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Plenty still on offer with one week to go

Friday, 25 July 2008

Is it that time already? It's nearly the end of July. The sun's out (sometimes), the schools have broken up... and the Fringe launch is just a week away. But don't panic - there are literally millions tickets still available across the city. So without further ado, let's get you right up to speed with our July ticket news round-up.


	Before we start, there's one important thing you need to know. The Edinburgh Festival is actually a group of several events, which all take place in the city at (more or less) the same time. Each of the Festivals has its own programme and box office - and in this round-up, each section covers one Festival.

Stay on the fringe

Fringe box office Top of the list is the world-famous Fringe, the biggest open arts festival on the planet. Whether it's big-name comedians or small-town theatre, classical music or thumping rock, it'll be there somewhere among the Fringe's 2,000 shows. The only problem is knowing how to choose... and if you're just not sure, you could always hang on until you've had a chance to read some reviews.

But if you know what you want and you'd like to get ahead, the box office is open and the programme's widely available throughout Edinburgh. The Fringe listings came out in June, but very little has sold out yet - and with so much on offer, you're sure to find something tempting whenever you dip into the three-week run.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 3 to 25 August (previews from 30 July)

For more information: read our introduction to the Fringe, then our Ticket Alert on this year's programme launch. If you're ready to start booking, check our guide to Fringe ticketing.

Make it official

Though the Fringe hogs the limelight, the "official" International Festival still holds the trumps in prestige. Returning to its 1940's roots in a war-torn Europe, this year's official programme gathers national companies from across the former Eastern bloc, juxtaposed with Middle Eastern influences as diverse as Israel and Iran.

It's a largely high-brow programme, taking in theatre, opera, ballet and modern dance, plus a strong programme of classical music on offer at the Usher Hall. Booking opened way back in April, but - with the exception of a few hot sellers - most events have a good range of tickets still available.

Edinburgh International Festival, 8 to 31 August

For more information: read our introduction to the International Festival, then our Ticket Alert on this year's programme launch. Use the Hub Tickets website to find out what tickets are still available.

Book yourself in

Courtesy Edinburgh International Book Festival

After the all-powerful Fringe, the largest of Edinburgh's Festivals - at least by sheer number of events - is the annual Book Festival at Charlotte Square. We at FringeGuru love this most accessible of Festivals, where the great and the good gather for a glorious fortnight to face questions from a thoughtful and well-informed audience.

The big names at the Festival sell out fast, but there are literally hundreds of events still available, from children's activity shows to thought-provoking debates with world experts in their fields. Be warned - almost everything books out sooner or later, so plan your visit as soon as you can.

Edinburgh International Book Festival, 9 to 25 August

For more information: read our introduction to the Book Festival, then our Ticket Alert on this year's programme launch. Use the Book Festival's website to find out what tickets are still available.

Jazz it up

Courtesy Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival

You don't have to wait till the Fringe starts up to enjoy your first taste of Festival life. From Friday 25 July, the Jazz and Blues Festival will be occupying a handful of the Fringe's very best venues, laying down a laid-back programme of classic jazz, folk, and the rhythms of the world.

This Festival, too, has a huge sell-out potential, but right now there's no shortage of tickets for the great majority of events.

Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, 25 July to 3 August

For more information: read our introduction to the Jazz Festival, then our Ticket Alert on this year's programme launch. Use the Jazz Festival's website to find out what tickets are still available.

And there's more...

Courtesy Stuart Buchanan

Finally for this round-up, let's not forget some of the Festival's one-off shows and smaller events.

The International Festival's world-famous firework display is on Sunday 31 August, and you can still get tickets to see it from Princes Street Gardens... if you don't mind joining the queue. Read more in our Ticket Alert.

It's time to apply for a grandstand view of this year's Festivals Cavalcade. The procession wheels down Princes Street on Sunday 3 August. Read more in our Ticket Alert.

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo has all but sold out now, but there are still a few options if you're desperate to see it this year. Read more in our Ticket Alert.

The Festival of Politics runs from 20 to 23 August, with a packed programme of talks and debates at the Scottish Parliament. Tickets are still available for all events. Read more in our Ticket Alert.

You're up to date. Now stay that way!

FringeGuru subscribers were at the front of the queue when all these tickets went on sale. You could be too! Sign up for free Ticket Alerts To Your Inbox, and we'll email you with news of the latest releases. Find out more about Ticket Alert.

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Festival Bites

If you’re in the Bristo Square area (Gilded Ballon, purple cow, etc) and are feeling hungry, I urge you to pop into the Pleasance Dome and try a curry from the Mosque Kitchen. Although I still lament the loss of the creole fast-food bar last seen here two years ago, the kitchen is a more than adequate replacement.
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Latest Ticket Alert

It feels like the dust's barely settled on the 2008 Festival, but the first tickets for next year are about to go on sale. Seats for the 2009 Edinburgh Military Tattoo - the umatched soldierly spectacle which wows crowds of 8,500 nightly in front of Edinburgh Castle - will be on sale online from Monday 1 December. And with recent Tattoo seasons booking out by mid-January, there's no time to waste securing your place.