With the summer behind us, there’s only one big occasion to look forward to – Bonfire Night! In just a few short weeks, it will be time to build a bonfire, toast some marshmallows, give a penny for the guy and, of course, hold the fireworks display to end all fireworks displays!

Planning a Bonfire Night party?

It isn’t as easy as you think to hold a party on this explosive and exciting night of the year. If you’ve been tasked with organising a display, a party or simply a bonfire in your back garden, you’re going to need these handy hints and tips:

1. Buy your fireworks first. If you’re having a fireworks display, this is going to take up the biggest part of your budget. You should plan and pay for your fireworks first and get the expense out of the way. If you leave it to the last minute, you could only have enough money left for a few measly sparklers.

 

2. Plan your display. To plan a good fireworks display, you need to decide how long it will be (this will largely depend on budget) and what type of fireworks you want (i.e. rockets, roman candles etc.). Do you want your fireworks set to music? Perhaps you’d like particular colours? If you have no clue what you’re doing, it may be best to speak to a professional fireworks display organiser for some advice.

 

3. Mark your site layout. If you’re having both a bonfire and fireworks, you’re going to need to mark off separate areas for these on your site, be it a garden, car park or field. You need plenty of space for your audience to stand away from the firing zone/blaze safely, as well as space for refreshments, car parking and facilities.

 

4. Research safety – and tell your guests! To keep everyone safe on the night, you need to make a concerted effort to find out what your responsibilities are. Research all safety measures you need to take and put them into practice, and don’t forget to give your spectators all the safety advice, guidance and warnings they need to stay safe.

 

5. Appoint an ‘event manager’. In the chaos of a party, it can be easy to forget who’s in charge of what, or to get flustered and overwhelmed. You need a responsible person, or better still, a team of people, who are in charge of organising everything and looking after safety on the night.

 

6. Lay on some refreshments. The food and drink you’ll need to organise depends on the nature and scale of the event. For a family party, for example, you can make a bowl of punch and a few nibbles. For a large community event, however, you may need to invite caterers and bar owners to set up stalls, which may involve licences and permits from the council.

 

7. Learn how to build and manage a bonfire. This is an area which may require a specialist, as you not only want your bonfire to catch and stay alight, but you also want it to be safe.