19 pictures as first weekend of Edinburgh festivals gets underway

The first weekend of the Edinburgh festivals is underway (Image: Gordon Terris)

CROWDS have flocked to the capital to soak in the atmosphere for the first weekend of the Edinburgh festivals.

From the Royal Mile to Calton Hill, thousands of people are roaming the streets and taking in the various street performers and shows that the city has to offer.

It's not just the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (August 7 to 31) which has taken over the capital, but a number of other festivals are also taking place, including the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (until August 29) and the Edinburgh International Festival (until August 20).

August will also see a number of other festivals in the city:

• Edinburgh International Film Festival (August 13 to 19)
• Edinburgh Art Festival (August 14 to 30)
• Edinburgh International Book Festival (August 15 to 30)

Here's just 19 photos from this weekend so far, taken by our staff photographer Gordon Terris.

Edinburgh festivals in pictures

The Royal Mile, Edinburgh (Image: Gordon Terris)

The Royal Mile, Edinburgh (Image: Gordon Terris)

The Royal Mile, Edinburgh (Image: Gordon Terris)

Four men dressed in traffic cones on the Royal Mile (Image: Gordon Terris)

Festival go-ers have flocked to see street performers (Image: Gordon Terris)

A street performer (Image: Gordon Terris)

Remember, Remember at Pleasance (Image: Gordon Terris)

Acid's Reign at Pleasance (Image: Gordon Terris)

The cast of Bliss at Pleasance (Image: Gordon Terris)

The cast of Bliss at Pleasance (Image: Gordon Terris)

The cast of Bliss at Pleasance (Image: Gordon Terris)

Colin Cloud in action at Pleasance (Image: Gordon Terris)

Colin Cloud in action at Pleasance (Image: Gordon Terris)

Comic Dom McGovern (Image: Gordon Terris)

The Pleasance is one of the biggest Fringe venues (Image: Gordon Terris)

Circus Hub act Aloft perform The Pieces on Calton Hill (Image: Gordon Terris)

Circus Hub act Aloft perform The Pieces on Calton Hill (Image: Gordon Terris)

Circus Hub act Aloft perform The Pieces on Calton Hill (Image: Gordon Terris)

Circus Hub act Aloft perform The Pieces on Calton Hill (Image: Gordon Terris)