Manchester fireworks displays 2021: best Bonfire Night events this year - and things to do to celebrate

Manchester City Council may have reluctantly cancelled its bonfire and fireworks events - but there will still be other celebrations going on across Greater Manchester on 5 November.

The local authority decided its eight council-run events for Guy Fawkes Night would not run in 2021 due to worries about rising case rates of the novel coronavirus.

Tens of thousands of people would normally gather at major green spaces in Manchester for the celebrations.

However, the traditional celebrations to mark Guy Fawkes Night have not been scrapped everywhere.

Here are a few places around the city-region where bonfires and fireworks will still be lighting up the night sky on 5 November.

Which places in Greater Manchester are staging bonfire and fireworks events?

The Big Bang Bonfire, organised by Oldham Council, is going ahead on Thursday 4 November.

Last year’s event had to be cancelled due to Covid but this year’s is going to happen at its usual venue of Oldham Edge Playing Fields on Henshaw Street.

It’s always a loud and thrilling display, and Oldham Council’s website says there will be fire-themed entertainment and a spectacular show from UK champions Fantastic Fireworks.

Wigan Council is also going ahead with its display at Haigh Woodland Park where it is putting on a Family Fireworks Spectacular.

It is pulling out all the stops for Friday 5 November with entertainment including a magic and LED puppet show, a high-energy light spinning show, music from Irish and folk act Banjaxed and local solo artist Joe Astley and the fireworks provided by national champions SM ART Pyro.

Sedgley Tigers RUFC has a Bonfire Night celebration planned for its home venue on Park Lane in Whitefield.

It is promising all the traditional entertainment for Friday 5 November as well as tombolas, sweet stalls and warming food.

Rochdale Cricket Club is also putting on an event on Friday 5 November and is promising a big party which includes performances by DJ Jimmy Mush and a vinyl countdown as well as the traditional bonfire and fireworks.

Aldwinians RUFC is having a fireworks night on Sunday 7 November at Audenshaw Park in Manchester with a fairground, food and drink and music. You can buy tickets for £5 each or £15 a family from www.aldwinians.co.uk/fireworks

In Manchester city centre, Escape to Freight Island at Mayfield Depot has two fireworks events on 5 November but these have sold out.

There are a couple of events taking place into the weekend too.

On Saturday 6 November Poynton Park hosts the 48th charity bonfire and fireworks event for South Manchester and Stockport, with Poynton Round Table in charge of the festivities.

Due to Covid-19 tickets will have to be bought in advance and the bar will be cashless only.

Denton West Cricket Club will be staging its event on 6 November too.

The club put out a statement in the wake of Manchester City Council scrapping its events explaining it would be continuing and saying exactly how it intends to make sure the event is Covid-secure.

On Sunday 7 November Aldwinians RUFC stages its Fireworks Extravaganza.

There are plans for a lavish celebration, with the fireworks set to go off in time with music, fairground rides, food stalls, traditional games and a DJ.