Kaboom! 17 fab fireworks displays
Light 'em up, baby! See in bonfire night in style with our pick of the best family-friendly fireworks displays in Berkshire.
If you’re avoiding a disappointing DIY effort this year with a lacklustre pack of pyrotechnics and a few measly sparklers, how about heading out to one of the local bonfire night extravaganzas across Berkshire? They’re bigger, better organised and there’s no chance of setting your house on fire or scaring the neighbourhood pets. Light ’em up, baby…
Family Fireworks Spectacular, Ascot Racecourse
WHEN: Sat 2 Nov
TIME: Gate opens 10.45pm; fireworks 6.15pm
THE DEETS: Ascot Racecourse is offering a full day of National Hunt racing, white knuckle fun fair rides, gentler ones for littlies and pop-up laser tag (free until 4pm, then £1 per ride). They’ll also be showing Toy Story in the Ascot Pavillion, finishing with an enormous fireworks display. Expect to see 20,000 shots launch into the night’s sky, set to music. Under 18s get in for free (and can eat for free too) with a fee-paying adult – all proceeds go to local charities. Only want to ooh and aah at the fireworks? No problemo, you can enter at 4pm (advance tickets £5 for kids and £7 for adults). Talk about bang for your buck. Fnar.
West Berkshire Brewery Fireworks Night, West Bershire Brewery Yattendon
WHEN: Wed 6 Nov
TIME: Doors open 5pm, fireworks 7.30pm
THE DEETS: Beers, burgers and a night off banging fireworks. West Berkshire Brewery’s inaugural display at Beer HQ in Yattendon is going to be a belter. Pheonix Fireworks will be lighting up the sky, no bonfire but there’s glow sticks, beer, mulled cider and burgers and pizzas from the kitchen. I think Guy Faulks would have approved. Tickets £5; Family of 4 £15; Under 5’s free.
Windsor Greatest Show Fireworks Extravaganza, Royal Windsor Racecourse
WHEN: Sat 2 Nov
TIME: Gates 4pm, fireworks 6.30pm.
THE DEETS: Windsor’s epic Greatest Showman display – courtesy of British Fireworks Championship double award-winners Fantastic Fireworks – is a whopper with a circus theme that’s set to music. While the star of the show is the fireworks, on terra firma, roll up for stilt walkers, fire tricksters, jugglers, a fun fair and more. How cool is that? Book up, it’ll be a sell out.
Halloween (Low Noise) Fireworks, Deanwood Park Gold Club Newbury
WHEN: Thu 31 Oct
TIME: Bonfire will light 6pm; Fireworks 6.30pm.
THE DEETS: Pressing the mute button on the big bangs, this low noise display is a great idea for anyone who is sensitive to noise. It’s a spooktacular Halloween theme set to music, with Fancy dress and pumpkin carving competitions. Advance tickets – £6 per adult, £4 per child, £18 family ticket.
Bricktacular Fireworks , Legoland Windsor
WHEN: Fri 25 and Sat 26 Oct and Fri 1 and Sat 2 Nov.
TIME: Gates 7pm on Sat 20, Sun 21, Fri 26 and Sat 27 October; 6pm on Fri 2 Nov
THE DEETS: After a day at the Brick or Treat, don’t miss Legoland Windsor’s infamous fireworks display. Some of the best oohs and ahhh come from this show with an added special twist – exploding LEGO bricks! Kinda. I won’t spoil the surprise, but it’s safe to say its will blow your kids’ minds. It’s all set to music, which I love.
Wokingham Fireworks Spectacular 2019, Cantley Park Wokingham
WHEN: Sat 2 Nov
TIME: Gates open 6pm; fireworks 7.30pm.
THE DEETS: After 30-odd years, I think the good people of Wokingham know what they’re doing. And it’s properly old school with a torchlight parade from the town centre led by a brass band, setting off at 6pm. Nothing says ‘get off my land’, like several thousand people carrying flaming torches. At the same time the funfair opens on Cantley Field for those who prefer an adrenaline boost before the main event. This year the funfair promises to be even bigger than ever, with many rides for young children. The fireworks start at 7:30pm. Book here
Sparks In The Park, Swallowfield Park, Reading
WHEN: Sat 2 Nov
TIME: Gates open 6pm; fireworks 7.30pm
THE DEETS: Set in the stunning grounds of Swallowfield Park, this display will tick all the boxes – grade II-listed building, huge bonfire, live music, hog roast, pizza, snacks and hot and cold drinks available. Tickets are on sale now.
Lions Fireworks Spectacular 2019, Newbury Racecourse
WHEN: Sat 2 Nov
TIME: Gates open 5.30pm, fireworks 7.30pm
THE DEETS: If you live in the Newbury area, chance are you’ll be heading here on the 2nd. The Lions Club have been putting on this display for donkeys years. New for 2019 – Zombie Infection will be setting up a scary maze, plus the annual display set to music, bar, funfair, food, face painting, entertainment and free parking (dull but useful fact). Prices on the gate £10 for adults, £5 for children. It’s cheaper if you advance book.
Wellington College Charity Fireworks 2019, Crowthorne
WHEN: Sat 2 Nov
TIME: 6pm-8.30pm
THE DEETS: Wellington College’s spectacular grounds provide the backdrop to this awesome musical fireworks display. It’s hot hot hot. No, literally. The bonfire is huuuuge, poor Guy gets torched and there are street and fire entertainers to wow the family. You’ll find there plenty of food and drink stalls, glowy toys and sweets available. What could possibly go wrong?
Upton Court Park Fireworks, Slough
WHEN: Sat 2 Nov
TIME: Gates open at 5.30pm; fireworks 7.45pm
THE DEETS: A celebration to mutli-cultural Britain, the Upton Park firework fiesta has a mahoosive fun fair, 60ft bonfire, 20mins of banging fireworks and a delicious display of international street food. British bangers in a bun are something of a tradition in our house, but I’m well up for trying something new.
Chieveley Fireworks, Chieveley Recreation Ground
WHEN: Tue 5 Nov
TIME: Gates open 6.15pm; fireworks 7.45pm
THE DEETS: I’ve been to this display many times and it’s got a wonderfully traditional vibe. These guys know how to please a crowd after 51 years celebrating bonfire night. This year they will be a Guy competition, torch lit procession and plenty of pretty bangs in the night sky. Make sure you sample the goods too, a bar plus all the burgers and bangers.
Round Table Fireworks 2019, King George’s Recreation Ground Twyford
WHEN: Sat 26 Oct
TIME: Gates open 7pm
THE DEETS: Celebrating 50 years of pyrotechnic prettiness, the bonfire night in Twyford is happening before we’ve even got to Halloween. We’ll let them off, just means you can squeeze another one in later on. This musical display is Lunar themed, so expect a spectacular musical display, Pelham’s funfair, BBQ and the all-important a drinks tent. Book here
Boyn Hill Cricket Club Fireworks Display, Maidenhead
WHEN: Sat 2 Nov
TIME: Gate opens 1pm; fireworks 7.30pm
THE DEETS: The intoxicating mix of diesel, explosives, fired onions and candy floss. It’s a seasonal mash up of fun fair and fireworks. Experience sensory overload with the infamous Carters Steam Fair and a night of bright lights and bangs. Entry is free before 5pm.
Pangbourne Fireworks Fiesta 2018, Pangbourne Primary School
WHEN: Sat 9 Nov
TIME: Gates open 5.30pm; fireworks 7pm
THE DEETS: A favourite with the good peeps local to Pangbourne, there will be a 20-minute display, huge bonfire, BBQ, West Berkshire Brewery beers, hot drinks and live music. It’s all to raise for the children, so how can you possibly say no.
Sonning Pyromusical Spectacular, Reading Blue Coat School Sonning
WHEN: Thu 7 Nov
TIME: 7.30pm
THE DEETS: If you’ve not seen the stonking grounds of Reading Blue Coat School, now’s your chance. The highly-respected Sonning Fireworks will be in charge of the pyrotechnics times to perfection to accompany a classical music soundtrack. My spies tell me it is pretty epic. For more information, click here.
Thameside Firework Extravaganza, Mapledurham Lock Purley On Thames
WHEN: Sun 3 Nov
TIME: Gates open 5.30pm; fireworks 7pm
THE DEETS: We’re pretty lucky to have the River Thames running through Berkshire, so a riverside fireworks fiesta is guaranteed tot be pretty special. The organisers have promised a boomtastic display, delicious hot food, music and a bar… but the river will steal the show for sure. Proceeds do to supporting the children at Purley Primary School. Top tip: arrive early to avoid the rush. You want to nab the best viewing point.
Easthampstead Park Fireworks, Bracknell
WHEN: Sat 9 Nov
TIME: 6pm-9pm
THE DEETS: Remember, remember all the F words – fireworks, food, fun fair and family-friendly. Easthampstead Park is planning a banging bonfire night with a traditional November fun aplenty. Under 12s FREE.
