"Edinburgh"

Edinburgh's world-famous Hogmanay celebration ushers the new year in with a bang. A Torchlight Procession winds through the historic Old Town and onto a son et lumiere on Calton Hill on 30 Dec, a massive street party with live music from the highest calibre acts culminates with Midnight Fireworks from the ramparts of…

If you're going to break yourself by running further and faster than the human body was made to go, you may as well do it somewhere picturesque – and Edinburgh is certainly that (if a little windy at times). Participants run for a variety of charities.

Surreal and energetic humour from inventive Canadian stand-up and 2012 Chortle Best Breakthrough Act award-winner, Tony Law. Also featuring anti-comedy from Ed Aczel.

All unplugged, all original music.

World music, dance, fashion, food and fun spread over four areas: the Main Music Stage, the Mela World Dance Feste (newly established in 2012), the Mela Mix stage and the Kids Mela. The Mela Global Food Village is on hand to replenish your energy after taking in all the sights and sounds.

An informal weekly 5k run along the promenade at Cramond. Everyone is welcome, no matter how fast or slow (you're welcome to walk the route, bring your dog or push a buggy), so you can use it as a one-off fitness test, a chance to get some fresh air or come every week to try to beat your personal best time. It's friendly…

Composer Tod Machover, conductor Peter Oundjian and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra take us through the creation of a new piece of music celebrating the City of Edinburgh and its Festival and co-created by members of the public.

The Edinburgh Book Fringe takes place in Word Power Books and brings together writers and activists from around the world for a host of daily events of readings and discussions, all of which are free.

Edinburgh Concert Band is a community group of amateur musicians playing woodwind, brass and percussion instruments.

The New Edinburgh Orchestra was founded in 1994 and performs three concerts a year.

Music, Dance, Costumes, and Street Entertainment in all shapes, sizes, and sounds on Princes Street and in Princes Street Gardens. Performers converge on Edinburgh from Trinidad, China, Martinique, Holland, France, Cuba as well as from Edinburgh. It's Vibrant, It's Fun and It's Free, Thanks to City of Edinburgh Council!

The hardworking staff at Edinburgh's universities are let out for the night to share their tales about the weird, wonderful, and often very funny, world of research.

A host of Edinburgh's Scouts and Guides join together in this annual event featuring music, comedy and dance.

Drawing classes with experienced tutors from the Edinburgh Drawing School.

From Coates to Ellis and from Wood to Sullivan, light music is enduringly popular and the Edinburgh Light Orchestra gives regular concerts celebrating this evocative repertoire.

Catch the Gunners against Saracens.

The largest arts festival in the world and the greatest show on earth. Every year thousands of performers take to a multitude of stages all over Edinburgh to present shows for every taste. From big names in the world of entertainment to unknown artists looking to build their careers, the festival caters for everyone and…

Explore the latest ideas in science and technology, outside a traditional academic context, at this forum for debating and promoting public engagement.

An exceptionally scenic half-marathon route, starting at the city's Meadowbank Stadium and finishing up at the Racecourse out at Musselburgh. As always, there are a range of charities you can run for, with varying registration fees and minimum sponsorship commitments.

A multi-sports festival featuring – you guessed it – seven sports. Those'd be rugby, touch, netball, hockey, football, volleyball and dodgeball, with a touch of music and fancy dress to top it all off. Watch from the stands or get out on the playing field(s).

Scotland’s largest annual celebration of visual art offers work by the best contemporary Scottish artists as well as exhibitions of the most important international artists and movements of the 20th century and other historical periods. This year marks the 10th edition of the festival, which will include over 40…

Criss-cross your way across the city as an individual rider or as part of a team, and check out the sites of the city all bathed in glorious moonlight. It's a 50-mile course, starting at Holyrood Palace, heading out to Musselburgh, and looping back to Holyrood via the Royal Mile. Ride for the charity of your choice.