Edinburgh is the world’s festival city. There are 12 festivals throughout the year, half of which are celebrated during the months of July and August.

Hundreds of thousands of people visit the Scottish capital during the summer.

Here are some of the events:

The Edinburgh International Festival

This is the original Edinburgh festival, which began in 1947. Actors, musicians, dancers and opera singers from all over the world perform to huge audiences. You need tickets for most events which take place in theatres around the city.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe

This is the largest arts festival in the world with thousands of shows taking place across the city. More than 20,000 artists take part, as the festival is open to anyone. Visitors can choose from a huge variety of acts.

Join thousands of visitors and locals at the Royal Mile, Edinburgh’s main street, to watch all kinds of performers and shows.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival

The largest book festival in the world began in 1983 and takes place every year in Charlotte Square Gardens, in the center of Edinburgh. There are more than 700 events for children and adults who love books. You can meet many authors, talk to them, ask them to sign a book or listen to them talk about their stories. Children can listen to stories and watch illustrators (插图作者) draw pictures.

The Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival

Music lovers come to this festival to enjoy music shows around the city. One of the highlights of this musical event is the street carnival (嘉年华), which is free to all. Artists perform street theatre, dance and circus shows in amazing costumes, and everyone can join in the dancing.

A report consistently brought back by visitors to the U.S. is how friendly, courteous and helpful most Americans were to them. To be fair, this observation is also frequently made of Canada and Canadians, and should best be considered North American. There are, of course exceptions. Small-minded officials, rude waiters and ill-mannered taxi drivers are hardly unknown in the U.S. Yet it is an observation made so frequently that it deserves comment.

For a long period of time and in many parts of the country, a traveler was a welcome break in an otherwise dull existence. Dullness and loneliness were common problems of families who generally lived distant from one another. Strangers and travelers were welcome sources of diversion, and brought news of the outside world.

The harsh realities of the frontier also shaped this tradition of hospitality. Someone traveling alone, if hungry, injured or ill, often had nowhere to turn except to the nearest cabin or settlement. It was not a matter of choice for the traveler or merely a charitable impulse on the part of the settlers. It reflected the harshness of daily life: If you didn’t take in the stranger and take care of him, there was no one else who would. And someday, remember, you might be in the same situation.

Today, there are many charitable organizations which specialize in helping the weary travelers. Yet, the old tradition of hospitality to strangers is still very strong in the U.S., especially in the smaller cities and towns away from the busy tourist trails. “I was just traveling through, got talking with this American, and pretty soon, he invited me home for dinner — amazing.” Such observations reported by visitors to the U.S. are not uncommon, but are not always understood properly. The casual friendliness of many Americans should be interpreted neither as superficial nor as artificial, but as the result of a historically developed cultural tradition.

As is true of any developed society, in America, a complex set of cultural signals, assumptions and conventions underlies all social interrelationships. And, of course, speaking a language does not necessarily mean that someone understands social and cultural patterns. Visitors who fail to “translate” cultural meanings properly often draw wrong conclusions. For example, when an American uses the word “friend,” the cultural implications of the word may be quite different from those it has in the visitor’s language and culture. It takes more than a brief encounter on a bus to distinguish between courteous convention and individual interest. Yet, being friendly is a virtue that many Americans value highly and expect from both neighbors and strangers.

Famous Festivals Worth Attending in London

BFI London Film Festival

The 66th celebration of the BFI London Film Festival takes place at South Bank and the West End, with some events also screened on BFI Player after the festival, for those who can’t make it in person. The full programme has yet to be announced, but will include red carpet nights, gala screenings and a special exhibition.

Tickets: Adults: 50 dollars each; Children under 6: free; Students: half price

Time：5—10 October

Bloomsbury Festival

Vitality (活力) is the theme of this year’s Bloomsbury Festival, celebrating creativity of the locals. It begins with a garden party on Store Street, opens to everyone, and in eludes guided walks, a silent calligraphy session, live music and singing workshops, across the nine days.

Tickets: Adults: 70 dolars each; Children under 6: free; Students: half price

Time: 14—23 October

London Literature Festival

A highlight of the literary calendar, the annual London Literature Festival at Southbank Centre never fails to bring in big names. Minnie Driver, Graham Norton, Rob Delaney, Nick Cave and Greta Thunberg all feature this year, along with creative workshops and games, kids’ events, and a chance to hear from the newly-announced Booker Prize Winner.

Tickets: Adults: 80 dollars each; Children under 6: free; Students: half price

Time: 20—30 October

EFG London Jazz Festival

Get down with the trumpets(小号) as the EFG London Jazz Festival returns. It takes place at areas including Barbican, Royal Festival Hall and Cadogan Hall, and the programme features South African pianist Abdul ah Ibrahim, composer and saxophonist B inker Golding, and Malian singer-songwriter and guitarist Fatoumata Diawara.

Tickets: Adults: 100 dollars each; Children under 6: free; Students: half price

Time:11—20 November