As the chill of autumn settles in and the evenings grow darker, Manchester is brightening the season with the return of its community firework celebrations after a five-year hiatus. This Saturday (November 7), free, family-friendly fireworks events will light up three Manchester parks: Wythenshawe Park, Heaton Park, and Platt Fields Park, so wherever you live in the north, south or centre of the city, there’s a site within reach.
Timings for free firework celebrations at Manchester parks
Gates and activities start at 3pm in each park. A reduced-noise, low-impact display follows at 5pm, a good fit for younger children and anyone who prefers a quieter evening. The main musical fireworks show begins at 8pm.
Between those two displays, a lantern parade sets off at 7pm. Fire performers, a food and drink village, and funfair rides run through the evening.
For families, Z-arts will run storytelling sessions at 3pm, 3.45pm and 4.30pm, with hands-on craft activities inspired by the stories. The low-impact display comes straight after.
Keeping costs down
Entry to the events is free, as are a range of activities and entertainment throughout the evening, including the lantern parade. The council says 95% of funfair rides cost less than £5, and the food and drink offer is priced to be affordable.
Councillor Basat Sheikh, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, said the programme is the council’s “most sustainable event offer yet”. He added that the three locations aim to make the celebrations “as affordable and accessible to as many people as possible” across the city, and that the council continues to invest in year-round activities in its parks.
Accessibility: Each site has dedicated viewing areas, and volunteers will be on hand all evening to help visitors feel safe and supported.
Sustainability: Organisers have cut the environmental footprint in several ways:
- Avoidable single-use plastics have been removed from all sites.
- The pyrotechnics supplier uses sustainable packaging.
- Litter picks will start immediately after the celebrations.
- Local suppliers have been prioritised where possible.
- Surplus food will be redistributed where possible to local charities and community projects, in partnership with the Our Manchester Food Partnership.
Staging three large events instead of many smaller community displays also reduces the overall impact, according to the council.
How to get there
Roads around each park are expected to be busy, and the council encourages visitors to use public transport.
Getting to Heaton Park
Arriving on foot
Use one of the following entrances:
- Gate 6, Sheepfoot Lane (M25 0BP)
- Once inside the park, turn left after entering the park.
- Follow the illuminated route to the event site.
- Gate 13, Bury Old Road
- Opposite Heaton Park Metrolink stop.
- Enter the park and follow the main path straight ahead.
- At the fork, take the right-hand path and continue to the event site.
Arriving by car
If you are using an event car park, enter via:
- Gate 6, Sheepfoot Lane (M25 0BP)
- Turn left after entering the park and follow the illuminated route.
- Gate 1, St Margaret’s Road (M25 2SW)
- Enter the park and walk down the hill towards the lake
- Follow the illuminated route to the event site.
Getting to Platt Fields Park
You can enter the park via the gates on:
- Wilmslow Road
- Mabfield Road
- Hart Road
- Yew Tree Road
- Platt Lane
Once inside the park, simply follow the illuminated paths to the event site.
Getting to Wythenshawe Park
You can enter the park from:
- Wythenshawe Road
- Use the entrance opposite Rackhouse Road.
- Altrincham Road
- Use the entrance opposite Hall Lane.
- Moor Road
- Access the park via Bideford Drive.
Once inside the park, follow the illuminated routes to the event site.
