Edinburgh Mela Festival 2009

The Edinburgh Mela was founded in 1995 by members of the city's minority ethnic communities. The first festival was held in Meadowbank Stadium and quickly grew to attract 20,000 people each year. It was the first Mela in Scotland and has gained a strong reputation in the UK.

In 2000 the festival moved to Pilrig Park and in recent years has drawn large numbers of people over the weekend.

This year's Mela Festival takes place from the 7th - 9th August at Pilrig Park.

Welcome to the 15th Edinburgh Mela Festival. In this year of Homecoming we are celebrating Scotland's place in the world as a vibrant, culturally diverse nation. A land that has, over many years, welcomed generations of immigrant communities who have chosen to make Scotland their home. We're thinking of this as our year of Home-be-coming. We've decided to place a particular focus on artists who draw on a range of heritages to make innovative and contemporary work that reaches across artistic and cultural boundaries.

Come to our party, and share in the celebration - we think we have all the right ingredients!

You can find more information visiting http://www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk/

Edinburgh International Film Festival

The EIFF is back!! Moving from August to June last year proved to be a complete success. If you are a movie-buff you can avoid all the August rush with its multiple festivals and the thousands of tourists. The EIFF is one of the most famous film festivals in the world. Come and be the first to watch some of the most amazing new talents or have the privilege to see an old classic on the big screen. The Film Festival runs a series of interviews with important names in the film industry, come and see them in person! We can guarantee it's one of the most amazing experiences in the world. Just listen to your idols and ask them whichever question you always wanted to ask them! Some highlights this year include such classic figures as Roger Corman, famous for adapting some of Poe's stories, and some new geniuses as Darren Aronofsky, director of Pi, Requiem for a Dream or The Wrestler. You'll regret it if you miss them! The EIFF runs from the 17th to the 28th of June and is yet another excellent excuse to come to Edinburgh!