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?

I see someone mention farms. I wouldn’t worry about farm animals, lots of farmers used to have fireworks because they had the space!

There are no farms near me. We live in a city.

One of the local farms provides the straw to get the bonfire going in the village. And they attend themselves.

Have just looked up "silent" fireworks and some do actually look pretty good. They're not silent at all but they ARE quieter. I think I could be persuaded to get those instead of regular if people think it would make a difference. Doesn't really matter to me how load or not the bangs are as long as there are SOME bangs.

I would do a note through the door- I would certainly appreciate that from my neighbours who never tell me what day they are doing fireworks, even when I have asked them every year to do so I can make sure my dogs are sedated.

😂

I think it’s lovely that you’re taking on what people are saying. Personally I think it’s kind to consider this, particularly in a new neighbourhood. Maybe it will be a great new tradition! And maybe it will turn out that all your neighbours have crazy parties for bonfire night 🤣

We stick to sparklers and really recommend the extra, extra long ones. Significantly more fun than the usual ones!

I am not a fan of the bloody things but I’ve no problem with them on the assigned night. You are being very considerate and potentially a great neighbour,

A note through peoples doors would be a nice touch - it’s nice to see someone being thoughtful.
However - you could go a step further and just not have fireworks. It’s a nice 20 mins for you but for those with pets they will spend the rest of the night trying to calm them down. The whole night and next day is impacted on as the pets won’t sleep, so owners are still up trying to calm them down. Pets (particularly very close by) will be so scared they will pee and poo everywhere - which owners have to clean up. They will try and dig their way to safety - owners will have to stop them, repair damage and calm them. Some will be so distressed they will run off and get lost or killed. Horses have heart attacks through stress.
People with PTSD will be terrified and distressed. People who are neurodivergent will be distressed. Many elderly people will be scared. Imagine being someone with PTSD, who is neurodivergent and has a pet??
All for 20 mins so you can go ooh and ahh??? It’s expensive. Spend the money on nicer food, bigger present.

If a random night I would suggest a note through the door but on bonfire night absolutely not

saying that from an early age my mum, who wasn’t a fan of fireworks, used to offer us the cash rather than spending it on fireworks that were always done and dusted in a few minutes

we always took the cash, maybe you could offer this instead of potentially annoying the neighbours?

Its woke to care about wildlife now? What a sad world view you have.

OP: 15/20 minute fireworks display and 15 family members coming.

Update post from OP back pedal: 5 minute fireworks display and 12 people coming in total (and the OP is in a terraced house)

Correct. Thanks for that summary.

😃

Gotta love an OP that adapts the story according to the responses!

By the end of the day, it will be a couple of sparklers and you plan to invite the entire neighbourhood!

Well actually I rethought it. I hadn't counted out the attendees just sort of assumed the number and the fireworks tend to last longer because of faffing between lighting them. Does it really matter? My post was only asking for ways to let neighbours know.

Do you have pets? I have to go round the garden after the neighbours fireworks, picking up all the crap so the dogs don’t eat it. One dog is scared of the noise and will cry for hours. Yeah, neighbour’s having fireworks is a blast. You’ll probably be very popular 😀 @TheNewWasp you sound delightful.

Surely the only ways are note / in person?

5th of November? Hellz no. Leave it for them to come to you. Even then, I sincerely doubt anyone would. If it were the middle of May or something, I'd personally appreciate a bit of notice - I hate it when people set them off at ridiculous times.

For those that do have a problem, I reckon it's more down to them to prepare themselves, rather than try to stop others. Everyone knows to remember, remember the 5th of November.

Yes it’s the 5th so expect them
but as new it’s nice to warn them. ESP if they have pets

It’s incredibly selfish of people to complain about the fireworks, it only happens once a year and a light show doesn’t cut it.

Fireworks are selfish, incredibly damaging to wildlife and inconsiderate of people with disabilities.

Take your daughter to an organised display.

It’s incredibly selfish not to consider how fireworks can affect not only animals and wildlife (who have never no say in the matter) but people
around you. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.