Lancaster commemorates Guy Fawkes with explosive aerial extravaganza
For the sixteenth successive year, Lancaster City Council will be staging a stunning and spectacular free fireworks display on Lancaster’s historic Castle Hill, in the vicinity of the ancient Castle and Priory Church.
For the sixteenth successive year, Lancaster City Council will be staging a stunning and spectacular free fireworks display on Lancaster’s historic Castle Hill, in the vicinity of the ancient Castle and Priory Church.
This year's display takes place on Saturday 8th November, with blast off at 8pm!
As usual, the pyrotechnics come at the end of a day of entertainments and events, this year themed on the 1605 Gunpowder Plot.
Taking place in a variety of the city's historic buildings, these include period music groups Hautbois and Diabolus in Musica, performing songs and music from the troubled times; talks on Lancaster’s connection with the Gunpowder plot and the plotters' place in Catholic history; an explosive mixture of stories and tales told by popular storyteller Taffy Thomas and 'Lancaster 1605' guided walks, which explore the township around the time of the Plot and include the persecution of Catholic priests and their supporters and the 1612 trial of the Pendle Witches.
This year, the newly formed Lancaster Independent Network of city traders is supporting the celebrations by organising a variety of live street performers, in and around Market Square. Many of the traders businesses will be opening late, as will Lancaster Tourist Information Centre, near to the display site.
At night, the focus is on the Castle Green and Priory Churchyard where, from 6pm, stalls will sell refreshments. The build-up period will be accompanied by a soundtrack of period music and early arrivals will also be greeted by performances of fire eating, fire juggling and similar daredevil antics.
The thrilling climax comes at 8pm, with the launch of a massive fireworks spectacular, accompanied by a soundtrack redolent of the Last Night of the Proms, plus a touch of fire! The night finishes with the, now traditional, ringing of the Priory Church bells. BBC Radio Lancashire will be at the event with a live broadcast, featuring John 'Gilly' Gilmore, starting around 7pm. This will include interviews with the audience and also the soundtrack, which accompanies the fireworks display, enabling the many people who view from a distance to hear the music on their radio.
Across the city, the elevated Williamson Park will be open, to provide a viewing area particularly suitable for families with young children and wheelchair users. Radio Lancashire’s Tim Padfield will be host and the fireworks soundtrack will be broadcast to the crowds.
The public are being reminded that, for everyone's safety, fireworks, sparklers and alcohol must not be brought to the event. In addition, for comfort and safety, the main site entrances at St Mary’s Parade and Castle Park will be closed at 7.50pm, or earlier if necessary. After that time, access will still be available by the entrance at the foot of Long Marsh lane, which will remain open up to and throughout the display.
The 2008 Lancaster Fireworks Spectacular and day of themed events is organised by Lancaster City Council and supported by St Nicholas Arcades and the Marketgate Shopping Centre.
A full programme of events is available on this page or from Lancaster Tourist Information Centre, Morecambe Visitor Information Centre, Customer Service Centres at Lancaster and Morecambe Town Hall. Telephone 01524 32878 for further details.
Date Updated: 19/03/09