The Bournemouth beach display goes ahead at 10pm on Friday 28 August, and the council has added a fourth date on 4 September to replace the cancelled one.

The summer fireworks are back. BCP Council confirmed on Wednesday 26 August that the Bournemouth beach display will go ahead on Friday 28 August, and that it has added an extra display on Friday 4 September.

The council also brought back the Poole Quay display, which is on tonight, Thursday 27 August, with a second Poole date on 3 September. Poole Quay is about four miles west of Bournemouth town centre.

The dates now stand as:

  • Poole Quay: Thursday 27 August, from 7pm, fireworks at 10pm
  • Bournemouth beach: Friday 28 August, fireworks at 10pm
  • Poole Quay: Thursday 3 September
  • Bournemouth beach: Friday 4 September

All four are free and none needs booking.

What changed

The council cancelled the displays on 20 and 21 August over wildfire risk, after weeks of hot, dry weather and with emergency services under pressure. At that point the 27 and 28 August displays were the last two of the season.

The council says the decision to restart followed “discussions with partners, including emergency services, and a reduction in the wildfire risk” across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

The September dates are the replacement for the cancelled pair, and the council says they come “at no additional cost to the council”.

Cllr Richard Herrett, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for destination, leisure and commercial operations, said the events “bring our communities together, create memorable experiences for residents and visitors, and provide a welcome boost for local businesses and the wider visitor economy”.

He added: “I am particularly pleased that we have been able to re-arrange the previously cancelled fireworks display which will now take place in the first week of September, and ensure we truly end the summer season in style.”

What it means for you

The 28 August display starts at 10pm and is fired from out at sea, east of Bournemouth Pier, so the whole seafront from the pier east towards Boscombe has a view. Nothing is ticketed and nothing is fenced.

Check the date before you travel in September. The council’s own event listings have not caught up with the announcement. As of this morning the family information directory entry for Bournemouth Friday Fireworks still lists only 31 July, 7, 14 and 28 August, and the Poole Quay Summer Fireworks entry still lists only 6, 13 and 27 August. The 3 and 4 September dates appear so far only in the council’s news release.

If you are driving to the seafront, the higher parking fines are still running until 31 August. BCP Council’s trial has the lower penalty at £110 and the higher at £160 across the seafront roads from Sandbanks to Southbourne, and it ends at 23:59 on 31 August. That covers Friday night. The 4 September display falls after the trial ends, when the tariffs go back to £50 and £70. Tariffs and permit zones are on our parking in Bournemouth page.

If you are coming by train, South Western Railway lists no engineering closures on the Bournemouth line over the bank holiday weekend. Late evening services in the Winchester area are affected from Monday 31 August to Thursday 3 September, which matters more for the following week’s display than for this one.

Poole Quay is a longer evening. The council says that event runs from 7pm with live music and family entertainment before the 10pm finale, while the Bournemouth display is the fireworks alone.

More on what is open on the seafront is on things to do in Bournemouth, and this week’s closures are on Bournemouth roadworks and travel.

Sources