Inverness bonfire and fireworks display

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

The evening’s entertainment will start at the earlier time of 5.30pm with the opening of the funfair and at 6.15pm a fundraising Fire Walk will take place in aid of the MS Therapy Centre.

The entertainment around the 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.

This year’s display will feature music from Disney films such as “Frozen” which is appropriate given that the weather for the evening is likely to be the coldest for a number of years due the cold winds forecast to be sweeping across Scotland from the north.

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 2,800 plus Car Parking Spaces available in the City Centre.

In the weeks leading up this year’s Festival a review was undertaken by the Council, Police Scotland and Ballifeary Community Council of the traffic management arrangements for major events in the Bught Area as a result of a reduction in the number of parking places around Bught Park due to the Western Bypass construction work.

The new traffic management plans worked well last weekend during the Halloween Show; with residents helping Police Scotland and the Council’s Traffic Enforcement Officers by displaying the special passes that had been delivered to every home in the run up to the event; and drivers helping the Council by setting off earlier parking in the City Centre and walking to the event.

Councillor Graham Ross of the organising Inverness Events and Festivals Working Group said: “We are so grateful to everybody who helped us by leaving their cars in the city centre car parks and walking to the show last weekend. As well as delivering a spectacular show for everybody to enjoy on Saturday; we have to ensure that we look after everybody in the area on the night. We are repeating our appeal for every family to help us by parking away from the site on the night.”