Fringe Magic

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Fringe Magic 〰️

It’s time for Edinburgh Fringe 2025, and with it, our annual feature series! This year, we’re celebrating the special, unique Fringe moments — the ones that feel like pure MAGIC…

By Thor Stenhaug

Disclaimer: After reading this, my publicist has notified me that it overwhelmingly sounds like this article is about cannabis. So let me just clarify that I am actually talking about normal grass.

Are you looking for a magical fringe? Look no further, Thor “Stenny” Stenhaug has you covered. As well as doing my debut hour, I will spend the whole month enjoying my favourite thing about Edinburgh: its grass.

I love grass. I remember telling a girl on a date this and she then said the following: “If you weren’t Norwegian I would’ve thought you were autistic.” I don’t know what that means but I’m pretty sure you can be both.

So many of the magical moments of my life have been spent on grass. Green is my favourite colour and the smell of freshly cut grass reminds me of spring. I’ve got severe hay fever but as they say: “To love is to suffer”. They also say: “The grass is always greener on the other side”, so let me show you the other side.

Arthur’s Seat

Where else do you start? I mean you can’t find much better located grass in Edinburgh. Grass with a view. I’ve had some properly magical moments on Arthur’s Seat. The grass itself is beautiful and you can feel the proud Scottish history just from walking up there. Couldn’t recommend more.

Calton Hill

It’s the Arthur’s Seat for people who don’t like hiking. Just a quick walk from the busy fringe, you get an amazing view. Perfect for a sunset with a drink in hand.

The Meadows

Every great city has a great park and Edinburgh is no exception. If you come here during the day, you’ll see lots of punters and performers enjoying a well-deserved time out. If you come in the evening, you’ll see young lovers giving each other blowjobs behind the trees. It has something for everyone.

The grass on Edinburgh Castle

Alright, a disclaimer, you can’t actually go on this grass. Trust me, I’ve tried. The grass is located on the backside of Edinburgh Castle, facing a cliff. But for a grass lover like myself, it really looks beautiful. There’s something so Scottish, but also Harry Potter-esque about it (without the bigotry. This is about turfs, not terfs after all). When I one day retire as a comedian, I will sit there and reflect back on my life.

Greyfriars Kirkyard

One of the best kirkyards around. Another cheat code if you suddenly feel the urge to get away from the busy Fringe streets in Old Town. What better way to take a break from all the laughing and comedy than to go to a cemetery. There is actually some decent grass there (not the best I will admit. It’s no Edinburgh Castle grass, I’ll tell you that). I know about at least three comedians who’ve had their first kiss with someone in that Kirkyard. So again, it’s grass with a view.

Honorable mentions: Princes Street Garden (fantastic grass quality), Royal Botanic Gardens (very botanical grass), Grassmarket (disappointingly little grass for being a grassmarket) and the grass at Edinburgh University (as seen in One Day).

Although I love these spots – and I hope you’ll enjoy them too – I think you’ll find that the best grass out there is the grass we made along the way.

Thor Stenhaug: One Night Stand Baby is at Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker 1) from July 10-August 24th, 8:40pm. Tickets here

Follow Thor on Instagram at @thortellsjokes and TikTok at @thortellsjokes

Read more about Edinburgh Fringe 2025:

Features