Hosting a Fireworks Night Fundraiser

Fireworks Fundraiser

Autumn and Spring provide an ideal opportunity to host a fireworks night. A standalone fireworks evening can be quite a simple way to bring a community together, but of course you can also combine your fireworks night with another event such as a fete, market night or movie night.

Events like a fireworks night can draw a big crowd but they can also be costly. Charging an entry fee will help cover costs,  but this is where sponsors for your event can help to keep costs down. Big crowds mean great exposure for sponsors so make sure you put a great sponsorship proposal together. Also do some research into grants that may be available from your local council in order to subsidise costs and increase your profits.

Here are our top planning tips and event organiser checklist to help ensure your fireworks fundraiser night is a success.

• Check your P & C / P & F as well as your fireworks suppliers insurance to make sure you and they are well covered and that they are properly licensed.
• Talk to your supplier about the type of display that you’d like but keep in mind that around 15 – 20 minutes is a good time frame for your display, particularly for primary school aged kids.
• Have food and drink available for sale but keep it simple. Hot dogs, sausage sizzle, hot chocolate and coffee and tea. Maybe even some packets of chips and lollies and don’t forget to have glowsticks for sale too!
• Make sure you have plenty of lighting around for pathways to avoid injury and also to light the way to any stalls if you have them.
• Have your volunteers armed with torches and in hi-viz vests so that they are easy to find.
• Supply all your volunteers with a list of emergency contact names and numbers. This can be laminated and attached to a lanyard so that everybody knows who to contact if the necessity arises.
• If you are charging an entry fee for your Fireworks Night Fundraiser, sell tickets in advance. This way you will have the money upfront even if people don’t show on the night.
• The weather is unpredictable so check with your supplier as to the conditions which will prevent the show from going ahead and what their wet weather policy is. You could also investigate wet weather insurance for peace of mind.
• If you are holding your event in a suburban area, you may be required to notify your closest neighbours about your event. You can go one step further and invite them along! Check your local regulations for times frames on this.
• Run a raffle with a part of the first prize being the ‘rights’ to set off the fireworks!