Free Heaton Park fireworks return on Saturday 7 November, with a quieter 5pm show and the main 8pm display. Trams from Bury, parking and what is still TBC.
Yes, the Heaton Park fireworks are back this year. Manchester City Council has confirmed a free display in the park on Saturday 7 November 2026, the first since 2019. There are two shows on the night: a reduced-noise display at 5pm and the main display at 8pm.
That is everything the council has published so far. Gates, the firing site, parking arrangements and road closures for the night are all still to come, and this page will be updated as they are announced.
| Question | Answer | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Saturday 7 November 2026 | Confirmed |
| Reduced-noise display | 5pm, for families with young children and SEND audiences | Confirmed |
| Main display | 8pm, after a family lantern parade | Confirmed |
| Price | Free | Confirmed |
| Tickets or booking | None announced | TBC |
| Gates, firing site, extra entertainment | Not published | TBC |
| Event parking and road closures | Not published | TBC |
What the council has announced
The details come from Manchester City Council’s announcement of 15 September 2026. Heaton Park is one of three parks with a display that night. The other two are Wythenshawe Park and Platt Fields Park, and all three follow the same pattern:
- a reduced-noise, low-impact display at 5pm, which the council describes as designed for families with young children and people with SEND
- a main fireworks display at 8pm
- a family lantern parade before the 8pm show
- lantern-making workshops in each park in the weeks before
The council says further entertainment for each park “will be announced in the coming weeks”. It had not been announced by 3 October, and the events page for Heaton Park did not yet list the fireworks or the lantern workshops.
Why there have been no displays since 2019
The big council displays stopped in 2019, and the council chose to put its money into smaller autumn events in local parks after the pandemic. Those community events continue this year, particularly around the October half term. The council says extra investment is what has brought the fireworks back, as a “grand finale” to them. Council leader Garry Bridges said the early evening display was designed so that families with young children and people with SEND do not miss out.
Getting there from Bury, Radcliffe, Whitefield and Prestwich
Heaton Park is in Manchester, but it sits right on the Prestwich boundary, and for most of the Bury borough it is easiest by tram.
- Metrolink. The council’s own travel page for the park points visitors to the Heaton Park and Bowker Vale stops, both a few minutes’ walk from the park, and recommends the Metrolink Park and Ride sites at Bury Interchange, Radcliffe and Whitefield, which are free for tram passengers. Tram times are on our Bury tram times page.
- Step-free access on the way home. TfGM says the lift on the Bury-bound platform at Heaton Park has been out of service for replacement since 29 July 2026, “until further notice”. The Manchester-bound lift is working. If you need step-free access to get back towards Bury, check TfGM’s travel alerts before you set off.
- Bus. The council lists the x35, 59, 90, 135, 149, 156, 164 and 484 as serving the park.
- On foot or by bike. Every entrance is open to pedestrians and cyclists: St Margaret’s Road, Bury Old Road, Sheepfoot Lane and Middleton Road.
Parking at Heaton Park
On a normal day the park has five car parks, reached from the Sheepfoot Lane, Smithy Lodge and St Margaret’s Road entrances. These are the council’s own figures:
| Car park | Postcode | Approximate spaces |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Car Park | M25 0DL | 263, plus a seasonal overflow of 1,500 |
| Hall Car Park | M25 2GT | 252 |
| St Margaret's Road Car Park | M25 2GT | 126 |
| Golf Car Park | M25 2SW | 85 |
| Garden Centre Car Park | M25 2GT | 9, plus an overflow of 50 |
Pay and display normally applies from 10am to 5pm every day, with a maximum daily charge of £3.50, and Blue Badge holders park free in any bay. None of that is confirmed for fireworks night. Big events in the park often change parking, and the council has published no event parking plan. Our parking in Bury page has the tariffs for the town centre car parks if you are parking at Bury and taking the tram.
Road closures
None published yet. If any roads around the park close on 7 November, or if roadworks on the A56 or the M60 affect the trip, they will go on our Bury roadworks and travel page.
The same night in the Bury borough
7 November is also the date of the two biggest ticketed displays in the borough, Ramsbottom Cricket Club and Greenmount Scouts, and Radcliffe Cricket Club holds its display a fortnight earlier on 24 October. Times and ticket prices for all three are on our Bury fireworks page.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Heaton Park fireworks on in 2026? Yes. Manchester City Council has confirmed a free display on Saturday 7 November 2026.
What time do the Heaton Park fireworks start? There is a reduced-noise display at 5pm and the main display at 8pm, with a lantern parade before the main show.
How much are tickets? The council describes the event as free. It has not announced any booking or ticketing.
What is the reduced-noise display? A quieter, lower-impact display at 5pm, which the council says is aimed at families with young children and people with SEND.
What is the nearest tram stop? Heaton Park, with Bowker Vale also a few minutes’ walk away, according to the council. The Bury-bound lift at Heaton Park is out of service.
Can I park at Heaton Park on fireworks night? Not yet known. The park has five car parks on a normal day, but the council has not published parking arrangements for the event.
Sources
Checked 3 October 2026: Manchester City Council, free fireworks announcement, 15 September 2026, Manchester City Council, getting to Heaton Park, Manchester City Council, Heaton Park opening times and location, Manchester City Council, events at Heaton Park, TfGM travel alerts.
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