Full list of Bonfire Night displays cancelled in seven towns and cities

A slew of major Bonfire Night celebrations have been cancelled across the UK, with more events under threat.

The reasons for the cancellations vary but mostly revolve around costs, which organisers say have spiralled in recent years.

Some of the events – which would have taken place on Guy Fawkes Night (5 November) or the weekend before – have been axed several years in a row, so their cancellations will come as less of a surprise to locals.

Others were surprise additions, such as one which had to be abandoned after flooding left the host park severely waterlogged.

Here’s a list of major Bonfire Night events whose cancellations publicly announced, spanning seven cities and towns around the UK.

London

Three Bonfire Night displays have been cancelled in the capital so far this year.

The biggest is the Victoria Park event in Tower Hamlets, which has been cancelled for the past four years running. The council is not putting on displays at any of its parks.

The annual display at Carshalton Park in Carshalton, south London, successfully returned after the pandemic but has now been cancelled for the first time since.

Organisers blamed ‘escalating costs’, a decline in volunteer numbers and ‘insufficient support from our local council’.

Blackheath Fireworks in Blackheath, southeast London – once touted as London’s biggest free fireworks display – has been cancelled for the fifth year in a row.

Lewisham Council, which provides most of the funding with support from community fundraising, said it couldn’t justify spending money ‘for just one night’ over ‘vital services’ like adult social care and children’s services.

Manchester

Several events in Manchester have also been cancelled for the fifth year in a row.

All public bonfire nights and fireworks organised by Manchester City Council won’t take place this year.

They include the major Heaton Park display and similar events at eight other locations including Platt Fields Park, Cringle Park, Debdale Park and Wythenshawe Park.

The council said it had ‘reprioritised’ funding in favour of other free autumn and winter community events such as Halloween in the City and the Christmas parade.

Sheffield

There will be no bonfire or fireworks this year at Manor Fields Park, Sheffield, which is usually attended by thousands of people on Guy Fawkes Night.

‘Unfortunately, we are unable to raise the necessary funds, and have reduced staff and volunteer capacity to help organise such a big event,’ said the organisers, drawn from community groups involved in the park.

‘There are additional health and safety requirements and also environmental reasons as to why we cannot go ahead with the event this year.’

Nottingham

A major free Bonfire Night event in Nottingham has also been cancelled for the fifth year in a row.

The event at Forest Recreation Ground, which normally includes a large fireworks display, would ‘not be viable’ this year due to ‘significant cost pressures’, Nottingham City Council said.

The council said in 2023 that the cost of putting the event on had doubled since it was last held in 2019 – a situation likely reflected in areas around the country.

Colchester

A popular display in Colchester, Essex, scheduled for November 3 won’t go ahead this year – apparently due to a beef between rugby players and horse owners.

Colchester Rugby Club said it cancelled its fireworks event at Raven Park ‘due to unreasonable pressure from the local equine community’.

The club held a silent fireworks display last year following pressure from the numerous horse owners in the area, which reportedly included legal threats.

But it said the trial was an ‘absolute disaster’, leading to ‘aggressive’ behaviour from customers who were ‘frustrated’ and demanded refunds.

Organisers decided to return to a normal display ‘with a bang’ this year but again faced pressure from locals.

‘Colchester Rugby Club is surrounded by fields with dozens of horses and we were all terrified for our horses’ safety,’ Rachel Kennedy, 53, told the BBC, describing the decision to cancel the event as a ‘relief’.

Pontypridd

The annual Ponty Big Bang fireworks display in Ynysangharad War Memorial Park, Pontypridd, has been axed due to flooding.

The park was flooded nearly a month ago but the damage to the ground is so severe that organisers decided they couldn’t hold the event, which normally includes a small fairground.

Organisers said ‘we very much look forward to it returning in 2025!’

Worthing

A seaside fireworks display in Worthing, West Sussex, has been cancelled due to safety problems on the pier which hosts it.

Worthing Pier was deemed unsafe after one of its supports suffered storm damage, and contractors dispatched to repair it found further damage to other supports.

Council leader Sophie Cox said: ‘We’ve worked closely with the [Worthing] Lions to try to find an alternative location but this is such a huge event and we’ve had so little time that it has been impossible.’

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