Fireworks fans should look to the Edinburgh skyline tomorrow at 1pm. The Edinburgh International Festival will be launching a volley of fireworks, the first of a weekly "celebration" leading up to the popular Virgin Money Festival Fireworks Concert at the end of the festival.
The volley of fireworks will be released from Edinburgh Castle ramparts as the One O’clock Gun fires its daily blast.
The EIF is also running a competition on Facebook and Twitter where the first people to send in photos capturing the display will win tickets to this year’s Concert. Entrants should post their photos on the Festival facebook page or use the hashtag #VMFireworksFriday on twitter.
Two more ‘Fireworks Fridays’ will follow on 2 and 9 August - the opening day of Festival 2013.
The main festival fireworks Concert will be on Sunday 1 September at 9.00pm. Over 400,000 fireworks choreographed to live orchestral music will light up the sky above Edinburgh Castle, in what is the largest annual fireworks concert in the world.
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra conducted by Garry Walker will perform Musorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, accompanied by a choreographed firework display by Pyrovision.
Last year around 250,000 people gathered in Princes Street and at vantage points around Edinburgh, Fife and the Lothians, to share in the spectacle.
Details of the display will be revealed nearer the time, although the EIF says the Waterfall, when waves of fireworks cascade down from the Castle, will once again be a highlight.
Jonathan Mills, Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, said: ‘The magic of the Virgin Money Fireworks Concert performed by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, continues to make it an unmissable part of the Festival and of life in Edinburgh. We want everyone to join in this spectacular celebration, especially stunning for those who snap up tickets to enjoy the event from Princes St Gardens. ‘Fireworks Fridays’ will count us down to Festival 2013 while heightening everyone’s anticipation for our very special grand finale’.
More on the Edinburgh Festival Fireworks Concert