Fireworks

[Sillysallysausage]

We moved house this January and love it here but don't yet know the neighbours very well. We've always held a family fireworks party for my 12 year old - her birthday is Nov 5th. It's only once a year, the fireworks are for maybe 20 mins between 8 and 8.30 and we have maybe 15 family members in the house.
Where we used to live all the neighbours were on a WhatsApp group so we used to message them a week or so beforehand and let people know so they could get pets indoors / go out / watch them too.
But I'm aware that a lot of people hate fireworks and we don't have a WhatsApp group here. How would you warn neighbours so that they don't end up annoyed at us?
We are not noisy neighbours generally. And the neighbours are all friendly if you see them in the street. Would a note through the door be overkill? Should I just try and engineer meeting them.in the street to mention it?
WWYD?

@Sillysallysausage what will you do if any of your neighbours object citing distress caused to small children or pets?

Knock on doors?

Don't people expect fireworks on bonfire night? Surely people already keep their pets inside as it's pretty well known? If you came round to tell me that you were lighting some fireworks on bonfire night I'd say good for you and think you were a bit odd. However I live in a normal street where there's no whatsapp group to slag people off thank God.

But they’re not.

the vast majority of the country is not like MN. They can handle some fireworks.

But it’s bonfire night anyway…

But you don’t know that. The op should be prepared for some difficult neighbourly relationships going forward

Fireworks are horrid and incredibly selfish. Its causes much damage, including death, to wildlife espeically birds, ot to mention scaring babies, some children some elderly people. Perfect time to start a new, friendly, tradition.

Well I wasn't planning on asking permission. Just telling them it's happening in case they want to get pets in or go out or watch.
I do understand that some people hate them. But it's a tradition and it's allowed and it's one night. I just wanted to figure out the best way to tell them really.
Oh and we won't be letting them off for 20 minutes I don't imagine. I'm just going to give a 20 minute window just in case. It will be one box, starting at 8. Realistically I suppose it will probably take about 10 mins? I'm not really sure. I've never timed them.
I don't mind having a look at quieter ones I suppose. Not sure they'd be much fun without any noise but might be ok if they are quieter rather than actually quiet.
FWIW we have a neighbour who had garden parties on quite a few nights in the summer. No one seemed to mind that as far as I could tell and they went on quite late. (No bangs though obviously!)

I would do them earlier. It’s dark by 4pm

so 5/6 and tell neighbours - invite them over if you went to

We don't get on from work till 7. We could do it at 7.30 I suppose if that makes things a bit better

I pride myself on being a very considerate neighbour but I am surprised to hear anyone would be offended by fireworks being let off on bonfire might at 8pm??

Surely it's to be expected??

To me that's like checking your neighbours are OK with you putting up Christmas lights or Halloween decorations. Of course you're going to (not flashing/intrusive ones obviously)

I now live in northern Ireland so we don't have it here but when I lived in England it would depend on where you lived. When i lived in a city, fireworks would be going off everywhere, so it was too be expected and I could get medication for my dog. (He would loose weight and fur and refuse to eat and shake really bad with the stress as people would constantly set them off work weeks) But then I also lived in the countryside which obviously didn't have fireworks due to living next to farm animals. I'd still give the neighbours a head up incase they need medication from the vets for their pets. Or you could invite them to your gathering.

Agree, a note. Have to say if your neighbours have young children, I wouldn’t go ahead with it. Maybe nice tea then off to a public display.

20 mins of fireworks is actually a long display! How much do you spend on all those fireworks?

I'd fully appreciate a note through the door if you were my neighbours, so I could arrange to take my dogs out for the planned display. Wish my neighbours were this considerate tbh! I don't mind them having fireworks 50m from my house but if they let me know the date and time, I'd be out and avoid my dogs being terrified.

Yeah it probably will be more like 5 mins of fireworks with 10 minutes of faffing between them I expect. So if I say 20 nobody gets a shock!
And yes we live in a city. There will probably be loads of others letting them off and none of my nearby neighbours have young children. There are a couple of teens, and one kid of maybe 8 or so. A few pets though.

I think it’s considerate to send a note to your neighbours - yes people expect fireworks on bonfire night but they don’t necessarily expect them in next door’s garden! I love fireworks and I’ve ever known anyone in real life have the extreme views you see on this thread and other social media about them, but I do think it’s thoughtful to let people know in case need to make arrangements for pets etc.

So is this a terraced house?

probably controversial opinion. I have pets and young children. If you’re setting off fireworks on 5th November (or even New Year’s Eve) it is expected by most people. I probably wouldn’t bother telling people. Obviously other days of the year giving a heads up is nice but not for guy fawkes or new year.

Oh my god.

You need to raise your children to be more resilient and older people should be able to know that on bonfire night fireworks will be going off.

Yes. End of, if that makes a difference.

All valid points though......

Ooooh I feel sorry for your attached neighbour. Presumably very narrow garden and a party of 15 people!

id definitely give the direct neighbour a heads up about the party if nothing else

We definitely will let them know. But "party" probably sounds more wild than the reality! We'll have me & DH, our 2 kids, my sister and her 2 kids, 4 grandparents and a family friend. So actually 12 of us. On a weeknight. Other than the fireworks it really won't be crazy or loud.

If you’re going to do it anyway, I wouldn’t bother letting them know.

I don’t have a problem with fireworks, but would much prefer to see private fireworks banned and just kept to local displays. We also live in terraced housing and one neighbour had a rogue firework go through their window. They seem so much louder in a confined space like a garden too.