Public Report

Consultation
Annual Fireworks Spectacular 2008

Consultation Dates
08/11/2008 - 28/11/2008

Backgound
The Lancaster Fireworks Spectacular & Day of Themed Events was first staged in 1993, as part of the celebrations launching the (at that time) new floodlighting scheme around Lancaster Castle & Priory. It has been held every year since then, on the Saturday nearest to 5th November. The range of modest daytime activities, leading up to the evening fireworks display, are staged to broaden the appeal of the event, and to attract visitors to Lancaster for the day, rather than for just the evening and, in doing so, promote some of Lancaster’s historic buildings and attractions. Each year, they follow a theme, which is tied into an anniversary, a seasonal festival or an aspect of the City’s history.

This year the theme was ‘The 1605 Gunpowder Plot’. Events and entertainments included contextual period music sessions, with Tudor and Jacobean music, performed by costumed musicians, in the Judges’ Lodgings Museum and the Penny Almshouses chapel; two talks, entitled ‘1605 Gunpowder Plot: The Lancaster Dimension’ and ‘Guy Fawkes in Perspective’, in the Judges’
Lodgings and St Peter’s Cathedral Social Centre; two guided walks, exploring Lancaster, as it was at the time of the Plot and storytelling sessions, by renowned Lakeland storyteller, Taffy Thomas, in the City’s Maritime Museum.

During the course of the day, there were also a number of street entertainments planned to take place in and around Market Square – these were separately organised by the Lancaster Independent Network of Traders and were not under the management of the City Council. The evening fireworks display is held on Castle Hill, with the Priory Churchyard (owned by Lancaster Priory and managed by the City Council as public open space) and Castle Green (owned by Duchy of Lancaster, managed by County and City Council’s and Home Office) providing the main viewing area. An alternative public viewing area, across the city at Williamson Park is jointly promoted. Crowds also gather at other vantage points such as Morecambe road, along the River Lune, the Carlisle and Millennium bridges, on the quay meadow at the rear of the Wagon & Horses and George & Dragon public houses and even on Lancaster railway station. It has been estimated that within the greater Castle Hill site, 10,000 spectators normally gather. The event starts at 6pm, when the concessions open and the ‘build-up’ music soundtrack begins. Admission is free of charge and people begin to arrive from this time onwards. The fireworks themselves are launched at 8pm, with the display lasting approximately 22 minutes. The evening traditionally ends with the ringing of the Priory Church bells, as the crowds disperse.

Results Summary
A paper survey was planned although due to weather conditions could not take place. There were 40 responses to the online questionnaire.

The majority of respondents were satisfied with the events, a range of media had informed them about the events and a wide range of comments were made, both positive and negative.

What Next
The results will be used to improve future concerts (subject to financial decisions)

Contact Details
Jason Mills, Performance & IT Manager.

Telephone:01524 582830
Email: jmills@lancaster.gov.uk