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Firework Festival at Rawcliffe Country Park (From York Press)
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Firework Festival at Rawcliffe Country Park
8:34am Wednesday 12th September 2012 in News
Guy Fawkes, played by Gary Goldthorpe, gets caught by one of the King’s soldiers (Neil Tattersall) among the gunpowder barrels at York Dungeon
A SPECTACULAR Firework Festival is planned for York in November.
On November 4, the night Guy Fawkes was discovered in cellars below the Houses of Parliament, there will be a new annual event starting at Rawcliffe Country Park, with a choreographed fireworks, lighting and special effects show, led by pyro-technician Jitu Desai.
There will also be stalls selling traditional bonfire night food and drinks, such as baked potatoes, soup, toffee apples and cinder toffee.
On Monday, November 5, the day that news of the plot was revealed, there will be a display at Bustardthorpe, on Knavesmire, and a bonfire and fireworks display at York Maze.
Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of Visit York, said: “Bonfire night is celebrated across Britain and is a key part of our rich heritage. We celebrate the failure of the Gunpowder Plot across the UK and we’re delighted that York is now taking up the gauntlet to mark this momentous time in our history.”
For tickets to the event at Rawcliffe Country Park, visit www.kaboomyork.com
Comments(13)
Mark Brayshaw
says...
10:27am Wed 12 Sep 12
Oaklands Resident
says...
10:29am Wed 12 Sep 12
Like the Knavesmire event - which seems to have morphed into a fundraising run - a lot of detail seems to be missing.
As with any paid for fireworks event, there will be those who will try to spectate from afar.
I thought that the Police had objected to the use of this land for fireworks displays (too close to the busy A1237 junction and hence a distraction for drivers)?
whitehorse
says...
12:07pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Justanotheropinion
says...
3:15pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Such lovely hair! Are they wigs do you suppose?
Ichabod76
says...
3:53pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Oaklands Resident wrote:A firework reaching 100m in the air on a clear night could be seen from as far away as 25 miles
The other thing missing is the cost of admission?
Like the Knavesmire event - which seems to have morphed into a fundraising run - a lot of detail seems to be missing.
As with any paid for fireworks event, there will be those who will try to spectate from afar.
I thought that the Police had objected to the use of this land for fireworks displays (too close to the busy A1237 junction and hence a distraction for drivers)?
so where would you suggest having a fireworks display that couldn't be seen from a main road ?
Mark Brayshaw
says...
4:48pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Oaklands Resident wrote:Cost of admission is as follows:
The other thing missing is the cost of admission?
Like the Knavesmire event - which seems to have morphed into a fundraising run - a lot of detail seems to be missing.
As with any paid for fireworks event, there will be those who will try to spectate from afar.
I thought that the Police had objected to the use of this land for fireworks displays (too close to the busy A1237 junction and hence a distraction for drivers)?
* Premium Ticket = £40 per car including admission for driver and all passengers (great if you have a 7 seater, not so good if you have a 2 seater - but that's the point really)
* First Ticket = £10 adults £7.50 children (aged 3 to 16). During September all tickets are at the child price. This ticket includes free travel on any First network bus including the P&R service to Rawcliffe Country Park
* 659 Ticket = £10 adults, £7.50 children (aged 3 to 16). During September all tickets are at the child price.
* Green Ticket = £7.50 adults and £5 children (aged 3 to 16). During September all tickets are at the child price. This ticket is only available to residents of the YO30 postcode area (and their friends and family of course).
As somebody else has pointed out, the fireworks will be visible to everyone in a very wide radius but the experience and atmosphere of the event will only be available to those attending. For example, we will have a certain "X Factor" about our event along with special appearances by celebrities, costumed characters, and a very unique theatrical presentation of The Gunpowder Plot. As well as the entertainment on stage there is also a huge funfair so all in all I think it is good value for money.
The Police have not lodged any objections to this event - not for any reason let alone because of it being close to the A1237. You would be hard pushed to find any venue in the country that was not close to a major road - the A64 is extremely close to the Knavesmire for instance and the A1079 is very close to Elvington.
Mark Brayshaw
says...
4:55pm Wed 12 Sep 12
whitehorse wrote:I have been campaigning for this event at this venue for 8 years so I hardly think I am jumping on anybody else's bandwagon!
Not that I'm complaining here of course but...wow. How many years has York-home of Guy Fawkes- been embarrassed by the lack of a public display. And now we have three to choose from! This is quite amazing. though the cynic in me wonders if everyone is in on the act because the Maze has raked it in for the last two years as the only large public display. Fantastic though. Glad to see an end to the city's shame.
Lack of political will and a very slow legal process for the use of the land has been the cause of delays in the past.
We were extremely close to running this event in 2011 but it was decided quite late in the day (7 weeks beforehand) that an entertainments license was required. The license was granted in January 2012 and here we are!
tommytuckamotor
says...
11:47pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Mark Brayshaw
says...
7:56am Thu 13 Sep 12
tommytuckamotor wrote:There is no correlation between fireworks and Christmas lights - especially as there is no council tax money being spent on fireworks.
I don't want to sound a party pooper & I do agree that guy fawkes should be celebrated here in York , but fireworks, are they not costly and nothing to show after the event ? Not only that but also the pollution to the atmosphere and damage/distress caused to all the wild (& domesticated) animals out there ....personally I would rather see the money spent on some decent christmas lights which could be used year after year, now thats value for money
The cost of fireworks per person coming to an organised display is far less than the cost of individuals buying boxes of fireworks for their own garden display and of course the display itself is far more impressive
Going to an organised display is far safer than going to a private garden display and is widely encouraged by the blue light services and ROSPA.
When there is an organised display it usually follows that there are less private garden displays therefore the distress to wild and domesticated animals is not only less it is also done in one burst, which is publicised in advance so that pet owners can be well prepared.
Nothing to show? The memories created are priceless! Ask anyone who used to enjoy going to the Cliffords Tower displays in the early 90's.
mjr119
says...
9:39am Fri 14 Sep 12
I genuinely admire the organisers for creating the most complicated and off putting ticketing process I have seen for what is a fairly standard event.
I think this has well and truly been over-thought.
Well done to all concerned!
Mark Brayshaw
says...
5:50pm Fri 14 Sep 12
mjr119 wrote:What is so complicated about choosing whether you want to come in your own car (Premium Ticket), on the free shuttle bus (First Ticket) or in a taxi (659 Ticket)? If you live in the YO30 area you have the additional option of walking in (Green Ticket).
I read this article and went on the website to see how to book.
I genuinely admire the organisers for creating the most complicated and off putting ticketing process I have seen for what is a fairly standard event.
I think this has well and truly been over-thought.
Well done to all concerned!
Thanks for your back-handed compliment but seriously though it's only three options (four if you live in YO30) - plenty of people seem to be coping with the various ticket options judging by the rate that tickets are being bought and you can always give us a call if you are really not sure what to do.
There really is no such thing as a 'standard event' when it it comes to something of this scale. That is why we haven't had a major fireworks display in York for 16 years.
Lots of people remember the traffic chaos of the last Knavesmire fireworks events in 1995 and 1996 - that's what happens when you don't have a plan.
Every single one of my ticket options has been designed to assist in the traffic management of the event. If transport was left as a free for all with just one standard ticket then there would be chaos on the roads.
Mark Brayshaw
says...
11:05pm Fri 14 Sep 12
pedalling paul wrote:Very disappointing Paul that you were so quick to criticise yet when I offered you the chance to work out a solution to your 'perceived' problem you have not responded at all.
Disappointing to read on the kaboom website that only local YO30 residents will be offered a discount ticket if they commit to walking or cycling to the event. I live outside YO30 but the venue is still withing practicable cycling distance of PP Towers.
Could the organisers perhaps offer a general concession to those who are prepared to cycle there.
It begs the question - are you actually a professional 'victim' who is actually more interested in sniping from the sidelines rather than working on a solution?
pedalling paul says...
10:09am Wed 12 Sep 12
Could the organisers perhaps offer a general concession to those who are prepared to cycle there.