Love Carlisle Firework Show 2009
On Saturday 7th November I went to the Love Carlisle firework show in Bitts Park. The Love theme was chosen as part of Carlisle’s bid to become city of culture which will be awarded in 2013, a UK version of the European Capital of Culture, which was awarded to Liverpool in 2008.
Celebrations were taking place throughout Love Day culminating in the massive firework display and bonfire.
The weather held as over 2000 fireworks were fired above a huge heart shaped reconstruction of the citadel. More than 25,000 people attended the show.
Here is a photo story using sound I recorded at the event and photographs courtesy of Carlisle photography student, my younger sister, Eleanor Simpson. I edited this piece with Windows Movie Maker which can be very limiting but hopefully will give you a feeling of the atmosphere.
This was by far the best firework show I have ever seen, beating even the Pohang firework festival in South Korea which I saw in 2007.
The fire show was organised by the Black Powder Monkeys. Carlisle city council have made a real effort to attract people to their city with their bonfire nights, previously there has been an old American west theme and a pirate theme for which a giant pirate ship was built.
Carlisle main attractions are the 900 year old castle, the city wall, their Cathedral which dates back to 1122 and the Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery. Nearby there is the Birdoswald Roman Fort and Visitor Centre and Hadrian’s Wall.
The University of Cumbria runs a foundation degree in Performance, Festivals and Events which focuses on the creative and management aspects of events.
The Love Day and UK City of Culture award will be the subject of a radio package for my course – I’ll put up the podcast once its finished!
