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Cancelled: York’s biggest fireworks display has been called off

Photograph: Jingda Chen / Unsplash
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One of York’s main organised fireworks displays has been cancelled.

The North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service Community Firework Display at Rawcliffe Park had been set to go ahead on Saturday.

Described as ‘the biggest yet’, it has had to be called off due to poor ground conditions at the venue, caused by the recent heavy rainfall.

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The event, which has run since 2014, is hugely popular with families. It also raises thousands of pounds for the Fire Fighters Charity.

One of the organisers, firefighter Terence Gregg, said:

  • The annual fire service bonfire and firework display held at Rawcliffe Park in aid of The Fire Fighters Charity unfortunately has had to be cancelled due to ground conditions at the venue.

    We apologise for the cancellation of this event. It has been a hard decision to make but due to the recent weather conditions has made the field unsuitable for use.

    We appreciate everyone who has attended and supported this event in the past and hope to be back in 2020.

Alternative venue

A notice at Rawcliffe Country Park showing the cancellation. Photograph: Terence Gregg on Facebook
The charity tried to find an alternative location for the event.

But it attracts 5,000 people and so it proved impossible to find a venue that could accommodate so many people at such short notice.

Terence told YorkMix: “It’s really sad that it has had to be cancelled. The event has been built up from nothing and gone from strength to strength and has had a great following of supporters.

“Even though we put things in place for vehicle traffic the ground conditions have become impossible this year due to the recent weather.”


The Rawcliffe Country Park fireworks display included a bonfire, laser show, funfair rides, live music and food stalls.

Last year it raised more than £14,000 for the Fire Fighters Charity, which provides rehabilitation and support services for fire service personnel and their dependants.

Its cancellation is also a blow for York, leaving the city of Guy Fawkes with few alternative Bonfire Night festivities.

 
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