October 25th 2024.
It seems that many community groups and councils are facing challenges in keeping up with the growing costs of hosting events. In fact, several major Bonfire Night celebrations across the UK have been cancelled this year, with more at risk of being called off. While the reasons for these cancellations vary, the main issue seems to be the rising costs that organizers are struggling to manage.
Some of these events, which traditionally take place on Guy Fawkes Night or the weekend before, have unfortunately been cancelled for multiple years in a row. This may not come as a surprise to locals who have grown accustomed to their absence. However, there have also been unexpected cancellations, such as one event that had to be abandoned due to severe flooding in the park where it was supposed to take place.
To give you a better understanding of the extent of these cancellations, here is a list of major Bonfire Night events that have publicly announced their cancellation in seven different cities and towns across the UK.
London is one of the cities that has been hit the hardest, with three of its Bonfire Night displays being cancelled. The most notable one is the Victoria Park event in Tower Hamlets, which has not been held for the past four years. Additionally, the council has decided not to host any displays in its parks this year. Another event, the annual display at Carshalton Park in south London, was able to make a comeback last year after being cancelled due to the pandemic. However, it has now been cancelled for the first time in many years due to escalating costs, a decline in volunteers, and inadequate support from the local council. Weavers Fields will also not be hosting any Bonfire Night events this year.
Moving on to another city, Blackheath Fireworks in southeast London, which was once known as the biggest free fireworks display in the city, has unfortunately been cancelled for the fifth year in a row. The council in Lewisham, which has been the main source of funding for this event along with support from the community, has decided not to allocate funds for it this year. They explained that they needed to prioritize spending on other important community events such as Halloween and Christmas celebrations, as well as vital services like adult social care and children's services.
Manchester is also facing a similar situation, with several events being cancelled for the fifth consecutive year. The council has made the decision not to hold any public bonfire nights or firework displays this year, including the popular Heaton Park display and others at eight different locations. The reason for this is that they have redirected their funds towards other free community events that are held during the autumn and winter season, such as Halloween and Christmas celebrations.
In Sheffield, there will be no bonfire or fireworks at Manor Fields Park this year. This event usually draws in thousands of people on Guy Fawkes Night, but unfortunately, the organizers have not been able to raise enough funds this year to make it happen. In addition, there are also concerns about health and safety requirements and environmental issues that have contributed to the cancellation of the event.
Nottingham is another city that will not be hosting a major Bonfire Night event this year. The event at Forest Recreation Ground, which usually features a large fireworks display, has been deemed not viable due to significant cost pressures. The council stated that the cost of hosting the event has doubled since it was last held in 2019, which is a trend that is likely reflected in other areas around the country.
Colchester, a town in Essex, will also not be having its annual display this year. This event, which was scheduled for November 3, has been cancelled due to a disagreement between rugby players and horse owners. The Colchester Rugby Club, which holds the event, faced pressure from the local horse community last year to have a silent fireworks display due to concerns about the safety of their animals. However, this trial was not successful and the club decided to return to a traditional fireworks display this year. Unfortunately, they were once again met with pressure from locals, which ultimately led to the cancellation of the event.
Lastly, the Ponty Big Bang in Pontypridd, a town in Wales, has also been called off this year due to severe flooding in the park where it is usually held. The damage to the ground is so extensive that organizers have decided to skip the event this year, but they are hopeful that it will return in 2025. Similarly, a seaside fireworks display in Worthing, West Sussex, has also been cancelled due to safety concerns on the pier where it takes place. The council has been working with the Worthing Lions to find an alternative location, but unfortunately, they were unable to do so in such a short amount of time.
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