Garstang Bonfire Night

Every year, Garstang and District Lions Club puts on a professional fireworks display for local residents of the Lancashire town, taking place in the Community Centre (High Street) Car Park, Garstang, and is always a highlight of the Lions Club’s busy calendar, with the fireworks and bonfire looking particularly spectacular against the backdrop of the River Wyre.

The display is usually very well-advertised and attended by the local press and by other community groups such as local football and rugby clubs.

The display is usually held on the Saturday closest to Bonfire Night.

In 2006, for example, the display was held on Saturday 4th November, and was attended by over two thousand people, which is incredible considering that the whole population of the historic market town is only 8,000. This helped to raise thousands of pounds for the charitable organisation.

In 2007, the display was held on Saturday 3rd of November, and was again well-attended (with tickets at £2 per person) with the bonfire lit at 7 p.m. and the fireworks display commencing half and hour later.

Last year (2009) was one of the most successful of all, with an excellent attendance despite the price of the ticket going up to £3 per person, with the under-fives allowed free entry.
Though this year’s fireworks display has not yet been officially announced, the event usually begins at 7.00 p.m. and has been held in the same location for the last five years.

Anyone wanting more information should call David Lewis on 01995 605146, email the Lions Club at it@garstanglions.cjb.net or even pay them a visit at the Community Centre on Garstang High Street.

The fireworks display is just one way in which the members of the Lions Club give back to the community of Garstang. The Lions Club is part of an international charitable organisation which believes strongly in community cohesion and helping the less fortunate. Lions International was founded during the First World War, and it truly was an international organisation, with clubs opened in Sweden, Canada, France and all over the UK and Ireland in subsequent years.

The Garstang Club was chartered in 1971, and is still going strong today, with between 20 and 40 members who hail from all social classes and backgrounds. The Garstang chapter celebrated its 35 year anniversary in 2006, with over 100 Lions members from all over the UK attending a party at the Barton Grange Hotel. The Mayor of Garstang was also in attendance, and made a speech thanking the group for their service to the community. Lions International is all about ordinary people doing amazing things, and its simple motto is “We Serve”.

They promote good citizenship, friendship, ethical business practices and help for those in distress - so the fireworks night they hold every year not only contributes to community cohesion in Garstang, but also raises money for charities like the Stroke Association and UNICEF.

Garstang Lions Club still meets every month to discuss charitable work and ways in which they can best serve their community, and new members are always welcome.