Inverness civic bonfire and fireworks display

Photograph courtesy of https://taconeandoscotland.wordpress.com/ 

One of the highlights of the Highland Council’s Inverness Winter Festival takes place on Monday (5th November) when thousands of spectators are expected to assemble in Bught Park and along the banks of the River Ness for the annual Civic Bonfire and Fireworks Display. 

The entertainment will start at 5.30pm with the opening of the funfair at Bught Park. The entertainment around the giant bonfire will commence at 7pm with the arrival of an assortment of mascots; and performances by the Fly Agaric Fire Display Team and the City of Inverness Youth Pipe Band. 

The giant bonfire will be lit by Provost Helen Carmichael at 7.30pm and this year’s twenty minute musical fireworks display will commence at approximately 7.55pm once the crowd has moved from the Shinty Field to the Stadium Field to get the best possible view of the show. 

Drivers are reminded that parking restrictions will be in place around the Bught area on Saturday night with priority access continuing to be given to the Emergency Services, Disabled Drivers and Residents; and all other drivers asked to use the 2800 plus Car Parking Spaces available in the City Centre and park away from the site. 

The importance of spectators parking away from the site was demonstrated last weekend when 15,000 spectators attended the Council’s Halloween Show on Ness Islands; and many families contributed greatly to the success of the event by setting off earlier and walking to the show. 

Spectators attending the bonfire and firework display are asked to note that the Infirmary Bridge will be closed for one hour after the event following the recent review of post event loading on Infirmary Bridge and congestion in the surrounding area.  Spectators will be asked to cross the River Ness by walking through Ness Islands at the end of the display or walking along the River to Ness Bridge. 

Councillor Trish Robertson of the organising Inverness Events and Festivals Working Group said:  “We are grateful to everybody who cooperated by leaving their cars in the city centre car parks and walked to the Halloween Show last weekend. We expect an even larger crowd to attend our Bonfire and Fireworks display on November 5th. We appeal for everyone to plan their visit so that they have time to park well away from the site and walk to joins us.” 

The following temporary road closures will be in place on Monday 5 November: 

• U4158 Ness Walk Upper from its junction with the U3813 Bishops Road to its junction with the U5150 Riverside Gardens, between 20:00 hours and 21:00 hours;
   
• U4158 Ness Walk Upper from its junction with the U3788 Ballifeary Lane to its junction with the U3823 Bught Road, between 17:00 hours and 21:00 hours;
   
• U3823 Bught Road from its junction with the U4158 Ness Walk Upper to its junction with the U3821 Bught Avenue, between 17:00 hours and 21:00 hours;
   
• U3821 Bught Avenue from its junction with the U3823 Bught Road to its junction with the U4690 Bught Lane, between 17:00 hours and 21:00 

A temporary left turn restriction will be in place on the U4158 Ness Walk Upper road with the U5150 Riverside Gardens road. There will also be a temporary one-way restriction going north to south on the U4158 Ness Walk Upper from its junction with the U5150 Riverside Gardens to its junction with the U3788 Ballifeary Lane.