A dark November night will explode into colour when Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier stages the latest of its popular Fireworks at Sea spectaculars.
The event, on Saturday 9th November, is extra special because the seafront attraction has joined forces with a well-known local charity to help its 30th anniversary celebrations go with a bang.
The event has been re-named Weston Hospicecare’s Fireworks at Sea as a tribute to the organisation which was founded in 1989.
The Grand Pier is perfectly positioned to offer the very best views of a breath-taking pyrotechnic display, and tickets to ensure you get a prime position are available now.
Previous Fireworks At Sea events have drawn large crowds to the promenade. This year, the Pier is collaborating with North Somerset Council’s dedicated seafront team and volunteers from Weston Hospicecare to ensure that parking is made easier by providing dedicated areas on the Beach Lawns.
Hollie Otley, Events Manager at the Pier, said: “At previous events it was often difficult to know where to park vehicles for those visitors who came to the sea front to watch the display and go home.
“We were concerned that this year, being the day after Weston Carnival celebrates its 50th year, and celebrating Weston Hospicecare’s 30th year, there may be even bigger crowds. We decided to work together with North Somerset Council to ensure that the parking is more structured.”
Paul Hillman, Venues, Seafront and Events Manager at North Somerset Council, said: “We have been working closely with the Grand Pier to create a traffic management plan for Marine Parade that will make clear areas to park and safer pathways for pedestrians to walk to the prom and see the display.
“This will result in an increase in the number of parking spaces available, as well as ensure a smoother flow of traffic once the display has finished.”
For a small charge of £2 per vehicle, cars will be able to park on the Beach Lawns from 6pm until the end of the display. All the money collected from cars which park in this convenient location will be donated to Weston Hospicecare.
The charity provides care for those with life-limiting illnesses, and supports their loved ones, maximising their quality of life and assisting with their symptoms to make their moments together as special as they can be.
Weston Hospicecare has annual running costs of some £4.2 million every year, but only gets 19 percent of its funding from the Government.
Weston Hospicecare’s Events Manager, Grace Dibden, said: “The Grand Pier has been a generous long-term supporter of Weston Hospicecare, and we are delighted that this support has been extended to include this special event as part of our 30th anniversary year.
“We’re also enormously grateful to North Somerset Council for contributing staff and space on the seafront for parking to help raise money for the hospice.
“Fireworks At Sea is a truly spectacular pyrotechnic display, and we would encourage everyone to head to the Pier to enjoy the show, knowing they will also be heop9ing a vital community charity.”
Hollie added: “We hope that re-branding the Fireworks at Sea event will help raise the charity’s profile even further in their milestone year and help raise more funds in support of the wonderful work they do.
“People often travel to see fireworks shows, and we have timed our event in 2019 to provide the perfect opportunity to come to our wonderful town for a weekend.
“The day before our firework show is the amazing annual Weston Carnival procession, celebrating its 50th year, so this would be a great time to visit the town; with the carnival one night and our fireworks display the next night. It will definitely not be a dark November weekend, and you can support a superb charity as well.
“If you stay for the Sunday, you can also pay your respects and watch the annual Remembrance Sunday parade and commemorations in the town centre.”
Full event information, tickets and timings can be found online at grandpier.co.uk/events/fireworks-at-sea-november-1
If you would like to find out more about Weston Hospicecare, visit westonhospicecare.org.uk