Colourful, crowded parade that kick-started festival season

Launched in 1976 by the Edinburgh Evening News, sister newspaper of The Scotsman, the Cavalcade has been a major part of the Festival for 35 years.

A colourful performance which marks the beginning of the festivals period, the event attracts more than 100,000 spectators and involves around 3,000 performers.

In the early days, the parade left from Waverley Bridge instead of Market Street, as it has in recent years, and cost just 3,000 - the money earmarked for this year's event stood at more than 48,000.

The Cavalcade was originally created as a way to bridge the gap between the local people of Edinburgh and its Festival. Community groups were able to create their own floats - as well as Festival performers and local businesses.

Among the celebrities to take part in the event over the years were Billy Connolly, Rikki Fulton, Ronnie Corbett, Eartha Kitt and Paul Daniels.