Next weekend the annual Leith Festival takes place.

Eight days of events organised for the people of Leith by the people of Leith.

It’s one of the oldest festivals in Edinburgh although when it first started in 1907, Leith was an independent burgh so this description may not sit too well with some of the older generation of Leithers! The raison d’etre of the first festival was to raise funds for Leith Hospital – this was more than 40 years before the advent of the NHS – and 111 years later the festival is still going strong.

Of course, life has changed immeasurably over the last century, but the structure of Leith Festival has remained true to its roots. On the second Saturday of June, a colourful and vibrant pageant proceeds down Leith Walk to the Gala Day held on Leith Links. The highlight of the colourful pageant is the mock ‘Lord Provost’, a humorous dig at Edinburgh. The ‘Lord Provost’ is usually a well-known Leither.

The Gala Day event on the links is an opportunity for local businesses and charities to promote their services and is hugely popular not only with people living in Leith but the wider community.

The festival continues the following week with a selection of music, theatre, comedy and exhibitions throughout Leith with the festival concluding with the Leith Festival Tattoo which, while on a smaller scale to the one held in Edinburgh Castle, is one of the main highlights of the eight-day carnival – and it’s free! Head to the picturesque setting of the Shore to experience this fabulous event.

Among the acts performing at this year’s Leith Festival are Betamax Bandits, a 1980s tribute band, Little Love and the Friendly Vibes, musician Martina Cannon, singer/songwriter Jason Kyrone, Edinburgh 3-piece band Betty & The Bass, Bruk, folk band Greenfinch, Messenger Sound System, Tinderbox and comedienne Keara Murphy, who hosted the festival’s launch night last Friday evening.

Further information about the Leith Festival and its events is available here.

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Author of The Team for Me - 50 Years of Following Hearts. Runs Mind Generating Success, a successful therapy practice in Edinburgh. Contact me if you want rid of any unwanted habits. Twitter @Mike1874