Visitors to this year’s Carlisle Fireshow are being asked to dig deep to support local charities.
The event next month is free to attend and a charity collection is held each year.
All donations go towards Rotary in Carlisle and the Great Air Ambulance, the charity supported by the chair of Cumberland Carni McCarron-Holmes and the mayor of Carlisle Abdul Harid’s chosen charities – Cash for Kids, Carlisle Foodbank and Carlisle One World Centre.
Andrew Meggs, of Rotary in Carlisle, said: “Rotary in Carlisle is honoured to be collecting at the event and look forward to supporting local charities with our share of the donations made by the generous people of the city and visitors alike.
“We have been associated with the Fireshow for many years and look forward to many more under the stewardship of Cumberland Council.”
Sara Oldham, of Cash for Kids, added: “We are so delighted that this year’s Fireshow will raise funds to help support Cash for Kids.
“Our mission here at Cash for Kids is to respond to the needs of children in our local communities and we aspire to enable all children to live life to the full and to achieve their individual potential. In Cumbria and South West Scotland, one in four of our children are in child poverty.
“Your donation will stay right here within Cumbria and South West Scotland and will benefit local children who are sick, disabled and disadvantaged.”
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 Carlisle Fireshow will celebrate Cumberland, the area and its communities.
The sparkling event is organised by Cumberland Council and will be held in Bitts Park on Saturday November 4, starting at 6.30pm.
There will be centre piece bonfire and more than 2,000 spectacular sparkling fireworks, set to music, will also light up the sky.
It will be the 34th Fireshow event to be held in Bitts Park and is the biggest event in the region attracting over 35,000 people.
This year’s event is organised with Merlin Fireworks Ltd.
This year’s event programme will include a fairground funfair in Castle car park – formerly known as Devonshire Walk car park – between Wednesday October 25 and Sunday October 29.
On the day of the Fireshow, there will be no fairground and Castle car park will change into a Fireshow Village, offering food and family entertainment to families attending the Fireshow between 5pm and 8.30pm.
Councillor Anne Quilter, Cumberland Council’s executive member for vibrant and healthy places, said: “This year’s event will celebrate the Cumberland area and its communities. As well as a 40ft bonfire, there will thousands of fireworks and it is set to be must-see event not to be missed.”
Carlisle Fireshow is a family event, and no alcohol will be permitted on site or within the Fireshow Village in Castle car park (formerly known as Devonshire Walk car park).
Important information
Parking
The majority of Cumberland Council car parks are available for use throughout the day. Customers are further reminded to read the car park information boards or visit www.cumberland.gov.uk/parking for further information.
Barrier controlled car parks (West Walls and Caldew Riverside) – car park closures will be suspended on the evening of Saturday November 4.
The following temporary traffic arrangements will apply throughout Saturday November 4:
- No vehicle access to Bitts Park.
- No vehicle access to Dacre Road (adjacent to Carlisle Castle and Bitts Park).
- Parking for Blue Badge holders will be available at Castle car park (formerly known as Devonshire Walk 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 Bitts Park car park.
- No vehicle access to Bitts Park from Willowholme or The Sheepmount.
- The skate park will be closed on the day of the event.
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.
