Dates for the 2026 program are August 6-18 [departing the U.S. Thursday evening, August 5 and departing Edinburgh Tuesday morning, August 18].
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 8-10 participants in the large house. Rooms are double-occupancy and assigned on a first come, first-served basis.
The 2026 program is $3500. per person.
Airfare is NOT included. Your $1,000. deposit secures a spot and is deducted from the total amount, due Feb. 15. However, full payment is preferred when registering.
The program cost covers:
- Transportation to and from the airport in Edinburgh
- High season accommodation in a spacious, restored Georgian home
- 24 theatre tickets, curated by an Emeritus Drama Professor
- Two group dinners (first and last night)
- Uber / Taxi service to venues when necessary
- Castle tour (for new participants only)
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, and sometimes 3, group shows per day–most of which are no longer than an hour.
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.
One day is reserved with no activity for those who want to take a day trip outside of Edinburgh.
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 temperate to cool–in the 50s at night and high 60s during the day. Its also often humid. Inside spaces can be warm, while walking outside is usually bracing. Prepare for rain most days, mixed in with spectacularly sunny periods. Heat waves (with temperatures rising above 78 degrees) do happen, but rarely last more than a day or two.
Check FAQ section for more detailed information: FAQ