Bonfire Night, or Guy Fawkes Night, is rapidly approaching, so it’s time to start planning your fireworks fun. You may face the same dilemma as you do every year – stay at home and plan your own celebrations, or head out to an organised event. Which to choose?

Here are some pros, cons and things to consider for each to help you decide:

Visiting a local fireworks display

For many people, this is the easiest way to get their fireworks fix on Guy Fawkes Night 2018. You don’t have to worry about any of the planning, safety or logistics, or spend any money on fireworks. You simply need to grab the family and turn up, and you’ll often find other attractions such as food stands and fairgrounds at local displays too. You’ll get the benefit of a professional display, which could be truly spectacular.

Planning your own display

There are many benefits to planning your own fireworks, such as avoiding the crowds and not having to pay an entrance fee. You also won’t have to struggle with finding a place to park if the event is popular.

When you run your own fireworks display, you have complete control. You pick the fireworks you want and have fun creating your own unique display. You can even have a go at setting it to music if you like, although be warned – it’s very tricky!

However, there are a lot of things to consider if you’re running the show yourself, including:

• Safety – not having a professional running the display means that you will be responsible for the safety of all involved. Fireworks can be extremely dangerous in the wrong hands, so you’ll need to read all the safety instructions in advance and follow them to the letter. Some people find that this can spoil their enjoyment of the evening, as you need to be on duty (and not anywhere near alcohol) at all times.
• The quality of the display – professional fireworks experts such as the 1^st Galaxy team have decades of experience in the art of crafting sensational fireworks displays. An expert knows which fireworks to choose, how to put them together, how to create tension and excitement and can even set them to music.
• Space – you can only set off fireworks at home if you have enough outdoor space to do it safely. You need to leave the right amount of distance between the ‘firing zone’ and where the spectators will stand, as well as considering where the spent pyrotechnics will fall.
• Your neighbours. Make sure you inform your neighbours well in advance, or even invite them along. This reduces the chances of annoying them and upsetting their pets!

Remember, if you’re buying your own fireworks – do it right. Only buy from trusted suppliers with certified, safe, quality products such as 1^st Galaxy Fireworks. If you need any advice or help from the professionals with planning your display or choosing products, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.