Leicester’s Abbey Park is set to host the city’s official Bonfire Night celebrations this weekend, complete with fireworks, live entertainment, a funfair and hot food stalls.
The celebrations will take place tomorrow evening (Saturday, November 5), with the park gates opening at Abbey Park from 5pm.
Live music and entertainment will begin at 6pm, with the ‘quieter’ children’s firework display and the lighting of the bonfire taking place at 6.45pm.
The countdown to the main firework display will start at 8pm, with musical entertainment continuing until 9pm.
Visitors will be able to enjoy Motown, pop and rock music by eight-piece band BluBeat. Plus, fire performers will be demonstrating their pyrotechnic skills.
Ahead of the event, a call has been put out to local businesses to donate their broken or surplus wooden pallets, in order to ensure the bonfire is a blazing success.
“It wouldn’t be Bonfire Night without a blazing fire – and we wouldn’t be able to build one without the generosity of local businesses,” said Deputy city mayor Cllr Piara Singh Clair.
“Once again, we’re asking businesses to help us build the biggest and best bonfire in Leicester by giving us their surplus pallets.
“The enormous bonfire is a focal point for our event, so we’re very grateful to all the businesses who help make it possible.”
Anyone with pallets who’s able to deliver them to Abbey Park on Friday (4 November) is asked to get in touch with the festivals & events team on 07784 233 997 or by email on festivals@leicester.gov.uk
Details for the drop-off, and a delivery time, will then be confirmed.
Early bird tickets for the Abbey Park display, are £8 for adults, £6 for concessions (seniors, students and under 16s) and £20 for a group of four. Under-4s go in free. Tickets can be bought via the De Montfort Hall website, or from Visit Leicester, at the King Richard III Visitor Centre.
‘On the day’ tickets will be available from Visit Leicester until 4pm on November 5, or online until 7.30pm, subject to availability. They will cost £10 for adults, £7 for concessions, and £28 for a group of four, with under-4s free.
Other displays taking place in the city on Saturday, include one at Leicester Racecourse, Oadby.
The event is being hosted by Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People, with ticket holders able to enjoy two firework displays on the night.
The first is ideal for the younger audience members, as there are fewer loud bangs. The second is a 20-minute display.
This evening (Friday, November 4), a firework display is being held by Leicestershire County Cricket Club, at their Uptonsteel County Ground in Grace Road, Leicester.
Tickets are priced from £9 for adults, £4 for children under 16, with family tickets (2+2) £24 when booked in advance. Tickets on the gate will be £11 adults, £5 children under 16, £29 family. Under 5s go free.
