You’re going to a fireworks display – you’ve checked the location, you know what time it starts, and you’ve confirmed with three different people that yes, it’s definitely tonight and not tomorrow.
Now, what do you actually bring?
Most people show up with nothing, stand awkwardly in a muddy field for two hours, and spend the entire display thinking “Gosh, I wish I’d brought a jumper.” Don’t be that person. A bit of preparation transforms the experience from a mildly uncomfortable endurance test into a genuinely enjoyable evening out.
1. Layers of Clothing
British weather is unpredictable at the best of times, but evening fireworks displays seem to exist in some special circle of meteorological hell where it’s simultaneously freezing and humid.
You want layers. Plural. A t-shirt, a jumper, and a waterproof jacket at minimum. Even if it’s been sunny all day, temperatures drop fast once the sun goes down, and standing still in a field watching the sky makes you colder than you’d expect.
Waterproofs matter even if rain isn’t forecast. Dew-soaked grass, unexpected drizzle, or just the general British dampness will get you eventually. A proper waterproof jacket with a hood beats standing there getting progressively more miserable while pretending you’re fine.
Bring a hat and gloves if it’s late autumn or winter. You’ll feel ridiculous carrying them in your bag during the day, but you’ll be grateful when your ears are going numb at 9pm. Extremities get cold first, and once your hands and ears are freezing, the rest of you feels colder too.
Avoid wearing anything too precious. Fireworks displays involve muddy fields, crowds, and falling ash. Your nice coat will survive, but your brand-new white trainers won’t.
2. Something to Sit On
Unless you enjoy wet trousers and a cold backside, bring something to sit on.
A picnic blanket works if the ground is dry-ish. A proper waterproof groundsheet is better for typical British conditions. Those foam sitting mats – the kind campers use – are brilliant because they insulate you from the cold ground and fold up small.
Camping chairs are ideal if you don’t mind carrying them and the event allows them. Some displays ban them for safety or visibility reasons, so check beforehand. But if they’re allowed, you’ll be infinitely more comfortable than the people awkwardly squatting or sitting directly on soggy grass.
If you’re bringing children, extra blankets are worth the space in your bag. Kids get cold faster than adults and complain louder about being uncomfortable. A blanket they can wrap themselves in keeps them happy and means you actually get to watch the display rather than managing a cold, cranky child.
3. Torch (and Spare Batteries)
Fireworks displays are dark. Shockingly dark once you’re away from the immediate display area.
You need a torch for navigating back to your car, finding dropped items, or just not tripping over tent pegs and toddlers on your way to the toilets. Your phone torch works in a pinch but drains your battery fast, and you’ll want your phone functioning for the journey home.
A proper handheld torch or a head torch is better. Head torches look dorky but they’re hands-free, which matters when you’re carrying bags, children, or trying to pack up your stuff in the dark.
Bring spare batteries or make sure it’s charged before you leave. Nothing’s more useless than a dead torch when you’re trying to navigate a dark field full of trip hazards and other people’s belongings.
Red lights are better than white for night vision. If you’re using a torch with multiple settings, red light lets you see without destroying your eyes’ adaptation to darkness. Professional astronomers use red lights for this reason, and it works just as well at fireworks displays.
4. Snacks and Drinks
Displays often run longer than you expect, especially if there’s a delay. You don’t want to be standing there for three hours with a rumbling stomach and no options.
Bring your own snacks rather than relying on event vendors. Queues for food stalls are ridiculous, prices are absurd, and they often run out by the time the main display starts.
Simple stuff works best: crisps, chocolate bars, pre-made sandwiches, fruit. Avoid anything that needs preparation or makes a mess. Hot drinks in a flask are brilliant for keeping warm – tea, coffee, hot chocolate, whatever you fancy.
For drinks, water is essential even if it’s cold. Fireworks displays involve a lot of standing around, often with smoke in the air, and you’ll get thirsty. Bring more than you think you need because hydration always matters more than people anticipate.
If you’re bringing alcohol, check the event rules first. Many displays ban it entirely or restrict consumption to certain areas. And obviously, if you’re driving, don’t. The combination of alcohol, crowds, darkness, and driving home is asking for trouble.
Pack reusable containers and bottles. You’ll have to carry rubbish home anyway, and reusable options are easier to manage than loads of single-use packaging.
5. Ear Protection
This one’s especially important if you’re bringing kids or you’re sensitive to loud noises yourself.
Professional displays can be genuinely loud – not “a bit noisy” loud, but “physical pressure in your chest” loud. Foam earplugs are cheap, tiny, and make the experience much more comfortable without blocking the sound entirely. You’ll still hear and enjoy the fireworks; they just won’t be painful.
Kids in particular benefit from ear protection. Children’s hearing is more sensitive than adults’, and a child who’s frightened by the noise won’t enjoy the display no matter how spectacular it is. Those headphone-style ear defenders designed for kids work brilliantly and are reusable.
Some displays offer quiet zones or low-noise sections. If noise is a concern, look for these when you’re choosing where to stand. They’re usually positioned further from the launch site or in areas with natural sound barriers.
Don’t feel self-conscious about wearing ear protection. Loads of people do it, and protecting your hearing is more important than looking cool. Tinnitus and hearing damage are permanent; feeling slightly dorky for an evening isn’t.
And for more guidance on staying safe whether you’re watching or hosting, read our tips to stay safe when attending a fireworks show.
6. Entertainment for Waiting Time
The actual fireworks might last 20 minutes. You’ll probably be there for two hours minimum.
Bring something to keep yourself (and especially children) occupied during the wait. Card games, small toys, books – anything portable that doesn’t require much space or lighting.
For kids, glow sticks are brilliant. They’re cheap, they keep children entertained, and they make them visible in the dark so you don’t lose them in the crowd. Plus they’re thematically appropriate for a fireworks display and kids love them.
Downloaded content on your phone works too – podcasts, music, ebooks. Just watch your battery life. If your phone’s your only torch and your navigation home, you don’t want it dying because you’ve been watching videos for two hours.
Conversation works too. Fireworks displays are social events, and talking to the people you’re with is entertainment in itself. It’s easy to forget this in an age where everyone defaults to screens, but actually talking passes time nicely.
7. Identification and Meeting Point Plan
Crowds get separated. It happens. Someone goes to the toilet, someone else wanders closer to the display, and suddenly you’ve lost half your group in a field full of thousands of people in the dark.
Make sure everyone has their phone with them and charged. Set a specific meeting point before you arrive – something unmissable like “the main entrance” or “that big oak tree.” Don’t rely on “near the food stalls” because there are probably six food stalls and you’ll spend 20 minutes walking in circles.
For young children, write your phone number on their arm in pen or put a wristband on them with contact details. They might not have phones, but other adults do. If your child gets separated and distressed, having visible contact information means someone can help quickly.
Take a photo of your group at the start of the evening. If someone goes missing, you can show security or police exactly what they look like and what they’re wearing. It’s much more effective than trying to describe “a child in a blue coat” when half the children there are wearing blue coats.
8. A Bag to Carry It All
You need something to actually transport all this stuff, and it needs to be practical.
A rucksack is ideal – hands-free, balanced weight distribution, and usually weather-resistant. Avoid anything too valuable or fancy because you’ll be setting it on muddy ground and possibly in puddles.
Carrier bags work in a pinch but they’re annoying to carry for extended periods and they tear easily. Reusable shopping bags are better but still not great for long-distance walking across fields.
Whatever you bring, make sure it’s something you’re willing to potentially lose or damage. Fireworks displays are chaotic, and bags get knocked over, trodden on, or accidentally kicked in the dark. Don’t bring your designer handbag or expensive laptop bag.
Consider bringing a smaller bag within your main bag for valuables – phone, wallet, keys. This way if you need to put your main bag down, your important items stay with you. Cross-body bags work well for this because they’re difficult to lose or have stolen.
What You Don’t Need
Leave expensive cameras at home unless you’re a serious photographer. Phone cameras are fine for capturing memories, and you won’t spend the entire display worried about dropping £2000 worth of equipment in a field.
Skip the umbrellas. They block other people’s views, they’re useless in wind (which is common at outdoor displays), and many events ban them entirely. Wear a waterproof jacket instead.
Don’t bring pets. Even if the event allows them, fireworks displays are stressful for animals. Leave them at home where they’re safe and comfortable. If you genuinely can’t leave your dog at home, at minimum bring ear protection for them and stay at the very edge of the display area.
You probably don’t need chairs if the display only lasts 20-30 minutes. The faff of carrying them often outweighs the benefit unless you’ve got mobility issues or you’re planning to be there for hours.
Final Thoughts
The best fireworks displays are the ones where you’re comfortable enough to actually enjoy them rather than counting down the minutes until you can leave.
A bit of planning and a well-packed bag make the difference between a great night out and a miserable few hours in a field wondering why you bothered. Most of these items are small, lightweight, and make a huge impact on your experience.
Choose Anfield Fireworks
If you’re thinking of creating your own display at home rather than attending public ones, proper planning matters even more. Check out our vibrant smoke bombs to light up your event – use them alongside your fireworks and create a truly spectacular night to remember.
