Leith Festival Pageant

We are excited to announce that this year the Leith Festival Pageant will lead into our community Tattoo!

Beginning at Taylor Gardens and parading through the heart of Leith, before ending at Malmaison Plaza this year’s pageant is a smorgasbord of musicians, dancers, community organisations and more! Not one to be missed.

The Pageant is a celebration of all things Leith, going back to the very roots of Leith Festival. The pageant began in 1907, as a way to raise funds for Leith Hospital. In the days before the NHS was formed the hospital relied on donations and private funding as well as paying patients.

Over the years the pageant has taken various forms, and as well as local marching bands, and community groups traditionally has involved local businesses in the days when factories and trades had social clubs and groups, they would often dress up a float and participate.

Nowadays, our pageant is float free, but we welcome bikes, buggies and pedestrians, and we still have our best dressed competition!

So come along for an afternoon of entertainment and fun, and help us finish off Leith Festival 2025 in style.