The Old Town Festival 2008 Monday 16th - Sunday 29th June The Festival programme is led by the Scottish Storytelling Centre and includes a wide range of events for all ages – from storytelling performances, family activities, lectures, tours and talks, through to music, poetry, visual arts and book events – which celebrate the unique heritage, culture, community and stories of Edinburgh’s Old Town.
South Side Community Centre is hosting the final event in this year’s Old Town Festival. The Festival is so packed full of events this year that it spills over the two week slot for a special storytelling session - The Royal Mile: A Hidden History on Mon 30 June, 2.30-3.30pm. The event is being run by Storytellers Jack Martin and John Fee who are both part of the Life Stories group which provides storytelling and reminiscence activities to older people and their families and carers. Caroline Budge, National Storytelling Coordinator at the Scottish Storytelling Centre said, “I'm delighted that South Side Community Centre's Heritage Group are helping us celebrate this year's Old Town Festival. We're always keen to develop community links through the telling and sharing of stories, and the Festival provides the perfect opportunity to bring people of different ages and backgrounds together through shared reminiscences, memories and experiences of Edinburgh's unique history and heritage.” The Royal Mile: A Hidden History is open to anyone and is a free event (but ticketed, call 0131 556 9579 to book). Join Jack and John for a journey through Edinburgh’s Old Town in story and reminiscence. This event is part of Capital Collections’ The Royal Mile: a hidden history exhibition which includes an exhibition of fascinating photographs from Edinburgh City Library’s Capital Collections' website (www.capitalcollections.org.uk) at the Scottish Storytelling Centre from Sat 14 June to Sat 19 July. There are also two Hidden History events at the Scottish Storytelling Centre during the Festival – A Hidden History: People, with Jack Martin on Mon 16 June, 11am and A Hidden History: Place, with John Fee on Mon 23 June, 11am. Both these events are £3/£2 and tickets are available from The Scottish Storytelling Centre, The Netherbow, 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh (or call the box office on 0131 556 9579). The Scottish Storytelling Centre also opens its doors to all for two free, fun family events, Stories and Statues on Sat 28 June, 2-4pm and the Old Town Festival Open Day on Sun 29 June, 1-4pm. Please come in to the Centre for a full Old Town Festival 2008 programme or see www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk. The Old Town Festival 2008 is a great opportunity for Edinburgh residents and visitors to discover more about the Old Town, its people, places, history and culture.