Courtesy Edinburgh International Festival

The answer's that - as usual - there are three releases of the sought-after tickets, phased over the four months leading up to the show.  The arrangements for booking have changed significantly compared to previous years.  But it's still the case that, the earlier you get organized, the easier it is to secure the precious passes.

If you're a veteran of previous Festivals, note that there is no postal ballot this year.  The first batch of tickets goes on sale when the EIF box office opens, at 10am on Saturday 2 April.  This is much earlier than in previous years.

Are the fireworks for you?

That's a simple question to answer - yes, provided you're in Edinburgh on Sunday 4th September.  Trust us, you wouldn't want to miss this literally earth-shaking event.

But whether you need tickets is another question again.  As we explain in our article on the fireworks, the ticketed area's in Princes Street Gardens, right below the fireworks' launch-pad at the Castle.  All the same, you can get a wonderful view of the display from many places around the city, without planning ahead and without spending any money at all.  Gardens tickets are priced at a modest £12.50 - but only you can decide whether it's worth the money for a ringside seat.

Ticket buying options

If you're good to go, you've three chances to get your hands on Princes Street Gardens tickets.

There is no postal ballot this year.  Instead, the first batch of fireworks tickets will go on sale when the Festival box office opens, at 10am on Saturday 2 April.  For information on how to book, see our comprehensive guide to ticketing at the "official" Festival or, to cut a long story short, get onto the Hub Tickets website and search for "fireworks" on Saturday morning.

If you miss the first batch of tickets or need a top-up for last-minute visitors, a second online sale takes place on Monday 18 July.  Although this will sell out quickly, based on previous years' experience, if you're at your PC at the right moment you'll probably be in luck.  In previous years, there was a limit of four tickets a person during this phase; we're not sure whether the same will be true in 2011.

Finally, you could always join the queue for the counter sale, which happens the day before the show itself on Saturday 3 September.  But be warned, this is no easy undertaking - you don't quite need to camp out overnight, but you will have to be in place by the early morning.

Ticket Alerts from FringeGuru

The fireworks are the Festival's most popular event, and you'll need to be on the ball to get tickets.  But we can help boost your chances.  If you'd like an email reminder before the critical dates. sign up for our low-volume mailing list, FringeGuru's Ticket Alert.