Edinburgh Tattoo Festival
Edinburgh Castle
The castle is considered one of Scotland's major attractions and an unbeatable backdrop for the festival, with more than 217,000 visitors travelling each year to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Festival in Scotland. You will be offered a program of about 1000 performers and artists. Originally dedicated exclusively to military music, the festival today offers a greatly expanded program. In addition to members of the British military, civilians dance and perform. Make sure you combine your visit to the Military Tattoo Festival with a tour of Edinburgh.
The Event
Traditionally fixed components of the program are the appearances of the Massed Pipes and Drums, the Highland Spring Dancers and the Lone Piper. The Massed Pipes and Drums are a formation of about 180 bagpipe players and drummers specially assembled for the Military Tattoo from several military bands. The approximately 80 of the Highland Spring Dancers dance to traditional Scottish music. The Lone Piper plays on the battlements of the castle to commemorate the fallen of the British army.
The Grand Finale
The highlight is the mass performance of all participants every year, playing the British anthem "God Save the Queen" and the Scottish song "Auld Lang Syne". They also traditionally play "The Black Bear" and "Scotland the Brave". Performances take place Monday to Friday at 21:00 and on Saturday at 19:30 and 22:30 with no performance on Sundays. Up to 50% of ticket sales are generated through tourists, securing a large number of visitors to Edinburgh and the rest of Scotland. Many of the visitors travel to Scotland, especially during the festival.
