THE Edinburgh Festival Carnival has been forced to alter its route following the fire which has caused extensive damage to the former Debenhams department store on Princes Street last Thursday.
Princes Street remains closed between South Charlotte Street and Frederick Street, and the council has said it will be closed until at least August, as engineers work to stabilise the burnt husk of the building.
Aside from adding to transport headaches during the Festival Fringe, the fire has forced the Festival Carnival, described as “Scotland’s most vibrant multicultural celebration,” to truncate its usual route from the top of the Mound to South Charlotte Street and back.
Organisers say the revised route will have the parade kick off at 1pm from the top of the Mound, progressing down and taking a right onto Princes Street, where it will continue until South St David Street, before doubling back to the closure at Frederick Street and returning to the foot of the Mound.
There had been fears that the festival would be cancelledlled, but now the more than 1,000 participants have been cleared to take part in the “vibrant display of music, dance, and carnival costumes”.
The parade is followed by music and dance of various stripes in West Princes Street Gardens.
From 2:30pm to 7pm, reggae, soca and Latin American rhythms sound out as performers take to the Ross Bandstand and Terrazzo.
A full list of performers can be found on the Edinburgh Carnival website.
The Edinburgh Festival Carnival is part of the larger Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, one of the most respected jazz and blues festivals in Europe.
The event is supported by the City of Edinburgh Council and the new Visitor Levy, and it is free to attend.
