Greater Manchester town cancels Bonfire Night celebrations

The ‘Big Bang Bonfire’ has taken place at Oldham Edge playing fields since 2013, with one exception during the 2020 pandemic year. But after more than a decade, the council have decided to adapt the bonfire event into a fireworks display located in the town centre.

A spokesperson for the council suggested the ‘re-look at the event’ was to ‘support local businesses’ by ‘encouraging visitors to explore what our town centre has to offer’. Instead of a large fire, families will be invited to participate in activities in town, including ‘entertainment and crafts’ from 4pm to 6pm, ‘offers’ at ‘various eateries’ in town and the fireworks display at 6pm. 

But the state of council finances are also likely to be a factor. Last year, Oldham spent £55k on the free-to-attend event, up from under £42k in 2022. 

Despite the mark-up, visitor numbers dwindled from 8,000 to 5,000, meaning the price per head more than doubled for the council. 

Oldham is not the first cash-strapped council to turn away from the Guy Fawkes Night tradition. More and more Greater Manchester boroughs are phasing out bonfires – along with the rest of the UK. 

Earlier this month, Manchester City Council revealed none of the eight bonfire and fireworks displays that used to happen across the city would be reinstated. The fires have been on hold since 2019 and councillor Lee-Ann Igbon, who leads on Vibrant Neighbourhoods, this year claimed Manchester council had ‘re-prioritised funding’. 

Bolton and Bury’s council-organised bonfire events have also been cancelled several years in a row. 

The change in Oldham has elicited a mixed response from locals. Some bemoaned the ‘loss of a tradition’, with parents sharing how ‘devastated’ and ‘disappointed’ their kids were on social media. But others argued the move ‘makes sense’ as ‘the town centre needs this.’ 

The town centre event will take place on Tuesday, November 5 from 4pm.