Featured image: Roven images
Manchester City Council has confirmed all major public Bonfire Night firework displays will not be going ahead this year, blaming escalating costs.
A combination of factors, including increased safety measures, aspirations to be ‘a net zero carbon city by 2038’ and pressure on council budgets, have led to the decision being made just three weeks before Bonfire Night.
They are now looking at ‘reprioritising budgets’, gearing up for more family-oriented activities through the winter months and providing support for residents through the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Events have previously been held in eight locations across the city, including Heaton Park, Platt Fields, Cringle Park, Debdale Park and Wythenshawe Park.
In a statement posted to Twitter, Counsellor Lee-Ann Igbon said: “It is with great reluctance that we’re announcing that council-organised bonfire events will not be taking place this year. Manchester is one of the only major cities that continues to host council-organised fireworks and bonfire events.
“Bonfire events haven’t taken place in the city since 2019 and we have decided to hold that position this year. This is not a decision we have taken lightly and I know that many people will be disappointed.”
The full statement from the Council states: “Manchester City Council has announced that council-organised bonfire events will not be reintroduced in Manchester Parks this year, following a two-year lay-off during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“A combination of factors, including the escalating costs of delivering large bonfire events, increasing safety and organisational measures needed and increased pressure on Council budgets have ultimately led to the decision.
“The Council will assess the impact of this year’s events not going ahead as part of a review into the approach to future bonfire events.
“The Council is reprioritising its neighbourhoods funding to focus on a program of community events and activities throughout the winter focussing on fun, free activities for families and young people.”
While such a loss will leave some scrambling, Rochdale, Salford City, and Oldham councils have all confirmed their plans are still going ahead, and private events will still be taking place.
Featured image and gallery: Hoang Phan Notebooks were carried from one workshop to another. Writers from different generations sat around tables, sharing manuscripts and listening to each other. Outdoors, small groups strolled along Oxford Road, pausing before buildings steeped in literary history. This was the scene during the Manchester Writing School Summer Festival 2026, held…
Featured image: Katja Ogrin With many sore heads and limbs this morning after the most hardcore day of the festival taking place yesterday, many are recovering from the moshing and pit brutality of the previous day’s antics. As the tradition of a morning movie in the Serpents Lair prevails, the crowd sprawls out onto the plush,…
Featured image: Abbi Draper After an electrifying start to the weekend, with temperatures slowly climbing, many lather themselves in suncream, shed their band shirts and rise from their tents to trek towards the arena. Saturday has big things incoming for the humans of Bloodstock 2026. Some pace themselves for the day and hide from the early…
Featured image: Abbi Draper After a memorable Thursday opener, Bloodstock 2026 opens its gates once again onto the Hallowed Grounds of Catton Park, kicking off day two of its 25th-anniversary celebration of metal. As the sun rises on Catton Park, festivalgoers emerge from their tents to prepare for another day of mayhem. The morning brings…
Leave a reply