Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Every year, during August, Edinburgh hosts the Fringe Festival and the Military Tattoo. What’s a Tattoo in this context? According to wikipedia “The term tattoo derives from a 17th-century Dutch phrase doe den tap toe (“turn off the tap”) a signal to tavern owners each night, played by a regiment’s Corps of Drums, to turn off the taps of their ale kegs so that the soldiers would retire to their billeted lodgings at a reasonable hour.” Today, the Tattoo is a celebration of culture and dance as performed by military bands from around the world. It is held in the courtyard of the Edinburgh Castle and includes projected displays, music, dance, and fireworks!

There’s just something about a couple hundred bagpipes performing under the stars in front of a medieval castle…..

The graphics projected on to the Castle were amazing! These unicorns went back and forth across the Castle “running” behind the dancers.

A tribute to King Charles III and his mother was presented during God Save the King.

A once in a lifetime experience! Or hopefully not……