How much would you spend on firework related events?

MinnieSpender

I hang out of my window and watch other people's.

HairyHandofDartmoor

I get to watch the National Firework Championships from my top windows every year. Not bad for nothing (hee, hee).

LookingAhead

Sorry to the OP whose display has come to a close - that is a real shame.

OK I'm going to buck the trend here and maybe get attacked in the process...but here goes.

I *love* firework night it is my favourite night of the year, even better than Christmas actually.

So I will happily jump in the car with my boyfriend and pay for some petrol to drive to Cambridge (about 40 miles away) and watch the free display they have on Midsummer Common. I will throw in a few quid to the bucket as well that comes around. It's a great display and if no-one bothered to contribute, it wouldn't happen and the other people then wouldn't be able to watch 'for free' either - which includes families who haven't got a lot of cash. This provides an evening out for the kids as well as the parents.

Don't get me wrong I do realise that when you are super skint, spending on fireworks is crazy. But if you can afford a few quid and you enjoy the show, I think you should give it.

Also - this is usually a big night out for me cos I love firework night - and still works out cheaper than going out for a meal or on the lash!

Edit: Not sure if the Cambridge City Council also contributes to the display actually but I still don't mind throwing in a few quid as if it is for the next year's display that's cool & if it is for charidee, then that's cool too.

Zippy2006

It annoys me that my local council set up 2 huge displays every year and blow our council tax money up in smoke. Waste of bloody good money I say. That money could pay for another 5 coppers to patrol the unruly streets on saturday nights.

The whole celebration of Guy Fawkes night is overblown and overplayed. Does anyone actual remember what its all about?

They could charge people to watch? - but there again you can't charge people to watch a firework display unless you just set them all off in huge fireproof tent.

MinnieSpender

Zippy2006 wrote:

The whole celebration of Guy Fawkes night is overblown and overplayed. Does anyone actual remember what its all about?

:wave: ME! I do!

LookingAhead

Well you know what they say.....you can't please all of the people all of the time.........

I think this is true of all events or "holidays" in the UK.

If it's Christmas, people complain about the over commercialism of it all (though that's true!), Easter too, Guy Fawkes Night...see above and I'm sure Zippy isn't the only one who thinks like that.

There was a Half Marathon in my city at the weekend which was a great social event, yet we had loads of people complaining because the roads were closed off for a few hours even though the event probably raised thousands for charity and bought lots of cash into the city through tourism.

Nobody seems to just relax and enjoy the social side of anything anymore which is sad really.

Never mind, perhaps with all the discontent in the world at the moment, maybe someone will start a world war and then we won't have to worry about any of it anymore!

jessicamb

I'm another fireworks wuss too . I dont like the "bangs" at all. But if people are going to a display I'm sure it can be done economically. Maybe even a couple of quid in it for you if you organised the toffee apples/toffee stalls

LJD1_2

I never used to do anything for firework night. Now I take the children to our local display and it costs about £15. Ok, it may not be dfw friendly but we have about 30 mins of fireworks and the children love being out in the dark, wrapped up warm etc. However, in true dfw fashion, I take our own food, I take our own glow in the dark wavy things and I take flasks of hot chocolate and hip flasks with something stronger for me and my hubby. We're they're for about three hours and we all have a ball. The wetter and muddier the better!

LookingAhead

Good for you LJD1....some of my happiest memories of childhood are of the local firework display...walking down in the cold and loving every minute of it. I hope your children will be the same.

LJD1_2

My two can't wait! It's the same for halloween. They love all of it even though I only let them trick or treat pre arranged houses, they wear home made costumes (and they make mine!) and we have a party before hand which is the good old fashioned fun of murder in the dark and bob the apple. I'm still not sure who loves it more, me or the children. All parties at this house are very dfw friendly. When people ask me what they should bring forget the polite 'oh nothing', i have a list ready and let them choose! It usually gives my two treats for a week as we never eat everything that people bring. Roll on party time! Our animals love it too. They sit in the conservatory watching the flashing lights etc. We don't let them out, we give them a dark room to stay in but they don't seem to want to miss the fun. Very odd!