I’m sure you’ve seen countless “Fringe Picks” and “Guides to the Edinburgh Festivals” over the past couple of weeks, but here’s mine. Slightly tardy to the party as usual!

Let’s start with my favourite August festival: Edinburgh International Book Festival. I’ll be heading to Charlotte Sq for ice-cream and book-shopping every sunny afternoon I get. I’m also looking forward to the Stripped 2014 strand which celebrates graphic novels and comics including Bryan Lee O’Malley talking about life after the Scott Pilgrim phenomenon and IDP2043, a new graphic novel depicting a dystopian vision of Edinburgh to launch at the Festival. Also, after completely failing to get tickets for George R R Martin, I super happy to hear that his interviews will be broadcast live on BBC Arts. EdBookFest, you are the bomb.

I always have a bit of a lax attitude when it comes to booking tickets for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe shows. I am definitely going to see Axis of Awesome,  21 Things You Should Know About Toronto’s Crack-Smoking Mayor (for the name alone right?!) and Object of my Affection by MurleyDance but for the rest of the month I’ll probably just go off friend’s recommendations. I do already have my eye on Bianco by NoFit State Circus.

The Edinburgh International Festival always brings shows of the very highest quality and this year I am dying to see the James Plays. These three new plays by the National Theatre of Scotland explore Scotland’s past, present and future through three of the Stewart kings. And of course, the [Virgin Money] Fireworks Concert is always a highlight.

I usually plan an Edinburgh Art Festival day where I’ll grab a guide and go round as many galleries as I can so I never have much of a plan for EAF. However, I do know I’ll be hitting up the Where Do I End and You Begin exhibition at the City Art Centre as my starting point.

So yeah, sure it’ll be a fun, busy month. Have I missed anything? What is your must-see show/exhibition/event this month?