We are delighted to announce that our very own Mary King's Ghost Fest has been short listed for a second year running in one of the most prestigious tourism industry awards – the Scottish Thistle Awards.

The 10-day festival held each year in May, and which focuses on the themes of the paranormal and supernatural, has been short listed in the 'Marketing Initiative' category alongside Edinburgh’s Our Dynamic Earth and the Glasgow Mackintosh Festival.  The winner is set to be announced at a Gala Dinner on Friday 26th October.

Mary King’s Ghost Fest’s second nomination in Scotland’s tourism ‘Oscars’ is a further testament to the success of this unusual festival and highlights the increasing interest in Scotland’s supernatural features.  Ghost Fest successfully combines a mix of history, science, ghost stories and legends, appealing to residents as well as driving UK based and oversees visitors to the Scottish capital in May.

Working with partner organisations across the city, Ghost Fest hosts a range of events across Edinburgh to enable visitors and enthusiasts to explore and uncover more about the dark tales and strange paranormal activity for which Edinburgh is internationally renowned.   In 2007 a host of new events provided a number highlights to this years Ghost Fest including a series of groundbreaking research events into the phenomena of Infrasound at Mary King’s Close; a host of literary tours, talks and readings organised by City of the Dead; a number of Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) experiments at previously unexplored venues by EVP specialist Ghost Hunters Scotland and macabre tours of the Royal College of Physicians with Mercat Tours.

Now into its third year, Ghost Fest is growing and developing each year by adding new events and partners to the festival line up.  As well as highlight events held at Mary King’s Close, event and venue support is provided by partner organisations including, Mercat Tours, Cameo Cinema, National Library for Scotland, Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, Ghost Finders Scotland, Scottish Paranormal, Rabbies Tours, City of the Dead, L.A Events, Scottish Storytelling Centre, Royal College of Physicians, Theosophical Society and Frankenstein’s.

Visitor Centre Manager, Stephen Spencer, said:  “We are absolutely delighted to have been short listed for a second year running at the Scottish Thistle Awards.  Ghost Fest has proved hugely successful and extremely popular with visitors from across Scotland and beyond, as well as with our local residents.  The staff here at Mary King’s Close along with our festival partners, are thrilled that Ghost Fest has been recognised in these prestigious awards."

To be added to the mailing list for Ghost Fest 2008, email your details to info@realmarykingsclose.com