Edinburgh Festivals' Cavalcade

The Cavalcade sees performers from all the Edinburgh Festivals roll through the city in an annual procession at the beginning of August. The Calvacade itself takes place from 2pm to 3pm, although there are informal performances by Fringe and community groups, before and after the Calvacade (noon to 4pm) in Holyrood park between Holyrood Palace and Meadowbank.

The Festival Cavalcade is a free event, showcasing many of the shows at Edinburgh's Festivals and local community groups. The Cavalcade will be led by 100 motorcycles, followed by the entire cast of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and over 3,000 participants from Edinburgh's various Festivals, Fringe shows, Community Groups, Commercial floats and bands from all over the world.

The event returns to Holyrood Park in 2010, where it relocated in 2009, due to Edinburgh Trams work being carried out on the Cavalcade's usual Princes Street route.

Over 175,000 spectators typically crowd into the streets (or Holyrood park) for the event.

The Cavalcade first took place in 1976. It is funded by the City of Edinburgh Council and operated in association with Historic Scotland.

Holyrood Park Cavalcade Route

The hour-long Calvalcade starts at 2pm at the Holyrood Park Road entrance (by the Commonwealth Pool) and travels north and then east along The Queen's Drive, past Our Dynamic Earth, the Scottish Parliament and Palace of Holyrood House, finishing at the Meadowbank Terrace entrance. There's informal performances by Fringe and community groups in the park between 12 noon and 4pm.

Road closures and car parking

On Sundays, the roads in Holyrood Park are closed as standard, so the Cavalcade will cause minimal disruption to the city. Spectators can arrive on foot at any of the five main entrances – Holyrood Park Road, Holyrood Gait, Horse Wynd, Meadowbank Terrace and Old Church Lane which are all near bus services. Cars with Disabled Badges will be the only vehicles allowed in the Park.

Princes Street Calvacade Route

The Calvalcade was expected to be back to its normal route by 2010, but remains in Holyrood Park this year "owing to uncertainty about access to the whole route due to ongoing tram works".

With the traditional route a motorised cavalcade sets off from Market Street near Waverley Station at 2.30pm. The route goes over Waverley Bridge, along Princes Street into Lothian Road and finishes at the end of Castle Terrace. There is grandstand seating on the North Side of Princes Street.

• 2009 programme
• Crowds turn out for Soggy Cavalcade 2007
• View photographs of the Edinburgh Cavalcade 2007