Record Numbers at MagicFest 2016!

The Edinburgh International Magic Festival, which came to a spectacular grand finale at Festival Theatre last Friday (8th July) with the MagicFest Gala Show, has announced record-breaking visitor numbers.

The festival’s new MagicFair event at Summerhall attracted more than 3500 visitors across the opening weekend (1st – 3rd July), with family-friendly Morning and adult-themed Lates sessions selling out. Visitors delighted in shows from world-class magicians including German Patrick Lehnen (whose mesmerising show brought a desk lamp to life), Scottish mindreader Colin Cloud, local Edinburgh magicman Elliot Bibby and Californian mentalist David Gerard.

Kevin Quantum, Artistic Director of MagicFest, commented… ‘The new MagicFair concept was a huge hit for us. People loved the variety of experiences from the ribbon maze to courtyard hustling as well as world-class magic shows. We\’re proud to give people the full spectrum of magic experiences and we\’re already planning for 2017 (30 June – 8 July 2017).’ 

The MagicFest Gala Show saw audience numbers more than double after organisers added a matinee and evening show. Eight performers wowed the audience with 2.5 hours of spellbinding performances, including Spanish world magic champion Hector Mancha and Korean Young Min Kim, whose glittering alchemy skills left audience members transfixed. The Great Lafayette Award, which honours magicians who have excelled in live stage performances, was award to Juan Tamariz – an internationally acclaimed magician and Spain’s equivalent to Paul Daniels.