River of Light is back for never been-seen-before display on our Mersey

The countdown to “Bommie Night” in Liverpool is on (yes it is, “BOMMIE”) and our Mersey is once again set to be lit up, this time like never before.

One of the UK’s most successful firework companies will be responsible for lighting up the skies above both sides of the River Mersey for this year’s November 5th celebrations – with a specially commissioned musical display in Liverpool and Wirral.

Titanium Fireworks are the team behind acclaimed national events including the Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve party, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, the launch of Hull’s City of Culture year, the opening ceremony for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Adele finale show at Wembley Stadium in June this year.

They are set to take the helm of River of Light on Sunday 5 November and are already planning a never-before-seen display on the River Mersey to wow the tens of thousands of people expected to head to Wirral and the Liverpool waterfronts for the free spectacle.

Fireworks will be set off from the water’s edge and from huge barges floating on the Mersey, and will be accompanied by a soundtrack played from key areas and venues along the waterfront.

In Liverpool, there will be fiery street animation from around 5pm along the Pier Head and The Strand, before the fireworks starts at 6.30pm.

Liverpool’s Assistant Mayor and Cabinet Member for culture, tourism and events, Councillor Wendy Simon, said: “It is a massive coup to be able to work with Titanium – their reputation is unsurpassed and they will undoubtedly bring the wow-factor to our waterfront on November 5th.

“River of Light had its first outing last year and was a real learning curve for us. This year, there’s a focus on the elements which proved really popular and generated a lot of positive feedback, and overall making sure the entire event is of the standard which Liverpool audiences have come to love and expect from our outdoor events.

“With less than two months to go, the team are working hard to pull together a fantastic, free, family friendly evening out, showcasing the very best of our world heritage waterfront.”

Wirral Council leader, Councillor Phil Davies, said: “I am delighted we have been able to put together such an exciting event. With huge, spectacular displays along the River – with perfect vantage points for residents on both sides of the river – this will be a truly unforgettable experience.

“I know thousands of people will flock to the waterfront to enjoy the show. We will have great entertainment and activities on offer, and I hope everyone enjoys what is set to be a fantastic, free family event.”

Darryl Fleming, Co-Owner and Director of Titanium Fireworks, said: “We are really excited to be working with the project team to deliver a fantastic display on the Mersey; an estuary river which has played such an important role in the history of the City Region.

“We know that Liverpool has a proud cultural heritage and we are thrilled to be given the chance to entertain an audience that knows how to have fun.” 

In Wirral, River of Light will be part of a fantastic weekend of fireworks, which will also see six community displays taking place on Saturday 4 November.

Figures from 2016 show around 200,000 people watched the display, and just over half the attendees were from outside of Liverpool. The event is believed to have brought in £4.5 million to the local economy, boosting the night time economy by more than £750k.

More information on the event, and the best vantage points to see the fireworks and enjoy the street entertainment, will be added to the River of Light website soon, so don’t forget to head back to www.riveroflightfireworks.co.uk or join in the conversation on Culture Liverpool’s Facebook and Twitter social pages using the hashtag #RiverOfLight