Dates for the 2025 program are August 2-14 [departing the U.S. the evening of August 1, departing Edinburgh the morning of August 14].
The focus is immersion in festival culture, viewing 2-3 performances a day with a small, friendly group of adults. Time is also available for sight seeing in Edinburgh, and for enjoying the music, food, and street life.
Participants purchase their own plane tickets and will be met at the Edinburgh airport upon arrival.
Our accommodation is within walking distance of everything. We share a gorgeous 6 bedroom, 6 bath Georgian house, with a kitchen, lounging area and living room, wi-fi, linens, towels, washing machine, and dryer. The program accommodates up to 10 participants in the large house. Rooms are mostly double-occupancy and assigned on a first come, first-served basis.
The basic cost of the 2025 program is $3400. per person (sharing a twin or double room). Depending on the number of participants, a surcharge may be necessary for a single.
Airfare is NOT included. Your $1,000. deposit, due January 10, secures a spot and is deducted from the total amount due March 1.
The program cost basically covers:
- Transportation to and from the airport in Edinburgh
- High season accommodation in a spacious, restored Georgian home
- 20 theatre tickets, curated by an Emeritus Drama Professor
- Two group dinners (first and last night)
- Uber / Taxi service to venues (once per day)
Send checks made out to Festival Getaway to Jenny Spencer, 1713 Kilruss Drive, Venice, FL 34292. Zelle can be used with my email address and phone (413-221-8802).
Our itinerary is flexible!
Each day includes some free time for exploring the city in addition to seeing performances that generally last no more than 70 minutes each. Expect a leisurely pace of 2 groups shows per day. Additional tickets can be purchased for anyone wanting to see additional shows with Jenny (who generally sees 4 shows a day).
Optional activities include visiting the Royal Botanical Gardens,The National Art Gallery, the National Scottish Museum, or the Museum of Edinburgh. You can also hike Arthur’s Seat or Calton Hill for the views, or just people-watch at the ubiquitous outdoor pubs and restaurants.
In 2025, their will be an option for a day-long excursion outside of Edinburgh: more information about that later.
A word of warning: before arriving at the festival, many past participants believed that seeing two plays a day might be too much! But not for long. Great performances are addicting, and the festival atmosphere is contagious–in the face of tourist attractions that never change, most participants saw extra performances almost every day with their free time.
Weather: Summers in Scotland are usually cool–in the 50s at night and 60s during the day, and often humid. Inside spaces can be warm, while walking outside is usually bracing. Prepare for rain most days, mixed in with spectacularly sunny periods. Only one year did we experience a short heat wave, so best be prepared.
Check FAQ section for more detailed information: FAQ