Even though it’s over 400 years since the 1605 Gunpowder Plot when Guy Fawkes and his mates plotted and failed in their mission to blow up the Houses of Parliament and assassinate King James 1st, we still like to celebrate the event by setting fire to stuff, scoffing toffee apples and sticking bangers up cats’ wossnames!
And although some of our current crop of Parliamentary MPs could indeed benefit from rockets up their backsides, these days very few people outside of Bridgwater, (where Fawkes is a local hero and there’s a statue dedicated to the man outside of the Nat West bank) actually think about the origins of Bonfire Night or even consider this, one of the UK’s oldest customs. Instead we just want to “oooh” and “aaah” at pretty displays while socialising with others and quite frankly there’s nothing at all wrong with that.
This year however, organised displays seem a bit thin on the ground around Glastonbury even though November 5thactually falls on a Saturday evening. In fact Street Football Ground is hosting the only nearby major event I know of, and Street FC is actually holding its annual event, with a bar and food on Sunday 6th November with gates opening at 6.30 and the display commencing at 7.30. Admission is Adults £5, Children U16 £3, under 5s Free, while a family ticket admitting 2 adults and 2 or 3 children is £15.
Further afield, in Shepton Mallet, is a Grand Firework Extravaganza, starting at 7pm that actually does take place on Bonfire Night at West Shepton Playing Fields. Admission is £5 per adult and £3 per child and there’s a bar and food. Meanwhile over in Wells, on Friday 4th November from 6pm, is the Wells City Football Club Firework Display. Admission to this one is also £5 per adult and £3 per child,
Of course you can host your own fireworks part which means you’ll firstly need to buy some fireworks, and while they are more tightly regulated now than when I was a young ‘un, there are a few recommended outlets in the area including Toymaster on the Relief Road and News at 10 in Magdalene Street, as well as some of our local supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s in Street and Morrisons in Glastonbury.
Devon and Somerset Fire Service has a list of top tips with regards to both fireworks and bonfires to ensure your night is a safe one, and although much of the advice is just good common sense it is worth giving their advice a quick read to avoid any mishaps. Take a look here as no doubt their weekend will be a busy one without you adding to their workload. And do look out for hedgehogs before lighting your bonfire as although they possibly do make a tasty treat for your partygoers when you are running low on sausages it does seem a shame to roast the poor little critters
Once you’ve got your party organised you may want to try your hand at making a guy (or gal) to sit atop your blazing pyre. Glastonbury and Street’s charity shops the Shaw Trust, PDSA and RSPCA are likely to be the cheaper ones to visit for an outfit for your effigy, although as it is a shame to waste perfectly good clothes by setting fire to them, perhaps you could give your Guy some of your old cast offs and visit the charity shops for a new party outfit!
Will you be hosting a firework display this year or do you know of any other local displays? If so, let us know below.
