Edinburgh: getting ready for the Fringe

I was so looking forward to the arrival of the Fringe programs this year, I even marked it in my calendar. Yes, all of the shows (over 3,000 of them) are listed on the website, too,  but for browsing purposes the paper catalog is much more fun. The website is super-useful when searching for a specific performer or show – for example when trying to figure out if our favorite acts from last year will be returning. It also lets you bookmark shows, which is awfully handy (and arguably more efficient than the dozens of color-coded tabs I have marking up my paper catalog).

Last year we didn’t get to fully enjoy the Fringe, as Scott was in and out of the hospital for the month of August, but we did get to do enough to learn our way around. We learned where all (ok, some) of the venues are and what time to arrive for good seats. We learned that the venues in the vaults can be dank, humid, and mildewy, with seats too close together (ie, avoid! avoid!). We learned where to eat, drink, and hang out between shows. We cannot wait to put all this knowledge to use this year.

For readers who are coming to the Fringe for the first time (or coming back after a very long time away, Marty), here are a couple tips:

* BBC events at the Fringe are free, but you need to enter the ticket lottery by Sunday (July 6th) at midnight. There are also some tickets available later, but they involve standing in a big queue.

* Pretty much all the shows are open seating, so you may want to arrive early and wait in line to get a good seat at a popular show. Showing up 30 minutes before is good enough to get you a prime spot for most shows.

* The first Monday and Tuesday (August 4-5) are a great time to see shows for cheap. Many offer 2-for-1 tickets (check the program for this info), but those can be popular so you may want to buy them in advance. If you are happy to be spontaneous (as one should be, to get the most out of the Fringe), then I hear just wandering around near the venues can often result in offers of free tickets for shows eager to fill seats early in their runs.

* The half-price hut (on the Mound) is your friend – every day there are tickets for tons of great shows available here. Find out which shows are available when by downloading the handy Fringe app (or checking the website, or the signs at the hut).

The Fringe isn’t even the only festival on in Edinburgh in August – the city is basically just a giant heaving pile of festivals for the whole month. There’s the distinctly high-brow International Festival, the Art Festival, and the Book Festival (this year’s hot tickets: Haruki Murakami and George RR Martin), just to list a few. I can’t wait! Bring on a healthy August in Edinburgh.