Fireworks spectacular to light up the Aberdeen sky

30 October 2017

Thousands of people are expected to descend on Aberdeen beach on Sunday 5 November for this year’s Fireworks Spectacular.

Hosted by Northsound 1’s Jeff and Lauren in the Morning, the annual free event, which is organised by Aberdeen City Council, will include fire jugglers and a charity firewalk from 6.30pm, with the main fireworks display at 7.30pm.

Created by Fireworx Scotland, the display is the culmination of weeks of preparation – selecting music, planning and designing the show, picking and preparing the best products for the display, and finally setting up and delivering the show on Sunday 5 November - this year’s display promises to bring the wow factor.

Aberdeen City Council Culture spokesperson Councillor Marie Boulton said: “The annual fireworks spectacular is always a highlight on the Aberdeen events calendar.

“There was great disappointment last year when we took the decision to cancel the event in the interest of public safety due to high winds, so we have been working with Fireworx Scotland to bring a display that’s bigger, better, and with musical accompaniment featuring songs from popular children’s films that are sure to entertain all the family.

“The fireworks event annually attracts over 12,000 people which creates a fantastic family atmosphere, but with this in mind we highly recommend people take advantage of the park and ride services that will be in operation on the night”.

Local charity Inspire will also be hosting their fire-walk, where brave barefoot fire-walkers will tackle the hot coals to raise money for this worthwhile cause, so I would strongly urge everyone to get down early and show their support”.

Inspire, provide a wide range of services for people with learning disabilities and additional support needs throughout the North-east of Scotland.

Andrew Reid, Development Team Leader for Inspire commented: “We are delighted to be involved with such a highly-anticipated event. This is our eighth consecutive year doing the fire-walk and everyone at Inspire is looking forward to the event.”

“The fire-walk generates funding which enables us to maximise the care offering we provide to the people we support. The previous walks have been well attended so we are hoping for a really positive turn-out.”

In addition to the fire-walk, daredevils looking for some adventure before the fireworks display can head to Transition Extreme for their Glow Night High Rope event, from 4 – 9pm. Under 16’s require adult consent.

The best vantage points for the fireworks display are around the Beach Boulevard, Queen’s Links and Esplanade areas. Disabled parking is available to Blue Badge holders, on Links Road with access via Urquhart Road on a first-come, first-served basis.

People are advised they should not bring alcohol or fireworks to the display; however sparklers can be brought to the event if used responsibly. There will be clearly marked sparkler bins for safe disposal. All other rubbish should be disposed of in the dedicated bins.

More than 12,000 people attend the event every year so roads are closed to ensure everyone can enter, watch and leave the Queens Links area safely. There are no dedicated parking spaces, so people are advised to walk or get buses to the event as nearby roads are likely to be extremely busy.

For those visitors who chose to park in the surrounding area, please ensure that you follow temporary and existing parking restrictions, and expect delays when leaving at the end of display.

Park and Ride buses are available from Bridge Don, Kingswells and Souter Head Road at Aberdeen Altens Hotel (formerly Altens Thistle Hotel).

Road closures and waiting restrictions are as follows:

Road Closures

From 2pm to 10pm on Sunday 5 November 2017

Greyhope Road – full length

From 5.30pm to 9pm on Sunday 5 November 2017

Beach Boulevard – full length Links Road from its junction at Beach Retail Park (ASDA) to the

roundabout at the Beach Ballroom

Esplanade from a point just north of Accommodation Road southwards to

the roundabout at Burger King

Accommodation Road – full length Cotton Street – full length Constitution Street – full length Urquhart Road from its junction at Park Road to its junction at Links Road Miller Street from its junction at Castle Terrace to its junction at Garvock

Wynd

From 7.45pm to 8.30pm on Sunday 5 November 2017

Park Street at its junction with Justice Port Roundabout (Beach Boulevard roundabout) Commerce Street at its junction with Justice Port Roundabout (Beach Boulevard roundabout)

From 9pm to 11pm on Sunday 5 November 2017

Beach Boulevard – between its junctions with its south junction to Links

Road and its north junction to Links Road

Road Restrictions

From 5.30pm to 9pm on Sunday 5 November 2017

No right turn from the entry road at Sunset Boulevard on to Links Road No right turn from Queens Links Leisure Park car park on to Links Road No left turn from Beach Retail Park car park on to Links Road No left turn from Wales Street on to Beach Boulevard No right turn from Hanover Street on to Beach Boulevard Exit from Doubletree by Hilton Hotel is by right turn on to Links Road and

no left turn on to Constitution Street

Waiting Restrictions

From 6pm on Saturday 4 November to 9pm on Sunday 5 November 2017

Links Road from its junction at Beach Esplanade to its junction at Urquhart Road

(Only Blue Badge holders will be accommodated for disabled parking)

Beach Boulevard – full length Cotton Street – full length Urquhart Road from its junction at Links Road to its junction at Park Road Esplanade, both sides, from Beach Boulevard to Accommodation Road South side of Greyhope Road, between its junctions with St. Fittick’s Road and Sinclair Road Beach front parking bays opposite number 1a and 1 (Nobles) Esplanade

Width Restrictions

From 9am to 11pm on Sunday 5 November 2017

To allow access for delivery of fireworks and the Park and Ride bus service from Bridge of Don.

Beach Esplanade from its junction with King Street/Ellon Road to its Junction with Links Road (Roundabout).