Dunstable Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Dunstable poster

Every year in Dunstable, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, all over the county of Bedfordshire we gather around the bonfire.

What information is important to know about Dunstable's Bonfire Night?

The Bonfire Night has been an annual event for many years.

But what is it that makes people love these celebrations so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night by reading this quick overview.

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is because of the celebration of Bonfire Night.

In 1605 this happened and people have celebrated the night ever since.

What happened at that time is that there was a lot of anger against the king, since many considered he was intolerant against the Catholics.

Robert and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed that an armed struggle would bring Catholicism back to its rightful place.

A group of people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Commons.

The plan was to kill the king during the process, because he was in attendance.

A member of the conspiracy sent a letter to the parliament, but ended up getting cold feet.

The other conspirators were taken into custody here after they learned about the plan.

The Parliament made a public statement about the situation and shared that the conspirators were caught and punished.

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November as a day to be thankful for.

We traveled to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

The origins of the event are sinister, but it has become a community focused event over the years.

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers to Bonfire Night or the Fireworks Night because the focus was on having fun.

As the 20th century went on, the event looked similar to what we are seeing today.

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

The events of the Bonfire Night are more than just a celebration with bonfires.

There are a lot of foods associated with the event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee or the toffee apples are all associated with the Bonfire Night.

These are eaten all over the country, and some regions even have their own special meals prepared around the 5th of November.

Some families eat soups and share them with friends or other family members.

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

There are some amazing attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, but smaller events also take place.

For a lot of people, Bonfire Night is now a community-focused event where everyone has a great time and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

You will also get to see some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember.

Common traditions are here:

  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, even if they are not meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. Many people heat up soup for the crowds coming by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil with marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional dessert that people eat on Bonfire Night. This cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it’s very tasty.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is quite interesting. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money for the fireworks. In some parts of the world, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • Some of the biggest cities in the country get some of the largest firework displays. There are bonfires and firework displays all over the country.
  • During the processions of Bonfire Night, flaming tar barrels are carried on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had in order to blow up the Parliament building.
  • An effigy, a homemade model of a man, is very common in the UK. All of the effigy is stuffed within old clothes and made out of straw or paper.

There are traditions associated with the night.

People use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers on Bonfire Night.

This is a clear nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence, but in a safe way.

Most of the time, these Bonfire Night events include a firework display and large bonfire.

What are you going to wear for the event?

Depending on where you live, people tend to dress up in various costumes on Bonfire Night

In preparation for the events, this is an interesting approach.

Most people like to show off their winter clothes on Bonfire Night.

Something to keep in mind is that a winter knit with a classical touch is a good way to go here.

A proper outfit that protects you from the cold weather is more than welcome, even if you don't have to wear a costume.

Bottom line

Every year, Bonfire Night has become a staple event.

It is a great time for people to connect, celebrate and enjoy some great foods.

People have been impressed by it over the years.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it shifted towards being a more community-friendly event.

Happiness and a good time are the most important parts of Bonfire Night, and we can expect this event to continue for many years to come.

Dunstable Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Dunstable Bonfire Night