Wembley Park Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Wembley Park poster

Every year in Wembley Park, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, with fireworks lighting up the skies across the county of Greater London.

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

The annual celebration of the Bonfire Night has been adopted as an event over the years.

What does it mean and why do people love these celebrations so much?

Here’s a quick roundup to help you get up to speed with the Bonfire Night, its starting point and the reasons behind its amazing popularity.

Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

It is a way to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes as he tried to assassinate King James I, while also attempting to blow up the parliament.

This happened in 1605, and people have been celebrating the Bonfire Night ever since.

There was a lot of anger against the king, due to the fact that he was against Catholics.

Robert and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to return Catholicism to its rightful place.

Two people came up with a plan to blow up a building.

The plan was to kill the king while he was there.

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

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

The fact that the conspirators were caught and punished was shared by the Parliament in a public statement.

The Parliament decided to make the 5th of November a day to be thankful for and therefore the tradition to light bonfires.

We made our way to the Bonfire Night.

There are lots of Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

Despite the fact that the origins of the event are sinister, it has become a community event over the years.

The fireworks manufacturers rebranded the celebration at the beginning of the 20th century because it was focused on having fun.

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked more and more like what we are seeing today.

Bonfire Night attractions

You're going to find a lot of great attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, there are usually large bonfires and local events with food and drinks shared with the community.

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

With some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember, you will get to enjoy some great firework displays.

Some traditions are common:

  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an attempt to blow up the parliament building.
  • One interesting tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to get some money to buy fireworks. In some regions, 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.
  • The biggest cities in the country get some of the largest fireworks displays. Even in rural areas you are bound to find bonfires and firework displays.
  • The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook a wide range of food. A lot of people make soup for the people coming by to see the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows and sausages. There is a traditional cake named the parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle in this cake, and it is very tasty.
  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of straws or paper and stuffed with old clothes.

What should you wear to the events?

People tend to dress up in various costumes depending on where they live on Bonfire Night.

It is quite interesting that this is in preparation for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a great place for people to show off their winter clothes.

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

You don't have to dress up in a costume, but a proper outfit that helps you protect yourself against the cold weather is more than welcome.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Nights?

As we mentioned earlier, the Bonfire Night events are not only a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

There are a lot of foods associated with this event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November as well, and these are eaten throughout the country.

It is important to note that some families share soups with friends or family members.

Traditions associated with the Bonfire Night

People wear costumes and 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 it was a celebration of independence.

There is a firework display and a large bonfire at most of the time.

At the end

Every year, Bonfire Night continues to become a staple event.

It is a great time for people to get together and enjoy some food.

It is one of the events that have impressed people 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 over the years.

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

Wembley Park Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Wembley Park, Bridge Road, London Borough of Brent, London, Greater London, England, HA9 9AA, United Kingdom

Organiser: Wembley Park Bonfire Night