Spark-tacular bonfire night fireworks displays in Scotland

As November approaches, children and adults alike get those words marching round and round:

Remember, remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot

For those who are unfamiliar with this, well, rather unique British custom, it stems back to 1605 when Guy Fawkes (the guy who inspired V from V for Vendetta), failed in his and other Catholic sympathizers’ attempt to blow up both King James I and the Parliament. So the annual bonfire night celebrates Guy Fawkes’ arrest by burning effigies of him, and serves as a reminder that treason would never be forgiven or forgotten. Nice excuse to have a firecracker of a party, isn’t it?

Where can I celebrate?

Here is a quick guide to some of the most spark-tacular (see what I did there?) fireworks displays taking place in Scotland around early November 2019.

Friday 1 November

• Fireworks Night at Dobbies, Milngavie, from 5:30pm

Saturday 2 November

• Fireworks Feast, Haddington, East Lothian, 7:30pm
• Inverclyde Fireworks, Battery Park, Greenock, from 5:30pm
• Hopetoun House Bonfire and Fireworks Night, Queensferry, near Edinburgh, 4-8pm
• Paisley Fireworks Display, Paisley Abbey, from 6:30pm
• Strathaven Fireworks and Bonfire Night, Strathaven Park, South Lanarkshire, from 6:30pm
• Banchory Bonfire and Fireworks Display, King George V Park, Banchory, 6-10:30pm
• Selkirk Firework Display, The Haining House, Selkirk, Scottish Borders, from 6::30pm
• Bonfire Night Celebration, New Douglas Park, Hamilton, 5 – 8pm

Sunday 3 November

• Fireworks Extravaganza, George Watson’s College Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh, from 4pm
• Stonehaven Bonfire and Fireworks Display, Mineralwell Park, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, from 6pm

Monday 4 November

• Airdrie Fireworks Display, Airdrie Leisure Centre, 7:30pm

Tuesday 5 November

• Aberdeen Fireworks Night, Beach Boulevard, 6.30pm
• Stirling and Bridge of Allan Fireworks, Strathallan Games Park, Bridge of Allan, from 5.45pm
• Glasgow Green Fireworks Display, Glasgow Green, from 5pm
• Perth Bonfire Night, South Inch, Perth, 7pm
• Inverness Civic Bonfire and Fireworks Display, Bught Park, Inverness, from 5:30pm
• Burntisland Bonfire and Fireworks, Burntisland Links, from 6pm
• Crieff Guy Fawkes Night, Market Park, from 6:30pm
• Strathclyde Country Park Fireworks Display, Motherwell, Lanarkshire, from 4:30pm
• Callendar Park Fireworks, Callendar Park, Falkirk, from 6:30pm
• Dornoch Bonfire Night, Town Square/Meadows Park, Dornoch, Highlands, from 7pm
• Dundee Bonfire & Fireworks Display, Baxter Park, from 7pm
• Deer Park Annual Fireworks Display, Livingston, 7:30pm

Friday 8 November

• Kintore Fireworks, Kintore primary School, Aberdeenshire, from 6:30pm

For more bonfires and fireworks displays across Scotland, check out our events listings, or search your own local community or council website for details of organised events.

While you ohh and ahh watching the amazing spectacle, remember not to underestimate their destructive power and read the Bonfire night safety guide.

Fireworks – a couple of hot facts

• Did you know that the tremendous boom heard at the end is caused by the air expanding faster than the speed of sound?
• The impressive colours of the fireworks depend on a signature chemicals mix, mainly metal salts and metal oxides, which react to produce an array of colours.

Got any great snaps of Bonfire Night in Scotland? Share them with us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram! You can also find out about other events which are part of Scotland’s magical winter festivals.