Thousands of people attended public firework displays across Manchester on Saturday night, as the council brought back events at Heaton Park, Platt Fields and Wythenshawe Park following a seven-year absence.
The displays returned two nights after Bonfire Night, with free, family-friendly firework shows staged at the city's three main parks. No bonfires were held at any of the events.
Two displays at each park
Organisers staged two different displays at each park. The first, at 5pm, was a reduced-noise, low-impact show designed for families and people with special educational needs. The main firework displays followed at 8pm at all three parks.
Major firework events had been paused in 2019 following the Covid-19 pandemic, when funding challenges led the council to invest in community-focused events across the city's parks through the autumn season instead of the major one-off firework displays.
Lantern workshops and parades
Each of the three parks hosted lantern-making workshops in the weeks leading up to the events, with family-friendly lantern parades taking place ahead of the 8pm firework shows.
Across the rest of Greater Manchester, other councils put on displays alongside a number of private events.
Council leader welcomes return
Ahead of the events, Coun Garry Bridges, leader of Manchester City Council, said: "I'm delighted we're keeping the fireworks this year in Manchester.
"Residents tell us how important it is to create opportunities for our communities to come together and celebrate. Our fireworks display is exactly one of those events that bridge culture and background – and so it's fantastic to bring back these free community displays that give families, friends and neighbours a shared experience – and without cost being a barrier.
"I've been to the fireworks show in Manchester pretty much every year we've held them and I've seen how much they are valued by residents of all cultures and backgrounds."
