
Preparations are well underway for this year’s Carlisle Fireshow.
Organised by Cumberland Council, it will be held in Bitts Park on Saturday November 4, starting at 6.30pm and celebrate Cumberland, the area and its communities.
There will be centre piece bonfire and more than 2,000 fireworks, set to music, will also light up the sky.
It is the 34th fireshow 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 includes a fairground funfair in Castle car park (formerly known as Devonshire Walk car park).
It is currently in place in the car park and will remain there until 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.
Visitors 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 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.
Can I bring alcohol to Carlisle Fireshow?
Carlisle Fireshow is a family event, and no alcohol will be permitted on site or within the Fireshow Village in Castle car park.
Parking
The majority of Cumberland Council car parks are available for use throughout the day.
Barrier controlled car parks at West Walls and Caldew Riverside – car park closures will be suspended on the evening of Saturday 4 November.
Traffic access
The following temporary traffic arrangements will apply throughout Saturday November 4:
- No vehicle access to Bitts Park.
- No vehicle access to Dacre Road (next 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.
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.
Other important information
Pets are banned from the park.
The sale of glow sticks and other fluorescent items should only be purchased from official sales staff.
The skate park will be closed on the day of the event.