Edinburgh in August is a fascinating place, as one of the largest art festivals in the world descends on my city. And, yes, one of the shows was named "A Fringe Affair", and was really good, and I have totally stolen the name for it for this article.

I've actually written a song to express how it feels to be in Edinburgh in August:

"Edinburgh in August"

Composed by Adam Cuerden.

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This year, the Festival's theme was "Bin Strike", and they went all in, with trash bags piled high, papers littering the ground, and rubbish bins overflowing everywhere. The smell was so realistic!

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  This is actually the Brighton bin strike of 2013, but same idea. It's a popular theme.

This month, we'll look back at the street in the years before the apocalyptic theme of this Fringe Festival. Next month – presuming the performers I contacted get back to me, or our readers have images they'd like to submit – we'll have shows themselves.

On the street

Performers fill the street, working the crowds, trying to either gain tips from their prowess or lure people into shows...

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  Accordionist on stilts in 2021
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  Unicycle juggler in 2018
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  Chinese dance troupe, 2013
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  Piper, 2017
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  Centaur, 2017
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  Balancing illusion, 2017
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  Puppeteer for the show "Glitch", 2016
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  "Free the Nipple" protest, 2017. Because the Fringe gets used for many things.
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  Living statue, 2010
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  Unliving statue, 2010
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  Leafletter/performer for "Sword in the Stone" (I think, the leaflet's a little hard to read), 2007
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  Comedian Thom Tuck leafletting in 2008
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  Pretending to be dead to advertise for a play about JFK, 2006
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  Some sort of horn player, 2007
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  Axe juggler, 2007
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  Band, 2010
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  Advertisement for "Van Gogh Find Yourself" by Walter DeForest, 2021