The Edinburgh Festival might be spreading - not just over August but all year round.

Nothing succeeds like success, and with its unrivalled position as Europe's premier arts festival, Edinburgh has attracted some extra attention this year.

Already an Edinburgh Internet Festival has been established, and features the work of over 1000 artists, but now the local authority has suggested a chain of independent festivals running throughout the year.

This idea, which is presumably meant to boost tourism, seems to be an attempt to cash in on the Edinburgh arts festival in August, but risks diluting its impact if the city is going to promote mini festivals - in a wide range of activities like sport and food - all the year round.

Festivals are fun, and can - as in Edinburgh's case - work very well, but an essential component is a sense of something special happening within a defined (short) period of time, giving something to look forward to. Any attempt to over-extend, or try to hook unrelated events on to it, will be counter-productive: imagine a Notting Hill Carnival every other week end. For details of the Edinburgh International Internet Festival Theatrenow