North West set to host diverse bonfire and firework events

The North West region is preparing to host a variety of events for Bonfire Night, encompassing bonfires, firework displays, light shows, and even sea monster themes. These celebrations cater to diverse preferences and age groups, offering traditional, quiet, and digital displays, alongside campfire story times for children. Details are provided below, organized by county and then alphabetically. Chester: On Saturday 2 November, the skies above Chester will be illuminated by fireworks as part of The Lord Mayor’s Fireworks Extravaganza 2024. This event, held at Chester Racecourse, will present fireworks synchronized to music and aims to generate funds for local charities. A quiet fireworks display is scheduled to commence at 18:45 GMT, followed by the main fireworks display at 19:30. Halton: The Halton Firework Display, a council-organized event, is set to return on Sunday 3 November at 19:00 GMT. Fireworks will be launched from the Silver Jubilee bridge, with designated viewing areas at West Bank Promenade in Widnes and Mersey Road Promenade in Runcorn. Northwich: Blakemere in Northwich will commemorate the attraction’s 30th anniversary with an event that organizers describe as “a celebration of community, joy, and three decades of cherished memories.” The Blakemere 30th Birthday Edition Fireworks Display is scheduled for Saturday 2 November. Warrington: A display is planned for Saturday 2 November at the home ground of Warrington Wolves Rugby League Club. In addition to fireworks, the event will feature live entertainment, a fair, and a market. Club mascot Wolfie is expected to make a special appearance, and the club’s 2025 kit will be unveiled during the evening. Warrington Borough Council is providing sponsorship for this display, which begins at 19:00 GMT. Manchester: The city centre is slated to host a distinctive fireworks display this Bonfire Night. On Tuesday 5 November, Manchester’s Printworks digital ceiling will be converted into an “immersive masterpiece” showcasing a sequence of digital firework displays. The event commences at 17:00 GMT with CBeebies’ Nigel Clarke leading a “relaxed hour” of campfire stories tailored for children, preceding two firework displays at 18:00 and 19:15. Rochdale: Rochdale Council has organized three events across the borough. The Middleton Bonfire and Fireworks Display is scheduled for Monday, 4 November at Bowlee Community Park. On Wednesday 6 November, the Heywood Bonfire and Fireworks Display will occur at Queen’s Park Road, Heywood, situated opposite Queen’s Park. Subsequently, on Thursday 7 November, the Rochdale Bonfire and Fireworks Display will be held at Cronkeyshaw Common, Rochdale. For all three events, the bonfire will be lit at 19:00 GMT, with a fireworks display following at 19:30. Tameside: For those seeking a more subdued experience, Cockfield’s Farm Park will host its yearly “low bang” firework display, specifically designed with children and animals in mind. The farm will be closed during daylight hours but will reopen at 17:00 GMT for evening festivities, featuring a bonfire and an LED Robot light show. Wigan: The Haigh Family Firework Spectacular is scheduled for Sunday 3 November at Haigh Woodland Park. This event will feature a program of live entertainment, including music, a fire show, and a glow-in-the-dark puppet show. The firework display is set to begin at 20:30 GMT. Blackpool: The yearly firework extravaganza will return to Blackpool Cricket Club on Tuesday 5 November. Gates for this family-friendly event, located at West Park Drive in Blackpool, will open at 17:00 GMT. The bonfire lighting is planned for 19:30, with the fireworks display commencing at approximately 20:15. Burnley: The annual Towneley Bonfire and Fireworks Extravaganza is set to return to Towneley Park on Tuesday 5 November 2024. This council-operated event, which also includes a fire performer show, will feature the bonfire being lit at 18:45 GMT, followed by two fireworks displays. A junior fireworks display will begin at 19:15, and a “mega” fireworks display is scheduled for 20:15. Chorley: The Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service Charity Bonfire Night is scheduled for Monday 4 November at the Leadership and Development Centre (formerly Service Training Centre) in Chorley. The event will include a quiet firework display, with all proceeds from the evening benefiting The Fire Fighters Charity, St Catherine’s Hospice, and Rosemere Cancer Foundation. The bonfire will be lit at 19:00 GMT, and the fireworks display will commence at 19:30. Gisburn: Gisburne Park Estate’s Bonfire and Fireworks event is planned for Saturday 2 November. This gathering will offer a sparkler area, fire dancers, a bubble machine, and a glitter station. Gates will open from 15:00 GMT, the bonfire will be lit at 18:30, and fireworks are scheduled to begin at 19:30. Lancaster: The Light Up Lancaster festival, spanning three days, is scheduled to occur in the city between Thursday 7 and Saturday 9 November. For three evenings, light artworks and installations will be showcased throughout the city, with “The Art of Science” serving as this year’s theme. The event is a collaborative effort involving Lancaster City Council, Lancaster BID, and The Dukes. Liverpool: The city’s yearly River of Light festival has made its return, offering a series of complimentary events at the Pier Head and near The Strand, continuing until Bonfire Night on 5 November. Interactive installations are present at both locations, which organizers state have transformed the renowned waterfront into a recreational area. Southport: A carnival atmosphere is anticipated in Southport as Pleasureland prepares for a Mexican-themed festival on Saturday 2 November 2024. The park will be adorned with vibrant sugar skulls and will feature performances, including fire shows, illusionists, and drummers, culminating in a firework finale at 20:30 BST. St Helens: “From the Ground Comes Light” is returning to the Totally Wicked Stadium for its third consecutive year, offering two days of firework displays, sponsored by St Helens Borough Council. The skies above the home of St Helens Rugby League Club will be illuminated with fireworks on Friday 1 November and Saturday 2 November. Gates will open at 17:15 GMT. Councillor Kate Groucutt, St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Business, Culture and Leisure, described the event as spectacular and stated it had become “a firm family favourite.” Wirral: The mythical sea creature, Monty the Mersey Monster, is slated to illuminate the Wirral coast as part of the borough’s Bonfire Night festivities. This medieval legend, first named by Sir Percival Montangle in 1207, is believed to have spent centuries in slumber within the deep waters surrounding the peninsula. The quest for the Mersey Monster serves as the grand finale of Wirral’s tenure as Borough of Culture 2024 and will unfold around New Brighton Marine Lake on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 November.