Plymouth Firework Championship

I would just like to write a review on the Plymouth Firework Championships, which has just had its 14th blast at it. Some of you may have already heard of it, but I shall now attempt to do it some justice or thereabouts for the rest of you. And so here goes!

As the name would suggest, it is a championship event - therefore, many different companies are involved in it in order to win. In actual fact, this event hosts six different fireowrk companies each year and although some may return year on year there are generally speaking different ones each time.

But the six different companies are spread out over two nights, with three showing each night. The event doesn't actually start until half past nine in the evening, which is when the first one starts tolet their fireworks off. They have ten minutes in which to impress the crowds and the judges, and then there is a five minute break. At about ten to ten, the next one goes and then at about ten past ten or thereabouts the third one in every evening goes.

For those of you who are familiar with the layout of the sea front around Plymouth Sound (which by the way is one of the actual largest harbours in the world!), then you will know that from Plymouth Hoe as you look out to sea then on the left hand side is an area known as Mount Batten. There is a small breakwater that just out in to the Sound, and it is from here that thefireworks are let off.

The majority of people who watch this event go up on to the top of Plymouth Hoe, but there are also many high points in Plymouth where you can get an almost unparalleled view of the breakwater - and therefore, also of the fireworks. Many people have since found out where these places are, as the Hoe gets far too crowded - this year alone, more than 100,000 people were estimated to have watched it on both nights!

Another reason for the Hoe to get so crowded, is because the fairground is also in attendence at this time - along, of course with all of the usual side shows; burger vans, and so on. They all know that they will be on to a good thing, and so therefore will go to where the crowds are and where they can then actuall yin fact make the most money!

But the actual event in itself is free, but this is because of the money that Plymouth as a whole make out of this whole event. Every single hotel room is booked up almost twelve months in advance (and by hotel I mean anywhere that you can book a room to stay for the night!); pubs, clubs and restuarants do well during the evenings and the shops are packed for the two to three days that this event takes place.

But it is not all sweetness and light though, as no vehicles apart from emergency ones are allowed within a half mile radius of the Hoe or Mount Batten for a good few hours either side of the event. However with this said, there are many car parking facilities close by and extra buses are put on - the main city centre (which is where all of the buses stop) is only a five minute walk away from the Hoe.

This is a totally family friendly event, with something for everyone. As already pointed out, the fair is in attendence throughout. But if you don't enjoy fireworks, then don't come to Plymouth during the second week of August! Or thereabouts, as the event takes place on the Tuesday and Wednesday evenings of roughly that week but in order to find out more then there is always the Plymouth City Council website (www.plymouth.gov) for some further information.

I personally enjoy this event, as it is not very often that you get an evening out for next to nothing! If you are able to, then I would then strongly suggest that you come down to it at least once!