Free Charity Fireworks and Bonfire Night in Southport

FOLLOWING their hugely successful 1st fireworks night in 2017; when over 700 people attended; Lakeside Church Southport is doing it again. Still free, but with more fireworks, and a great bonfire, the event on Saturday, 3 November 2018.  The event begins with the bonfire being lit at 5pm and fireworks display will start approximately 6pm.  Coffee will be served within the upstairs coffee house and outside there will be hot desserts and custard, a toasted marshmallow and waffle station, and we will see the return of Graham Eyes Butchers with 2 Hog Roasts and BBQ a stand. Organiser Si Rigby said:- "The local community had such a great time at our fireworks display last year that we're doing it again. Everyone is welcome."

'The River of Light' is back for 2018

BOTH sides of the River Mersey will be lit up by fireworks, on Sunday, 4 November 2018, with a specially commissioned musical display, on the river Mersey, visible from both sides, Liverpool and Wirral.

'The River of Light 2019'  is entitled:- 'The Elements' and is in association with Royal Liver Building 360.  It will see the return of Titanium Fireworks, who wowed crowds last year with a jaw dropping display along the river Mersey. They are the team behind acclaimed national events including the Mayor of London's New Year's Eve party, Edinburgh's Hogmanay, the launch of Hull's City of Culture year and the opening ceremony for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to line the waterfront in Liverpool and New Brighton for the free spectacle, which will act as the finale for the China Dream season, part of the City's 2018 cultural programme. It is also the final major event for the Imagine Wirral year of culture, creativity and ideas.

Fireworks will be set off from the water's edge and huge barges floating on the Mersey, and will be accompanied by a soundtrack played from key areas and venues along the waterfront.

In Liverpool, there will be a series of arts installations themed around the 5 elements that underpin Chinese philosophy:- water, fire, earth, metal and wood.

In Wirral, the event will be held in New Brighton with entertainment for all the family including the appearance of ghostly pirates, on the Black Pearl.

Liverpool's Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for culture, tourism and events, Councillor Wendy Simon, said:- "We are delighted to be once again working with Titanium, who have an unsurpassed reputation and brought the wow factor to the waterfront last year. We had an overwhelmingly positive response to the 2017 spectacle, so in true Liverpool style we are building on this and bringing in some new surprises. The team are working hard to pull together a fantastic, free, family friendly evening out, showcasing the very best of our world heritage waterfront as one of the final events in our Liverpool 2018 programme marking 10 years since we were European Capital of Culture."

Wirral Council leader, Councillor Phil Davies, said:- "We are thrilled that River of Light is returning following the success of last year's event. These spectacular displays on both sides of the River are becoming a firm highlight of our annual programme and shine a light on our beautiful waterfronts. With family friendly entertainment on offer in the build up to the dazzling fireworks display, it will be an amazing experience for the thousands of residents and visitors who will come to enjoy the show. It has been an incredible year for events like this in Wirral as part of our Imagine Wirral year of culture, creativity and ideas. River of Light will set the scene for another great year in 2019 as we become Liverpool City Region's Borough of Culture."

Sue Grindrod, chief executive of Royal Albert Dock Liverpool and chair of Liverpool Waterfront Business Partnership, said:- "River of Light is a fantastic event for Liverpool and judging by last year's hugely successful spectacular, audiences are yet again in for a visual treat this autumn. Not only does it attract tens of thousands of people to the City, it's a wonderful opportunity to show off the Dock and our incredible UNESCO World Heritage Waterfront to audiences across the world."

People are advised to attend, from 5pm, before the fireworks start, at 6.30pm!

Figures from 2017 show around 90,000 people enjoyed the display on both sides of the river, generating a ₤4 million boost for the economy.

More information on the event, and the best vantage points to see the fireworks and enjoy the street entertainment, will be added to the 'River of Light' website soon, so don't forget to head back to  or join in the conversation on Culture Liverpool's Facebook and Twitter social, and Imagine Wirral on Twitter.

'The River of Light' is sponsored by Royal Liver Building 360, a new tourist attraction being delivered by Heritage Great Britain, planned for the Royal Liver Building, set to open in 2019.