Bonfire night bash set to sparkle once again
Organisers have confirmed that Blairgowrie and Rattray’s fireworks celebration for bonfire night will take place this year – but in a different format to previous events.
The event has been organised by volunteers from Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council (BRCC) for the last few years but in 2020 was one of hundreds of events up and down the country that was forced to cancel due to the global coronavirus pandemic.
It has traditionally been held in Davie Park and featured a huge bonfire, a spectacular fireworks display and food and drink outlets.
This year, there will be no bonfire and the fireworks display will be in the town centre.
Community council chair, Morag Young, has been the driving force behind bringing the bonfire night celebrations back to the town.
She said: “Members of the community council are very keen to do their bit to help things return to normal as Covid regulations relax, so we are planning to host a partial bonfire night event this year – partial in as much as we’ll be having the fireworks element but not the actual bonfire itself. “This is for two reasons. “Firstly we’d still like to celebrate bonfire night in some way but we’re also very aware that people are still a bit nervous about gathering in large crowds for too long so we’ve compromised by marking the date this year with a spectacular fireworks display.
“Secondly, with the installation of the new 3G pitch at Davie Park comes new distance precautions.
“There won’t be enough time to test just how close the bonfire could be to the pitch before the embers from the fire start to damage it so we’ve decided to move the event this year to the river.”
The fireworks will take place in the same location as on Braemar Night.
The bridge over the Ericht will be closed between 7.45pm and 8.30pm, which will allow 15 minutes for people to assemble safely before and after the 8pm display, which takes place on Saturday, November 6.
Morag added: “We really hope everyone will enjoy the display from wherever they’re watching from.
“I think we could all do with some light entertainment after the past couple of years.”