still see the cradle where she rocked her baby, later to grow up to become King James I. The house is packed with antiques, porcelain and paintings.

Novelists Philip Pullman and Alexander McCall Smith will be among the big names at this year's Edinburgh Book Festival. Writers Fay Weldon, Louis de Bernieres and UK poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy are also set to appear.

Tickets for the 18-day event, which runs from from August 14 to 30, went on sale this weekend. The festival will be host to 750 writers from 50 countries. Pullman opens the festival, with a debate on his book The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ.

Worried about how you'll entertain the kids over the summer holidays? Edinburgh's Lauriston Castle has a family-friendly programme of events, suitable for most ages, running over the next few months.

The events are one-offs, so suitable for anyone visiting Edinburgh for a short break. Kids might enjoy an event running at the castle next Monday (5 July) where they can learn to make their own outfit. A local artist will be on hand to teach little ones how to make accessories including crowns, tiaras, pirate hats and dragon masks.

The Edinburgh Fringe programme for 2010 has arrived. It lists more than 2,000 shows taking place in August, ranging from kids' puppetry, classical music and Shakespeare to cabaret, stand-up and street theatre. It even features an eco show set in a tree house.

Forget the football World Cup. Few events in Edinburgh's Stockbridge are more eagerly awaited than the annual duck race. It's an epic tournament of sporting prowess that knocks South Africa into the shade.