FREE Bonfire Night celebrations

While entry to a typical public display might cost you about £10 per person, the UK is teeming with FREEbonfire events and they’re some of the biggest and best – so if you've got one near you, there's no need to fork out. For ways to save on the journey there, see our cheap train tickets guide.

We've picked out some of our favourite free displays (and thanks to those who tweeted their suggestions too), but there are many, many other free events going on that we haven't mentioned.

Read on to ensure your fireworks night goes off with a bang and doesn't turn out to be a damp squib.

The Tar Barrels of Ottery St Mary, Devon

Tue 5 Nov
An ominous but tantalising warning on The Tar Barrels’ website used to read, 'This event becomes very crowded and you are in close proximity of fire and burning tar barrels. If you are scared by flames and do not like being in crowded areas then this event is not for you!'.

Every year, the central pubs of this East Devon village sponsor a barrel, which is soaked in tar in the days leading up to Bonfire Night. On the night itself, pyromaniacs young and old flock to see the barrels set alight, hoisted onto the backs of residents and carried through the streets.

Each year the event costs more and more to insure, something which the committee tries to cover by selling merchandise and programmes.

Want to carry a flaming barrel yourself? No chance unless you're an Ottery At Mary resident. In many cases it's a generational tradition, with parents passing down the honour to their children.

– MSE Kit

Buckley Bonfire, Flintshire, North Wales

Sun 3 Nov
Organised by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Buckley Bonfire takes place on Higher Common on Hawkesbury Road. Turn up early to make the most of the kids' funfair, then watch as the bonfire is lit (usually by the fire brigade itself) and get ready for the grand spectacle of its music-backed firework display. While entry's free, you'll need to have a few quid at the ready if the children want to go on the rides.

OVER FOR 2019 Civic Bonfire and Fireworks, Inverness

Tue 5 Nov
Taking place in Bught Park Inverness, along the banks of the River Ness, the Civic Bonfire and Fireworks display is as atmospheric as it is explosive. Entertainment will begin at 5.30pm, followed by the fireworks display at 7pm.

Past years have also included parading mascots, fire twirlers and pipe bands, as well as one of the largest bonfires in all of Scotland. The event is free and un-ticketed, so you can simply show up, but it’s wise to set off early and not to rely on nearby parking.

Lewes Bonfire Night Celebrations, East Sussex

Tue 5 Nov
Bonfire Night in Lewes is a huge event commemorating not only Guy Fawkes’ Gunpowder Plot, but the 17 Protestant martyrs of Lewes who were burned at the stake for heresy in the 16th Century.

Each of the bonfire societies creates its own effigy, an ‘enemy of the bonfire’ to parade through the town and then burn atop a bonfire. Past effigies include David Cameron, Harvey Weinstein and Donald Trump. While the procession is free, the various official fire sites are ticketed.

– Joe Foulger

Bridgwater Carnival, Somerset

Sat 2 Nov
A sign on the way into Bridgwater, Somerset reads, 'Welcome to Historic Bridgwater, Home of Carnival'. Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival is a night-time parade which the resident ‘carnival clubs’ plan for all year round, winning myriad tourism awards for its troubles.

Monolithic floats take to the streets, made from hundreds of fairground-style light bulbs, blaring music and presided over by performers. Each float has a theme, which might be anything from The Greatest Showman to the Stone Age.

After the procession the squibbing begins – 200 squibbers line the high street and hold aloft large fireworks attached to poles, creating an ethereal blaze like nothing else.

The main roads leading into the town close earlier in the day and hotel prices double, so this is an event that requires some advance planning.

– Stu Boyland

Some major events aren't happening this year

Sadly, several big fireworks events aren't on this year. One of London’s biggest was Blackheath Fireworks, which drew crowds of up to 100,000, but it's not happened for the last few years. Lewisham Council say it's down to funding cuts.

Heaton Park in Manchester was once the site of a huge yearly bonfire celebration, but Manchester Council has made the decision not to hold it this year, due to 'funding reprioritising'.

Let's hope these events return in the future.

Your own window

If you fancy staying in instead, chances are you’ll still get a glimpse of the festivities from your window.

– Ex-MSE Rhiannon

This is only a small sample of the free Bonfire Night events out there. Check in with your local council to find out what free options you have nearby, or cosy up on your window sill to see what surprises the neighbourhood throws up.Many thanks to those who tweeted us with more crackling suggestions, such as these below:

– Mrs Scarper, via Twitter, 2019

For more free or low-cost outings, see our Cheap days out deals page.

There are many more free fireworks events taking place across the UK. Let us know about your favourites in the comments or by sending a tweet to @MSE_Deals.