Edinburgh Fringe 2008 may be a week old already, but this weekend sees the start of two more of August's major Festivals.  Today, the Edinburgh International Festival's opening concert brings the curtain up on the "official" event, whose prestigious programme runs through to the end of the month.  And tomorrow, it's the Edinburgh International Book Festival's turn in the (sadly metaphorical) sun, as it opens up its tented village on Charlotte Square.

Make it official

Though the Fringe hogs the limelight, the "official" International Festival still holds the trumps in prestige.  Returning to its 1940's roots in a war-torn Europe, this year's official programme gathers national companies from across the former Eastern bloc, juxtaposed with Middle Eastern influences as diverse as Israel and Iran.

It's a largely high-brow programme, taking in theatre, opera, ballet and modern dance, plus a strong programme of classical music on offer at the Usher Hall.  Booking opened way back in April, but many events have a good range of tickets still available - including opera The Two Widows, ballet Giselle and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, three of the major events playing this opening weekend.

For more information: read our introduction to the International Festival, then our Ticket Alert on this year's programme launch.  Use the Hub Tickets website to find out what tickets are still available. 

Book yourself in

Courtesy Edinburgh International Book Festival

The big names at the Festival sell out fast, but there are literally hundreds of events still available, from children's activity shows to thought-provoking debates with world experts in their fields.  Opening-weekend highlights with tickets still available include journalist Tony Parsons and travel writer John Gilmette; later in the month, you can still take in Salman Rushdie and no fewer than with four other Booker long-listers.  But be warned - almost everything books out sooner or later, so plan your visit as soon as you can.

For more information: read our introduction to the Book Festival, then our Ticket Alert on this year's programme launch.  Use the Book Festival's website to find out what tickets are still available.

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