to not understand why nowhere local has a fireworks display today

[MrsMooo]

I mean, WTF... Bonfire night is tonight and the local events have been last weekend, next weekend, the middle of this week, but none tonight.

Even the one's that have been odly dotted about don't start their displays till 9pm, some 10pm

AIBU to expect somewhere to have a bonfire night display, on bonfire night at a child friendly time when it's dark by half 5 anyway? Or is a weird sussex thing that no where except Lewes (and stupdily overpriced fontwell) is supposed to do anything on Bonfire night?

I'm just glad there's less fireworks being let off by private individuals. It used to go on for weeks during the good times (ie pre-recession), but there's been hardly anything this year.

People are too poor to send their money up in smoke these days.

Erm, you don't need a licence to hold a firework display. There are licensing requirements for storage of fireworks and for certain categories of fireworks which can only be used by professionals, but there is no licensing requirement for displays.

30,000 people doing a torchlit procession up Winchester high street was pretty fun

"I'm just glad there's less fireworks being let off by private individuals. It used to go on for weeks during the good times (ie pre-recession), but there's been hardly anything this year."

Same round here - South Yorkshire. People are too skint to buy their own. This year we have had hardly any fireworks goinf off before yesterday. The pub down the road traditionally holds their firework display on the Friday nearest to bonfire night and the local market town and the ones in town are always on the Saturday. It poured down last night so we stayed in, and OH and I were too tired to go out tonight. DD was taken to a display this evening with a friend so she wasn't short changed in the end.

Where did you go in the end OP? I used to live in sussex and our local one was always the weekend before but was really good, torchlit procession to the bonfire and then fireworks on the beach. On bonfire night my Dad used to do a few in the garden and then we would stay up late watching other people's firework out of the window.
Round here there does not seem so much in the way of bonfires which is disappointing but I can see why as large bonfires must be a complete pain in the arse for the organisers. Been to two firework displays so far but neither had a bonfire (although if I had known Getorf was going to Gloucester Docks tonight too I would have worn a giant Pom-bear or something on my hat in recognition)

went to local councils firework display tonite and there was a ~30,000 people turnout. although they have for the past couple of years asked everyone to voluntarily donate £1 a head to keep it going which most people do pay as its a great display.

Spent £10 on a family ticket to go to the local charity display tonight

It was worth every penny even though we could have seen most of the fireworks from the road for free

We'd a brilliant one tonight in local park. It was great and fireworks were huge and impressive, even cute wee love heart ones in the sky! Kids had an amazing time and loads on too with storytelling yurts and samba band. Bit too late for anyone else to enjoy sorry but just to show they do still exist (west coast scotland)

Hi PeppaPig

You do need a licence to hold a display - either a Temporary Events Notice for under 500 people attending, or a Premises Licence for over 500.

The police (and emergency services) and the local authority will scrutinise both and decide if the event can go ahead. With a Premises Licence, the public can also put their complaints in if the event affects them.

Both cost money to do. TEN is not much, but a Premises Licence can be pricey.

No, you don't need a licence just to hold a fireworks display. You might need a premises licence or TEN if you are also carrying on licensable activities, such as selling alcohol, or regulated entertainment. But fireworks themselves are not regulated entertainment.

The person setting them off will probably need to be licensed under the Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations, but that depends on the category and quantity of fireworks.

yes, you're absolutely correct, but many displays do involve regulated entertainment - music being an obvious one.

Yes, but they don't have to. And personally I think having music at a firework display is a little strange.

i think i know what you mean. sometimes just the noise of all the fizzing, squealing and bangs is brilliant.

i like creative displays though - ones with a sense of ritual or entertainment.

the license thing is the difference between a small school display and a full on professional one attracting thousands.

i think someone said upthread that their local one wasn't on saturday night because they didn't want to conflict with the big displays. perhaps its like tescos versus local shops...

sorry, apostrophe went on holiday. "perhaps it's like..."