Whitehaven’s first major fireworks display for seven years is set to go ahead alongside this year’s Christmas markets.
The annual market will see the return of over 30 Cumbrian food and craft stalls alongside a new fireworks display on the harbour organised by Whitehaven Town Council.
The display will be timed to music and launched by the council’s mayor councillor Charles Maudling. The show will take place on the Old Quay in line with Lowther Street.
The idea to add the firework display to the Christmas market came from local business owner and former event planner Gerard Richardson.
He said: “Marlene Jewell, the town council clerk asked me to come out of event ‘retirement’ for want of a better description, as I’d stopped doing festivals several years ago. The traders markets were one of the first ideas we agreed on and they have been running successfully for three years now.
“For the fireworks, I just decided that this year had been so full of bad news that the town needed a proper lift, and one of the most popular elements of the Maritime Festivals that I used to organise were the fireworks displays. The one next week on the market day is a short but very concentrated display with a view to growing it in future years if they are well received again.”
Stallholders will be selling seasonal gifts and festive activities for children will be in place, including a bouncy castle and illuminated snow globe.
Marlene of Whitehaven Town Council added: “There will be lots of great things to buy and lots of good ideas for Christmas presents. The firework display is only a short display, but it will be spectacular!”
The markets will take place in St Nicholas Gardens on December 2 from 10am to 4pm and the fireworks show will start at 5.15pm.
