Bonfire Night Calculator — Fireworks & Food

A good garden display costs £50-£150. A larger display for 30+ people costs £150-£400. Professional displays start from £500. Buy from licensed retailers only. Compound fireworks (multi-shot) give the best value. Set aside at least 30% of your firework budget for a grand finale.

UK firework retailers (e.g. Galactic Fireworks) suggest 1-2 sparklers per guest — around 200 sparklers for 100 guests. This calculator defaults to 2 per guest; raise it in Advanced Options if sparklers are a feature of your night. Standard packs contain 5 or 10, so buy a little extra as people always want more. Light them one at a time (three burning together give off the heat of a blow torch), supervise children, and keep a bucket of water nearby for spent sparklers. Only use outdoor sparklers.

Hot dogs, burgers, soup (tomato, leek and potato, or butternut squash), baked potatoes with fillings, toffee apples, parkin cake, and treacle toffee. Hot chocolate, mulled wine, and warm cider are popular drinks. Everything should be easy to eat outdoors while standing.

Keep fireworks in a sealed box away from the bonfire. Light at arm's length with a long taper. Never go back to a lit firework. Keep a bucket of water and fire blanket ready. Supervise children at all times. Keep pets indoors. Check local regulations on noise and firework times.