Tower Hamlets fireworks in Victoria Park – 2022 update
Sadly, fireworks night at Victoria Park has been cancelled for 2022. The Council, under the new administration of Mayor Lutfur Rahman, has decided not to reinstate Victoria Park Fireworks this year. Due to the pandemic, this will be the third year in a row that the Fireworks have not gone ahead.
Usually, Victoria Park’s fireworks display is one of the few remaining free fireworks events in London attracting a crowd of up to 80,000 people. Also known as the Tower Hamlets Fireworks, the event is funded by the Council and is one of the most significant calendar events in the East End. The Guy Fawkes night celebrations, which feature a bonfire and pyrotechnic display organised by Walk the Plank, have a different them each year.
Do you remember going to one of the bonfire nights in Victoria Park? We have records going back to 2016, but if you can recall one of the themes before 2016, please let us know in the comments.
Victoria Park fireworks through the years
In 2021, the Council cited post-pandemic budget cuts and the fireworks in Victoria Park were cancelled.
In 2020, amid fears of a second lockdown, Tower Hamlets Council decided to cancel the Victoria Park Fireworks display which was planned to go ahead in November. The Tower Hamlets council said ‘Ultimately the safety of our residents comes first. We cannot risk the potential spread of Covid 19 in large crowds.’
2019 Fireworks in Victoria Park: Apollo Moon Landing in 2019
In 2019, the fireworks at Victoria Park celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landings. Local residents were entertained by space-inspired explosions, soundscapes, spoken word storytelling and special effects. ‘We’re excited to once again host another fireworks extravaganza in the borough. This year we’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of those first steps taken by Neil Armstrong on the moon with an exciting show that celebrates this extraordinary moment in history.’
2018 Fireworks in Victoria Park: Frankenstein
In 2018 the Guy Fawkes celebrations were inspired by the first science-fiction novel Frankenstein, first published two centuries previously. Two centuries after Mary Shelley’s science-fiction novel was published, the fiendish creature will be rendered in fiery ways. Brought to you by leading pyrotechnical and outdoor theatre company, Walk the Plank walktheplank.co.uk.
2017 Fireworks in Victoria Park: David Bowie
In 2017, the Tower Hamlets fireworks at Victoria Park, took on a sci-fi theme, partly inspired by David Bowie’s iconic 1970s film ‘The Man Who Fell to Earth’. In the year that would have marked Bowie’s 70th birthday, his music provided the thematic context for the show which also included the intervention of ‘flying saucers’ to mark the arrival of a spaceman on Planet Earth.
2016 Fireworks in Victoria Park: Great Fire of London
In 2016, the fireworks celebrated the 350th anniversary of the Fire of London. The display started with 50 metre wide fire drawing, depicting a 17th century-style scene of ancient London, which burned from east to west – reflecting the original course of the fire. This was punctuated with low level fireworks before the full display gathered momentum with an intense series of explosions to a contemporary soundtrack which included ‘London Calling’ by The Clash, ‘Burning down the house’ by Talking Heads and ‘Right here right now’ by Fatboy Slim.
