Gunpowder Plod event’s £500k bonanza (From York Press)

Gunpowder Plod event’s £500k bonanza

8:02am Friday 12th October 2012 in News By Mark Stead, mark.stead@thepress.co.uk

ORGANISERS of a Bonfire Night celebration billed as the biggest in York’s recent history say it will bring a £500,000 boost for the city’s economy.

A 10,000-strong crowd is expected to flock to York Racecourse next month for the city’s first Gunpowder Plod event, which will include a family fireworks display and a 5k run set against a pyrotechnic backdrop. Visitors are expected from as far afield as France and Los Angeles.

The November 5 festival at Knavesmire is being organised by Rat Race Adventure Sports, which has calculated it will inject a six-figure sum into the city’s coffers through ticket sales, transport, food, drink and accommodation and says it will be “the largest anticipated inward investment by any Bonfire Night event York has ever seen”.

Rat Race said 40 per cent of those who have registered for the 5k run and 17 per cent of fireworks visitors are from outside Yorkshire, with bookings coming from parts of the UK as diverse as Swindon and Scotland. Almost 100 Yorkshire businesses will be involved in the event, including marquee hire, security, plant hire, food and drink and specialist event firms, as well as local bands.

Jim Mee, owner of Rat Race Adventure Sports, said £30,000 had been invested in the fireworks and pyrotechnics display alone, above the average amount spent on such events, and said: “We are making significant investments with local businesses and we estimate spending £80,000 in total locally on the production elements of the event. The knock-on benefits for bed and breakfasts, hotels and food and beverage outlets from the high levels of incoming participants are also implicit.”

Rat Race – which also runs a performance sport retail business and bike workshop at Clifton Moor – is encouraging visitors to do their bit for the environment by walking, running and cycling to the event and a staffed bike park will be in operation on the night. The fireworks and special effects will be created and produced by outdoor arts and pyrotechnic specialists Walk The Plank.

For more information about the Gunpowder Plod, to register for the run or book tickets for the fireworks and bonfire event, visit gunpowderplod.com

Other events on November 5 include a bonfire and fireworks, choreographed to music, along with entertainment and refreshments at York Maze. Tickets only.

Organisers of Tockwith and District Show are also hosting their fourth annual bonfire and firework display at the showfield on Cattal Moor Lane on November 5 to raise funds towards next year’s summer show.

Gates open at 6pm, the bonfire will be lit at 6.30pm with fireworks at 7pm. Admission is £3.50 (under 12s free).