Sparks in the Park
Encyclopedia
Sparks in the Park is an annual fireworks
display held each year on or around Guy Fawkes Night
in Cardiff
, Wales
.
The event takes place in Cooper's Field in Bute Park
, behind Cardiff Castle
. It has been running each year since 1981, and has become the biggest regular annual fireworks display in Wales, and one of the biggest in the UK
, attracting around 20,000 people.
The event is organised by local charitable and social networking group Cardiff Round Table, one of the largest branches in the UK of Round Table (club)
. It is a non profit event- all proceeds are distributed to charity
, primarily in and around the Cardiff area. Charities to have benefited from monies raised during Sparks in the Park 2009 include the Christian Lewis Trust, the Sequal Trust, Vitalise, CLIC Sargent, Round Table Childrens Wish, Barnardo's Cymru
and Hospital Radio Glamorgan.
and Cardiff Mardi Gras.
The largest amount raised for charity by Sparks in the Park in recent years was £46,000 in 2004.
. In 2009, £5,000 of the proceeds were distributed in the Round Table Echo Sparklers campaign, run in conjunction with local newspaper the South Wales Echo
.
Sparks in the Park 2010 was again supported by Cardiff Council
and by Red Dragon FM, who provided music and event hosts Kam Kelly and Sally Bailey from Red Dragon's flagship "Kam and Sally at Breakfast" show. The main sponsors of Sparks in the Park 2010 were Admiral Insurance
.
Sparks in the Park 2011 is again supported by Cardiff Council
and by Capital Radio, who will provide music, video and event hosts Kam Kelly and Sally Bailey from Capital FM's flagship "Kam and Sally at Breakfast" show. The main sponsors of Sparks in the Park 2011 are George Wimpey.
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
display held each year on or around Guy Fawkes Night
Guy Fawkes Night
Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Firework Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in England. Its history begins with the events of 5 November 1605, when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding...
in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
The event takes place in Cooper's Field in Bute Park
Bute Park
Bute Park in Cardiff, Wales, is an extensive area of mature parkland easily accessible from the city centre. Flanked by the River Taff, Sophia Gardens, Pontcanna Fields and Cardiff Castle, Bute Park is a very popular 'green lung' full of historic and wildlife interest. Few cities have such a...
, behind Cardiff Castle
Cardiff Castle
Cardiff Castle is a medieval castle and Victorian architecture Gothic revival mansion, transformed from a Norman keep erected over a Roman fort in the Castle Quarter of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The Castle is a Grade I Listed Building.-The Roman fort:...
. It has been running each year since 1981, and has become the biggest regular annual fireworks display in Wales, and one of the biggest in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, attracting around 20,000 people.
The event is organised by local charitable and social networking group Cardiff Round Table, one of the largest branches in the UK of Round Table (club)
Round Table (club)
Round Table is a social networking and charitable organisation for men in their 20s, 30s and early 40s, founded in Norwich, England, in 1927. It is open to all men aged between 18 and 45...
. It is a non profit event- all proceeds are distributed to charity
Charity (practice)
The practice of charity means the voluntary giving of help to those in need who are not related to the giver.- Etymology :The word "charity" entered the English language through the Old French word "charité" which was derived from the Latin "caritas".Originally in Latin the word caritas meant...
, primarily in and around the Cardiff area. Charities to have benefited from monies raised during Sparks in the Park 2009 include the Christian Lewis Trust, the Sequal Trust, Vitalise, CLIC Sargent, Round Table Childrens Wish, Barnardo's Cymru
Barnardo's
Barnardo's is a British charity founded by Thomas John Barnardo in 1866, to care for vulnerable children and young people. As of 2010, it spends over £190 million each year on more than 400 local services aimed at helping these same groups...
and Hospital Radio Glamorgan.
History
Prior to 2009, the event had been held for several years in Blackweir Field, at the north end of Bute Park, further away from the city centre. This was because of concerns that Cardiff Council had about the potential damage to Cooper's Field. Improvements made to drainage and access on the site have made it possible for the event to move back. Various other events have also been held in the field in 2010, such as a concert by Florence and the MachineFlorence and the Machine
Florence and the Machine is the recording name of English musician Florence Welch and a collaboration of other artists who provide music for her voice. Florence and the Machine's sound has been described as a combination of various genres, including rock and soul...
and Cardiff Mardi Gras.
The largest amount raised for charity by Sparks in the Park in recent years was £46,000 in 2004.
2009
Turnout at the 2009 event was estimated by organisers to have increased by 15% compared to the previous year. Attractions included fairground rides, a beer tent and food stalls, and a stage run by Red Dragon FMRed Dragon FM
Capital South Wales is a British independent local radio station broadcasting from Cardiff Bay . The station serves Cardiff, Newport and the surrounding areas, broadcasting to a potential audience of around 1 million people...
. In 2009, £5,000 of the proceeds were distributed in the Round Table Echo Sparklers campaign, run in conjunction with local newspaper the South Wales Echo
South Wales Echo
The South Wales Echo is a daily tabloid newspaper published in Cardiff, Wales and distributed throughout the surrounding area.The newspaper was founded in 1884 and was based in Thomson House, Cardiff city centre. It is published by Media Wales Ltd , part of the Trinity Mirror group...
.
2010
Sparks in the Park 2010 was even bigger, with nearly a 50% increase in turnout compared to 2009. In terms of the amount of money raised for charity, this was one of the most successful events in its 30 year history. More than 20,000 fireworks travelling 100ft per second were shot up to 1,000ft into the air. In addition, the 2010 event saw the introduction before the main fireworks of a special children's firework display.Sparks in the Park 2010 was again supported by Cardiff Council
Cardiff Council
The County Council of the City and County of Cardiff is the governing body for Cardiff, one of the Principal Areas of Wales. The council consists of 75 councillors, representing 29 electoral wards. The authority is properly styled as The County Council of the City and County of Cardiff or in...
and by Red Dragon FM, who provided music and event hosts Kam Kelly and Sally Bailey from Red Dragon's flagship "Kam and Sally at Breakfast" show. The main sponsors of Sparks in the Park 2010 were Admiral Insurance
Admiral Insurance
Admiral, part of the Admiral Group, is a car insurance specialist which launched in January 1993. Its head offices are in Capital Tower, Cardiff, Wales. It also has offices in Swansea and Newport and Halifax, Nova Scotia...
.
2011
Sparks in the Park 2011 promises to be the best Sparks so far, with a new jumbo 40m2 screen and entertainment, as well as the usual fairground, food and drink stalls, bonfire and of course the fireworks. 2011 will see the return of a special children's firework display before the main display aimed for families with younger children.Sparks in the Park 2011 is again supported by Cardiff Council
Cardiff Council
The County Council of the City and County of Cardiff is the governing body for Cardiff, one of the Principal Areas of Wales. The council consists of 75 councillors, representing 29 electoral wards. The authority is properly styled as The County Council of the City and County of Cardiff or in...
and by Capital Radio, who will provide music, video and event hosts Kam Kelly and Sally Bailey from Capital FM's flagship "Kam and Sally at Breakfast" show. The main sponsors of Sparks in the Park 2011 are George Wimpey.