Bonfire night, Guy Fawkes night, Fireworks night…however you like to refer to it, the event will be celebrated across the country over the next couple of weeks.

Bonfire night is traditionally celebrated throughout Britain to commemorate the capture of Guy Fawkes who, as part of a group of 13 men called the conspirators, plotted to blow up the houses of Parliament with 36 barrels of gunpowder to do away with the Government. As the group worked on the plot, it became clear that innocent people would be killed and one of the group members sent an anonymous letter warning his friend Lord Monteagle to stay away from the Parliament on 5^th November. The warning letter reached the King, and as a result, Guy Fawkes, who was in the cellar of the parliament with the gunpowder in the early hours of 5^th November was caught and executed.

On the night that the gunpowder plot was foiled; on 5^th November 1605, the people lit bonfires to celebrate the King’s safety. Every year since then we celebrate Bonfire Night with fireworks and the burning of the Guy, though some say that there is an uncertainty whether we are honouring this event celebrating Guy Fawkes’ executions, or whether it is to honour his attempt to overturn the government!

If you are looking for somewhere to celebrate Fireworks night, here are a few local places that are honouring this tradition:

• Central Oxford: Oxford Round Table’s 52^nd Annual Charity Fireworks Display, at South Park. Saturday 2^nd November. Gates open at 16:30 fireworks start at 18:45 with a spectacular firework display, enormous bonfire, fully licenced bar and funfair  https://oxfordfireworks.co.uk/

• West Oxford: Friends of Botley School are running their annual fireworks event on Tuesday 5^th November at Botley School. Gates open at 6pm with the display starting at 7.15pm. Tickets are available on the door.
• North Oxford: Kidlington Firework display to music, at Stratfield Brake Recreation Ground – Tuesday 5^th November. Gates open at 18:00. Fireworks 19:00 prompt. Great food and refreshments available before and after fireworks, bar and small children’s fun fair rides. http://www.kidlington-pc.gov.uk/_VirDir/CoreContents/News/Display.aspx?id=23988

• Banbury: Harriers Banbury Academy PTFA’s Fireworks – Thursday 7^th November. Gates open at 5pm for a family friendly bonfire night with hot food and drinks. http://www.harriers-aspirations.org/60/calendar/event/864/ptfa-fireworks
• Witney: Witney Lakes Fireworks Night- Friday 8^th November. Gates open at 19:00 for hot drinks and BBQ food with the display starting at 20:00 https://www.witneylakes.com/event/fireworks-night/
• Abingdon: Abingdon Airfield.  Saturday 9^th November 16:00 – 2100. There will be an enormous bonfire and a Pyromusical firework display, giant fun fair, entertainers, hot food and drink and some extra surprises! Musical theme will be “Back to the 90s”  https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/xplosiveevents/abingdon-bonfire/e-yoqxaj?fbclid=IwAR3CwbMltLUUjomutzQdjhyIFcawmFRuUkxlbqFjX3EcA-Y4O0jRF4oN1Bc

• Bicester: Bicester Road Table Firework Display and Bonfire- Pingle Field, Oxford Road. Saturday 9^th November. Gates open at 18:00. Fireworks display including a funfair, bonfire, food and drink. Tickets are available via Nando’s, Paula Jane Boutique, Bicester Village Visitors’ Centre, Facebook or on the door. https://www.facebook.com/events/pingle-field/bicester-round-table-fireworks-display-2019/410378369651066/

• East Oxford: Thame Fireworks display at Lord Williams Lower School – Saturday 9^th November. Refreshments served in the Sports Hall from 17:30. Display starts 18:30. Due to the display being held in the school grounds, please note: no smoking, no sparklers, to glass, no animals, thank you. http://www.thameschoolsfireworks.co.uk/