[V]isitors to this year’s Carlisle Fireshow are being asked to dig into the bottom of their pockets and support local charities.
Although the event is free to attend, a charity collection is held each year. All donations go towards the Rotary Club of Carlisle South (which donates most of its fundraising efforts to local good causes), and the Mayor’s Charity Fund, whose main beneficiaries this year are Carlisle Eden Mind, Royal British Legion – Carlisle & Stanwix Branch and Samaritans Carlisle.
Carlisle Eden Mind’s Tara Quinn, Service Manager said: “Carlisle Eden Mind relies on your generosity to deliver much needed mental health and wellbeing workshops, self-harm awareness and suicide prevention training to children and young people in schools, adults in the workplace and to members of the community. One in four people will experience a mental health problem every year. Half of them say that the associated isolation and shame is worse than the condition itself.
“The suicide rate in Cumbria is still above the national average. A minimum of one person each week, in Cumbria, takes their own life. It is more important now, than ever, to inform and educate ourselves and break the stigma of mental health so that we can build a stronger, more resilient community. We support people in the Carlisle and Eden districts, with your help and generosity. We thank you all in advance for your continued support and kind donations.”
Judith Reay, Community Fundraiser – Cumbria and the Isle of Man added: “As a result of the public’s support in the last year The Royal British Legion has been able to answer more than 1,077,019 requests for help from the Armed Forces community. Our Cumbria Area Welfare Team is here to help. If you are serving, have served or are the dependent or carer of someone who has served in the UK’s Armed Forces, then you are eligible for our help. The Royal British Legion’s support takes many forms, and happens in unexpected ways in unexpected places. The Armed Forces community often live dispersed within the civilian population and the Legion’s support extends to wherever it is needed, whenever they need us. Our Welfare Team works in all postcodes across the county supporting our Cumbrian Armed Forces Community. So thank you from us all at the Royal British Legion for supporting the Poppy Appeal and helping our Armed Forces community live on.”
Louise Fawcett, Director of Samaritans, Carlisle said: “Samaritans volunteers are trained to listen. We offer our callers a safe place to explore their thoughts and feelings and work out a way forward. Our vision is that fewer people die by suicide, although you don’t have to be suicidal to get in touch with us. We can be contacted by phone, e-mail, text and face to face at our centre in Botchergate. It costs over £400 a week to run so every donation is appreciated and put to very good use. Last year Samaritans across the U.K. answered 5.7 million calls so it is a service that is very much needed. It is free to call us on 116 123.”
Volunteers will be holding charity buckets on the entrance to the event and organisers are asking the Fireshow’s adult spectators to consider giving at least £2 each.
This year’s Bitts Park Fireshow will be held on Saturday 4 November and will be celebrating its 30th anniversary.
Themed on the last three decades, the centre piece of the 30 foot bonfire will be giant box of fireworks with a colourful array of rockets and lots of whizzes and bangs. The firework display will follow the bonfire and will include 2,000 spectacular sparkles and giant Catherine Wheel.
It will be the 30th Fireshow event staged by Carlisle City Council.
Pre-entertainment will start at 6.45pm and the Bitts Park bonfire lit at 7pm. A fairground will be open from 5.30pm on Castle car park (formerly known as Devonshire Walk car park).
Carlisle Fireshow is a family event and no alcohol will be permitted on site or within the fairground in Devonshire Walk car park.
More than 35,000 people are expected to attend the City Council event, organised in conjunction with Merlin Fireworks Ltd.
Fireshow Facts
- Carlisle Fireshow began in 1987 as a community event designed to bring local families together for a fun night out in a safe environment. Around 200 people were expected to attend the first event however it attracted a 2,000 strong crowd.
- The 1987 Fireshow was held on October 31st.
- In 1990 there were four bonfires. A giant bonfire now forms the centrepiece of each event.
- Up until 1994, the fireworks for the Fireshow were released from inside the grounds of Carlisle Castle keep and battlements.
- The Carlisle Fireshow has developed in to one of the biggest events of its kind in the UK, attracting a 35,000 strong crowd each year and is listed in The Times Top 10 bonfire list.
- Admission to the event is free but a collection is made for the Mayor’s Charity Fund and the Rotary Club Carlisle (South).
Parking/Access information & Safety Advice
All City Council car parks are free after 6pm, some other car parks may charge. The following temporary traffic arrangements will apply throughout the day:
- No vehicle access to Bitts Park.
- No vehicle access to Dacre Road (adjacent to Carlisle Castle and Bitts Park).
- Limited parking for Blue Badge holders will be available at Bitts Park car park. This will be available on a first come, first served basis with the last entry at 5.45pm. Vehicles parked within this car park will not be able to leave until 8.30pm.
- No parking in Castle car park, formerly known as Devonshire Walk car park (other than for permit holders).
- No vehicle access to Bitts Park from Willowholme or The Sheepmount.
- The skate park will be closed from 4.30pm on the day of the event.
- The Bitts Park play area, tennis courts and Urban Adventure will remain open as normal.
Access
A special viewing area for people with disabilities including wheelchair users will be set aside on the Sheepmount Road. Up to two carers allowed on the viewing area per individual.
After the event has ended, those wanting to walk to the west of the city will be filtered to the right of Devonshire Walk (towards Caldewgate and the pedestrian crossing opposite the former Globe public house) and those wanting to walk into the city centre will be filtered to the left and will then be able access Castle Street across Castle Way (between the barriers opposite the Castle).
Safety
Visitors are asked to note that by the very nature of the event, smoke, noise, embers and mud underfoot, are inevitable. All are requested to be mindful of the risks and to come prepared for such eventualities: warm clothing and suitable footwear.
For safety reasons, no fireworks of any kind (including sparklers) are allowed into this event. Pets are also prohibited from the park: they should be kept safely at home to avoid any possible distress. The sale of glow sticks and other fluorescent items should only be purchased from official sales staff based in and around the fairground.
