Bonfire Night Celebrations in the North West

Remember, remember the 5th of November…yes, it’s almost that time of year again! If you’ve been looking for something to do this Guy Fawkes Night, here’s our round up of bonfire night celebrations in the North West.

Bonfire Night Celebrations in Lancashire

There are Guy Fawkes celebrations taking place all across Lancashire this year. Here are just a few of the ways you can celebrate bonfire night in the region.

Rawtenstall Cricket Club will be holding their celebrations on Friday 1st November this year, with a bonfire, fireworks display, face painting and a choice of food and drink. Meanwhile, the Shaw Cricket Club Bonfire Night and Firework Extravaganza will be taking place on Saturday 2nd and a family ticket for four costs just £15.

Clitheroe Castle Bonfire and Fireworks are returning for 2024. Always a popular event with local families, you can expect live music and entertainment, kids rides, laser shows and hot food. Family tickets are available from £12 and all proceeds go to local groups and charities.

Another budget-friendly option is Blackpool Cricket Club’s Bonfire Night celebrations. At £15 for a family ticket, this year’s bonfire and fireworks display will take place on bonfire night itself (Tuesday 5th November). Ramsbottom Cricket Club are holding a bonfire and firework display alongside a funfair and food and drink stalls on Saturday 2nd November.

The Lancashire Mining Museum Fireworks Spectacular is also set to take place on 2nd November with gates opening at 6pm. There’ll be heritage rides, a licensed bar and a ukulele club to serenade you. Plus a bonfire and fireworks, of course!

Towneley Park in Burnley will host another fireworks display this year and it’s only £5 for a family ticket, but numbers are strictly limited, so you’ll have to be quick! Alternatively, if you’re looking for a free bonfire night event in Lancashire, get down to Astley Park in Chorley for their annual bonfire and fireworks display.

Bonfire Night Celebrations in Cheshire

There’s no shortage of events happening in Cheshire this bonfire night.

The Lord Mayor’s Fireworks Extravaganza will take place at Chester Racecourse on Saturday 2nd November. It will include a junior fireworks display at 6.45pm before a full display at 7.30pm, which is great news for little ones that don’t like big bangs! There’ll also be light performances, music and a fairground.

Cheadle & Gatley Firework Display will take place at the Conservative Club with discounted family tickets and hot food available. Stockton Heath Scout Centre in Warrington are holding their bonfire night celebrations on November 2nd and will be lighting the fire at 7pm.

Also, Macclesfield cricket club, rugby club and football club all have fireworks events going on this year, with discounted family tickets available.

Bonfire Night Celebrations in Greater Manchester

Unfortunately, it’s been confirmed that the council-run fireworks displays residents have previously enjoyed in places like Heaton Park, Cringle Park and Platt Fields won’t be returning to Manchester in 2024.

However, there are plenty of other events taking place across the city this year.

Mossley AFC are holding a fireworks night on Sunday 3rd November and will have hot food and drinks and a tuck shop for the kids. A family of four ticket is £10 and you can pay at the gate.

From Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd November, there’ll be a full weekend of bonfire-night fun happening at Mayfield Park in Manchester city centre. The Mayfield Park Fireworks Extravaganza will include 3 nights of fireworks displays set to music, free sparklers for the kids, and mulled wine or hot chocolates to keep everyone toasty warm.

While Oldham Council aren’t having a bonfire this year, they’re still hosting a family-friendly celebration in the town centre, with entertainment between 4 and 6pm on Tuesday 5th November, followed by a free fireworks display.

Bonfire Night Celebrations in Liverpool

There’s lots to do in and around Liverpool this November, including Southport Rugby Club’s Fireworks Extravaganza and a Fireworks and Footy Bonfire Night at Allerton Manor.

Liverpool College is also holding a Bonfire Night Bonanza. The PTA is holding its annual party on Friday 8th November, with indoor events taking place in the sports hall followed by a fireworks display outside from 8pm.

All the Fun, None of the Noise!

If you’re looking for a way to celebrate bonfire night without a bang, there are events that promise plenty of thrills without all the loud noise.

Head to Brockholes Nature Reserve for a Wildlife Friendly Bonfire Night full of fun for all the family. As you might expect, there won’t be any fireworks, but there’ll be live entertainment, and family games and activities, as well as an eco-friendly bonfire, constructed by experts to protect the local wildlife, making it a safe, fun event for all.

Cockfields Farm in Ashton-Under-Lyne is also hosting a bonfire and ‘low bang’ firework display with young children and animals in mind. Promising all the excitement of bonfire night but without the loud noise, there’ll be a quiet fireworks display set to Disney tunes, and youngsters can get up close with the animals in the petting zoo or get involved with feeding the barn animals.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service are holding a Charity Bonfire Event on Monday 4th November with quiet fireworks, a bonfire and hot food and drink. The event will take place at their training centre in Chorley and gates open at 6pm.

Bonfire Night Safety Tips For Families

While bonfire night celebrations can be fun for all the family, they’re not without risk. Fortunately, there are a few simple tips you can follow to help keep everyone safe this bonfire night.

• Attend an organised display or event if you can, as this is safer than lighting your own fireworks at home.

• If you do decide to celebrate bonfire night at home, only buy CE marked fireworks, and follow the instructions carefully.

• Never light fireworks or sparklers indoors.

• Always stand well back from bonfires or fireworks.

• Never go back to a lit firework.

• Supervise young children closely at all times.

• Wear gloves when holding sparklers and only light one at a time.

• Keep pets indoors.

• Avoid dressing children in fancy dress costumes to attend bonfire night celebrations, as these are often highly flammable.

• Teach children how to stop drop and roll.

• Visit the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) for more detailed information on how to keep safe this bonfire night.

Olive Branch Fostering

Here at Olive Branch Fostering, we hope all our families have a wonderful and safe time celebrating bonfire night this year.

We’re always looking for new foster carers in the region so if you live in the North West and think you could offer a safe and loving home to a child who needs it, we’d love to hear from you.

Whether you’d like to learn more about what fostering involves, find out if you can foster or are ready to take the next steps in your fostering journey, Olive Branch is here to help.

Get in touch today or book a call back with one of our friendly fostering advisors.