There’s a whole lot of bang in the calendar this year!
Here’s a roundup of the biggest and best fireworks displays in cities across Scotland.
Why stop at fireworks? There are award-winning light shows to explore too – we’ve chosen two favourites, which have recently picked up some of the nation’s top cultural awards.
Seven of the best fireworks displays
Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh
Edinburgh’s main fireworks display is a huge one: book your ticket early, and take your seat in Meadowbank Stadium on Sunday 5 November for a whole evening of entertainment and seriously impressive pyrotechnics. This year is a special one too, as the stadium is set to close in December for redevelopment. It’s likely to sell out, so book early:
Samhuinn, Edinburgh
Samhuinn has nothing to do with Guy Fawkes, but it’s fiery so we’ve included it here. It’s a Celtic fire festival on 31 October to mark the end of summer and the beginning of winter. Expect performance, music, and dance from the Royal Mile to West Parliament Square, with plenty of lit torches and fire jugglers. It’s free and unticketed.
Glasgow Green
Head to Glasgow Green for the city’s major fireworks show: gates open at around 5pm, things get lit at 7:30pm. It’s free, and easy to get to on the train – a 6-minute walk from Bridgeton, or 15-minute walk from Argyle Street or Bellgrove.
GHA Rugby Club, Glasgow
Don’t fancy the crowds at Glasgow Green? Get the train to Muirend and watch the fireworks at the GHA Rugby Club. It’s a 5-10 minute walk from the station, and they put on a fine show.
Bridge of Allan and Stirling
Stirling’s fireworks display has the dramatic backdrop of the Wallace Monument. Expect live music acts and plenty of family fun too. Find it in Strathallan Games Park, a 20-minute walk from Bridge of Allan train station.
Aberdeen
You’ll find fireworks, fire jugglers and a firewalk on the beach boulevard in Aberdeen this year – all set to music. The action starts at 6:30pm, with the first firework rocketing skywards at 7:30pm.
Inverness
Inverness’ Guy Fawkes Night celebrations include a monumental bonfire and a musical firework display, all in Bught Park. Don’t miss it though: it’s all happening on Saturday 4 November, not Sunday. It’s about a half hour walk from Inverness train station, along the river.
And two extraordinary light shows
Enchanted Forest
Every year, Faskally Wood transforms into a forest of light and sound: a multi award-winning event that draws people from across Scotland to the woods outside Pitlochry. This year’s theme is ‘Edge of the Water’, so expect Loch Dunmore to be at the centre of the show.
Enchanted Forest is the current winner of the UK’s Best Cultural Event: not one to be missed. Book your tickets, then book the train to Pitlochry — the organisers run a shuttle bus that takes you from the town centre to the enchanted land.
Illumination: Harbour Festival of Light, Irvine
The Scottish Maritime Museum’s festival of light in Irvine brings the whole harbour to life after dark. It starts on 30 November, and if the award-winning delights of last year’s show are anything to go by, this year’s festival will be spectacular. It starts with St Andrew’s Day fireworks, and continues over four days of events – which might include anything from lantern-making workshops to whole parades of inventive lights. It’s simple to get to as well: just a five-minute walk from Irvine train station.