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Writer's pictureKaren Hunter

English reading practice - Edinburgh Festival (B1/B2 intermediate level English)

The city of Edinburgh is in Scotland. People know it for its long history, beautiful buildings, and lots of things to do. One special thing that happens there is the Edinburgh Festival. This happens every year and it's all about art and culture. It's a big party for art and many people from around the world know about it.


After World War II, Europe was trying to make things better again. During this time, two people named Rudolf Bing and Henry Harvey Wood had an idea. They wanted to bring people together through art. They thought of having an event where people from different countries could celebrate creativity and the human spirit. This idea became the Edinburgh Festival in 1947.


On this day 24th August 1947, the first Edinburgh Festival started. It was exciting because it had many different types of art like plays, music, dancing, and art displays. They wanted to help people feel better after the war by showing the good side of humanity through art.



Artists from different places in Europe took part in the festival. They played music, acted in plays, and showed their art. Even though they didn't have a lot of money and everything wasn't perfect, the festival was still amazing for everyone involved.


The first festival was so good that they repeated it each year. More and more people heard about it from different countries. It became a big deal internationally. As time went on, they added more events to the festival, like a book festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.


The Edinburgh Fringe Festival became very important. It started as a smaller part of the main festival, but now it's the biggest arts festival in the world. It's all about trying new things in art and showing creative ideas. This makes the city even more exciting.


Each year, when the festival happens, it's a reminder of the founders' idea. The idea was to use art to bring people closer together and show the good things about being human. The Edinburgh Festival has become a way to make the world a better place through art and culture.


Check your understanding

  1. What is the Edinburgh Festival known for, and why is it special?

  2. Why did Rudolf Bing and Henry Harvey Wood want to create the Edinburgh Festival?

  3. When did the first Edinburgh Festival start, and what kinds of art did it include?

  4. How did artists from different parts of Europe participate in the festival?

  5. What is the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and how has it grown in importance over time?

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