'Small is beautiful': Fringe by the Sea kicks off in North Berwick
The Fringe by the Sea festival in North Berwick has grown from a small spin-off into a significant independent arts event. The festival emphasizes community involvement and nature-inspired programming, featuring music, puppetry, and local art installations.
Why it matters
The event highlights the cultural and economic importance of regional festivals that provide community-focused alternatives to larger, more crowded urban events.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Pauline McLean Scotland arts correspondent Fringe by the Sea The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is a mighty thing.
But in the midst of the crowds, the flyers and the noise - sometimes you just need to take a deep breath.
For most of the last two decades, a little town just 20 miles from the capital has offered that opportunity.
Fringe by the Sea in North Berwick initially began as a spin-off of the Edinburgh festivals.
Now it's a full-blown festival in its own right, with almost 300 events getting underway a week ahead of the Edinburgh bonanza.
"Small is beautiful," says the festival's director Rory Steel.
"And we still see ourselves as a small festival who're able to identify the sort of things that will resonate with audiences in North Berwick.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in