Bonfire and firework displays set to light up North West | Manchester News

From bonfires and firework displays to light shows and sea monsters, a range of events are taking place across the North West to celebrate bonfire night.

With a range of traditional displays, quiet displays, digital displays and a campfire story time for children, there is plenty to suit all ages and tastes, listed below by county and then in alphabetical order.

Chester: The sky over Chester will be lit up with fireworks on Saturday 2 November as part of The Lord Mayor’s Fireworks Extravaganza 2024.

The event at Chester Racecourse will feature fireworks to music and is set to raise money for local charities. A quiet fireworks display will start at 18:45 GMT and the main fireworks display takes place at 19:30.

Halton: The Halton Firework Display will return on Sunday 3 November at 19:00 GMT for the council-run event.

Fireworks will be launched from the Silver Jubilee bridge with viewing at West Bank Promenade, Widnes and Mersey Road Promenade in Runcorn.

Northwich: Blakemere in Northwich is marking the attraction’s 30th anniversary with what organisers say will be “a celebration of community, joy, and three decades of cherished memories”.

Blakemere 30th Birthday Edition Fireworks Display takes place on Saturday 2 November.

Warrington: A display at the home of Warrington Wolves Rugby League Club will take place on Saturday 2 November.

Alongside the fireworks, there will also be live entertainment, a fair and a market. Club mascot Wolfie will make a special appearance and the club’s 2025 kit will also be launched on the night.

Warrington Borough Council is sponsoring the display which starts at 19:00 GMT.

Manchester: A fireworks display “with a difference” is set to take place in the city centre this bonfire night.

Manchester’s Printworks digital ceiling will transform into an “immersive masterpiece” with a series of digital firework displays on Tuesday 5 November.

The event gets underway at 17:00 GMT when CBeebies’ Nigel Clarke hosts a “relaxed hour” of campfire stories designed for children before two firework displays take place at 18:00 and 19:15.

Rochdale: Three events are taking place across the borough, organised by Rochdale Council.

On Monday, 4 November the Middleton Bonfire and Fireworks Display will take place at Bowlee Community Park.

On Wednesday 6 November the Heywood Bonfire and Fireworks Display takes place at Queen’s Park Road, Heywood – opposite Queen’s Park.

And on Thursday 7 November Rochdale Bonfire and Fireworks Display will be at Cronkeyshaw Common, Rochdale.

All three events will see the bonfire lit at 19:00 GMT, followed by a fireworks display at 19:30.

Tameside: If you are looking for something a little quieter, Cockfield’s Farm Park will be putting on its annual “low bang” firework display, especially created for children and animals.

The farm is closed during the day, but it reopens its doors at 17:00 GMT for the evening celebrations, which include a bonfire and an LED Robot light show.

Wigan: The Haigh Family Firework Spectacular takes place on Sunday 3 November at Haigh Woodland Park.

The event will see a schedule of live entertainment including music, a fire show and a glow-in-the-dark puppet show.

The firework display starts at 20:30 GMT.

Blackpool: The annual firework extravaganza returns to Blackpool Cricket Club on Tuesday 5 November.

Gates open for the family friendly event at West Park Drive in Blackpool at 17:00 GMT.

The bonfire will be lit at 19:30 and the fireworks display will start from approximately 20:15.

Burnley: The annual Towneley Bonfire and Fireworks Extravaganza will return to Towneley Park on Tuesday 5 November 2024.

The council-run event, which also features a fire performer show, will see the bonfire lit at 18:45 GMT, and two fireworks displays take place.

A junior fireworks display starts at 19:15 and a “mega” fireworks display will take place at 20:15.

Chorley: The Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service Charity Bonfire Night is set to take place at the Leadership and Development Centre (formerly Service Training Centre) in Chorley on Monday 4 November.

A quiet firework display will take place at the event with all money raised on the night going to 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 starts at 19:30.

Gisburn: Gisburne Park Estate’s Bonfire and Fireworks will take place on Saturday 2 November.

The event will feature a sparkler area, fire dancers, bubble machine, and glitter station.

Gates open from 15:00 GMT and the bonfire will be lit at 18:30 with fireworks starting at 19:30.

Lancaster: The three-day Light Up Lancaster festival is set to take place in the city between Thursday 7 and Saturday 9 November.

Light artworks and installations will feature across the city for three evenings, with this year’s theme being The Art of Science.

The event is a partnership between Lancaster City Council, Lancaster BID and The Dukes.

Liverpool: The city’s annual River of Light festival has returned to the city for a series of free events taking place on the Pier Head and near The Strand until Bonfire Night on 5 November.

Interactive installations feature at the Pier Head and near The Strand, which organisers say have turned the famous waterfront into a playground.

Southport: Carnival is coming to Southport as the Pleasureland prepares to be transformed for a Mexican-themed festival on Saturday 2 November 2024.

The park will be decorated with colourful sugar skulls and acts, including fire shows, illusionists and drummers that will lead up to the firework finale at 20:30 BST.

St Helens: From the Ground Comes Light returns to the Totally Wicked Stadium for the third consecutive year for two days of firework displays, sponsored by St Helens Borough Council.

The sky above the home of St Helens Rugby League Club will be lit up with fireworks on Friday 1 November and Saturday 2 November. Gates open at 17:15 GMT.

Councillor Kate Groucutt, St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Business, Culture and Leisure, said the event was spectacular and had become “a firm family favourite”.

Wirral: Mythical sea creature Monty the Mersey Monster is set to light up the Wirral coast as part of the borough’s bonfire night celebrations.

First named by Sir Percival Montangle in 1207, the medieval legend is said to have enjoyed centuries of slumber in the deep waters around the peninsula.

The search for the Mersey Monster is the grand finale of Wirral’s year as Borough of Culture 2024 and will take place around New Brighton Marine Lake on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 November.