Update: The postal ballot for fireworks tickets has now closed, but see the bottom of this article for details of later ticket releases. 

Time's running out to get tickets for the world-famous festival firework concert - when upwards of 100,000 pyrotechnics will go up in the air in an intense, magnificent 45-minute show.  The display, with a live classical music accompaniment, is watched by a quarter of a million viewers from vantage points across the city.  For the very best experience, though, you'll want to get your hands on tickets for the city-centre viewing area at Princes Street Gardens.

This year's end-of-festival spectacular falls on Sunday 2 September, and tickets are sold through the "official" International Fringe (or EIF).  It's always over-subscribed, and the tickets are released in carefully-controlled batches.  But if your luck holds, the easiest way to get in is by entering the postal ballot - and you only have till Monday to get your application to the EIF's box office.

How to apply

The instructions on the EIF's own web site leave a few open questions, so we phoned the box office at the EIF's Hub headquarters to get the full story.  The good news is that you don't need to get hold of an official booking form - you just need to send a cheque and an SAE.

Here's how to enter the postal ballot.

• Decide how many tickets to apply for, up to a maximum of six. 
• Make out a cheque to "Hub Tickets" for the value of the tickets.  They cost £10 each, and there's no booking fee.
• Enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope - which will be used to send your tickets, or to send the cheque back if you're unsuccessful.
• Add a covering note explaining that it's an application for fireworks tickets (although we're guessing that will be fairly obvious!)
• Send the whole lot to: Hub Tickets, The Hub, Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NE.

And remember - your application has to be with them on Monday (21 May)!  So you only have a couple of days to get it in the post.

If you miss out...

If you miss the closing date or you're unlucky in the ballot, you'll have two further opportunities.  There's another, online ballot on Monday 23 July, then your last chance is the famous sale at the Hub on 24 August - when the hardiest of Festival-goers camp out overnight to be sure of their place in the queue.

The fireworks queue is a Festival institution, but we think entering the ballot is easier!  So get those applications in now.

In case you're unlucky this time, we can remind you when the next batch of tickets goes on sale.  Sign up to get Ticket Alerts in your Inbox.