Leeds

Roundhay Park – 5th November (Thurs)

If size matters, you’ll probably want to get your fine self down to Roundhay Park, where your greed will be rewarded by up to 70,000 people. Impressive. If civilians aren’t enough for you, the event is being graced with the presence of the shiny Super League Trophy thanks to third consecutive year winners, the Leeds Rhinos. More? You’re insatiable! Even before the excitement of the whizz-bang of fireworks and the glow of the fire, Glen Pinder of Magic 828 will be starting the event at 6.30pm by playing a music set and introducing local musicians Paperpushers and the Ally Jowett Band (who both took part in the Bright Young Things competition in Leeds this year), as well as the lovely Leeds Rhinos Dancers. Ooh.

The bonfire is due to be lit at 7.30pm with fireworks at 8.00pm, if you can handle it!

Loughborough

Loughborough Students Rag Bonfire and Fireworks Extravanganza – 7th November (Sat)

Towers Rugby Pitch, Loughborough University

They claim it’s ‘the largest bonfire spectacle in the Leicestershire region’, with about 10,000 people going along to watch. We claim it’d be a shame to miss out on this community event (with attendees ranging from the student populus to everyone else) whether their claim is true or not! The students come together to bring us this event, so you can expect the fun factor to be buzzing in the air along with the fireworks displays. We’ve been promised bonfire night staples like candy floss and toffee apples as well as the slightly less traditional glow sticks and dodgems, so all that’s left to do is pick out our cosiest outfit!

Tickets are available on the gate, so no worries about getting organised in advance. Another bonus!

The gates open at 5pm, with a children’s fireworks display at 6pm, but the big entertainment kicks off at 7pm with the lighting of the bonfire followed by choreographed fireworks at 8pm.

Adults £6.00 / Students £6.00 / Concessions £2.50 / Family Ticket £12 (2 adults, 2 children)

For more info call 01509 635036 or log on at http://www.lsrag.co.uk/

Leicester

Abbey Park – 7th November (Sat)

Thousands of chilly but happy people go to Abbey Park every year to see the Bonfire Night celebrations, and this year will be no different as the Leicester organisers have stepped up the entertainment once again. This Saturday will provide the traditional fireworks and bonfire, with food and drink stalls and fairground rides and if further convincing is needed to coax you away from the central heating, these essentials will be augmented by performances from FlameOz (inspired fire shows), Leicester band Autohype, and Leicester College Showcase including Addict Dance. If you have little ones, or are in the mood to regress, there will also be an appearance from Fireman Sam at intervals between 5.15 – 7.30pm, Professor Crump (a traditional clown who happens to be 8 feet tall), a ringmaster on stilts and a laser juggler.

Gates will be open from 5pm (no admission after 7.30pm though!), with a children’s firework display at 6.45pm swiftly followed by the lighting of the bonfire, and at 8pm you’ll be amazed at Leicester’s Biggest Firework Display. Hurrah!

Advance tickets: Adults £4.00 / Concessions £2.50 / Family £11.00 (2 adults, 2 children)

(Available from Leicester Tourist Information Centre, City Gallery, New Walk Museum, local libraries, and online via Leicester Tourist Information Centre’s Eshop)

On the gate: Adults £4.50 / Concessions £3.00 / (No family tickets available on the gate)

Birmingham

Pype Hayes Park – 5th November (Thurs)

You can’t beat the classic Bonfire Night experience. Bonfire? Check. Fireworks? Check. Hot food, fairground rides and music? Check, check, check. Birmingham’s biggest event is held at Pype Hayes Park and offers something for everyone, including music and competitions hosted by presenters from Heart FM. It’s free, it’s fun, and it finishes early enough to make it to the pub for last orders. We’re won over already.

You can relive your childhood on the fair from 5.00pm, but be careful not to eat too much beforehand or you’ll be ill before the bonfire is started at 7, and you’ll definitely be out of action for the fireworks and music from 8 ’til 10. And that’d be a shame.

Want more info? Call 0121 303 3008

Liverpool

Sefton Park, Walton Park & Newsham Park – 5th November (Thurs)

If your two passions in life are fireworks and music medleys, you may be about to wet yourself. This Bonfire night, these three parks are hosting commemorative displays in honour of the 40th anniversary of the moon landing (to save you doing the math, that makes it 1969), by providing 20 minute displays set to a specially produced soundtrack. The soundtrack will include well-known tracks and original NASA communications, so it’s sure to be something special. For a free event we’re certainly getting alot for our money!

Start times are 7.30pm for all parks, but make sure you get there nice and early as it’s sure to be very popular, and you don’t want to still be parking the car when the magic happens.

For further information call 0151 233 2008.

Nottingham

Forest Recreation Ground – 5th November (Thurs)

Hosting the Greatest Nottingham Fireworks Display this year will be Trent FM favourites Twiggy & Emma, and as it’s the counties’ biggest bonfire event it’s bound to knock your socks off.* It’s free to attend, which means you’ll have more cash to hand for the rides and refreshments. And you’re equally free to gasp in awe at the display of exploding and twinkling lights in the sky. Just make sure you’re not too stunned by the beauty of it all or you might miss out on the prizes on offer during the evening.

If you’re already excited about the fun of the fair, you can indulge from 5.30pm, but get off the Ferris wheel by 7.45pm to catch the start of the bonfire, and the main fireworks display at 9pm.

*perhaps not literally, unless you’re silly enough to go without shoes.

Manchester

Heaton Park Metrolink Bonfire & Fireworks Display – 5th November (Thurs)

About 4 miles north of the city centre you’ll find Heaton Park (it shouldn’t be too hard, it’s one of the largest municipal parks in Europe), and if you follow the signs to the Papal Field you’re in for a treat. Last year approximately 40,000 people attended the event, which comprises the classic bonfire and fireworks combo with a fun fair and even a catering village! We think 40,000 people is a few more residents than you usually get in a village, but we’re not going to argue as long they’re providing tasty food.

The fun fair will be available for thrill seekers between 5 – 9.30pm, with the fireworks display kicking off at 7.30, followed by the lighting of the bonfire at 8.00pm.

While the event is free to attend (whoop!), Christie’s volunteers will be collecting donations to be shared between The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and the event.

For more info contact 0161 773 1085 or go to www.heatonpark.org.uk