Peterborough’s Firework Fiesta looks set to have broken attendance records this year…
While final figures are still being totted up for the event sponsored by BGL Group company Fusion Contact Centre, organisers expect visitor numbers to have reached around 10,000 and hope to have raised £20,000 for local charities and good causes.
The event, which took place at Peterborough Arena at the East of England Showground on Saturday November 1, lived up to its reputation as the biggest and best firework display in East Anglia, with a spectacular, safe pyrotechnic show and great family entertainment.
The weather stayed dry and fine so visitors could enjoy the spectacular display of fireworks choreographed to music. The display was provided by Titanium, the company behind the celebration fireworks at this year’s Commonwealth Games and New Year displays in London and Edinburgh, and took 2 weeks to design and put together.
The event provided a full evening of family entertainment, with live music by Hooker, Peter Jay and Digital K.I.D. and a funfair. The ESP promo team were there handing out copies of the November issue and the ‘Build a Guy Fawkes’ competition was won by Heltwaite School, who received £250 prize money.
Colin Harrison, Chairman of the Firework Fiesta committee told us, “All the hard work and things like worrying about what the weather will do is worth it when you see people enjoying themselves on the night. It feels wonderful that everything went well!”
Over the years Firework Fiesta has raised around £500,000 for small, local charities and good causes, all specifically chosen because they haven’t received grants or any government funding. These have included Family Voice, Peterborough Association for the Blind, YMCA Youth Counselling Service, Alzheimer’s Society Peterborough, Macmillan Cancer Support, Peterborough Women’s Aid, Peterborough Food Bank, Unity Allstars Gold, Families First, Welland Pre-school, WerringtonUnder 13, Little Miracles and Sense.
This year the proceeds are being shared between Sue Ryder New Thorpe Hall Hospice as well as continuing to support other local charities. Thorpe Hall Hospice fundraiser Jo Marriott reflects on what the funds raised by the event will mean to the charity.
“The Firework Fiesta is one of the key events on the Peterborough calendar and we are thrilled to be involved. Building of the new hospice at Thorpe Hall started in September – a really important milestone for the hospice and the community we serve. But we still have a long way to go towards raising the £6 million we need to actually pay for the building so this kind of support is very much appreciated.”
Photos: Chris Brudenell for ESP Magazine