Thousands of people are expected to descend on Aberdeen beach on Thursday evening for this year’s Fireworks Spectacular set to music – with a Heroes and Villains theme.
The annual free event, which is organised by Aberdeen City Council, is set to have a bit of ‘interruption’ from popular film characters Minions, and there are also lots of shape shells to look out for in the shape of smiley faces, cat faces, rings and hearts.
The event includes fire jugglers and a charity firewalk from 6.30pm, and a 20-minute fireworks display set to music from 7.30pm. There are Park and Ride buses available from the Bridge Don, Calder Park and Kingswells.
The best vantage points for the display are around the Beach Boulevard, Queens Links and Esplanade areas. Disabled parking is available on Links Road at the foot of Urquhart Road on a first-come, first-served basis.
Aberdeen City Council Communities, Housing and Infrastructure convener Councillor Neil Cooney said: “This is a spectacular event indeed and is very popular, with more than 12,000 people attending each year.
“This year’s promises to be even better than before with a great theme, lots to do, and a fantastic fireworks display set to music.
“I’m sure people will be looking forward to it as it’s enjoyed by people of all ages – folk should also remember to wrap up warmly, and have lots of fun watching the display.”
Fireworx Scotland has created new designs in fireworks and special effects to create the show, and is using a new Pyromate Digital Nighthawk Firing System for the show.
People are advised they should not bring alcohol, and they should also not to bring fireworks to the event but they can bring sparklers if used responsibly by not giving them to under-5s, under supervision with younger children, and never hold a child and sparkler.
This year, there are also new sparkler bins so sparklers can be disposed of safety.
More than 12,000 people attend the event every year so roads are closed to ensure everyone van enter, watch and leave the Queens Links area safely. There are no dedicated parking spaces, so people are advised to walk or get buses to the event as nearby roads are likely to be extremely busy.
Most roads are to close at 5.45pm and re-open at 9pm on Thursday. Full road closures and restrictions are:-
Road closures for the event include:
From 8pm on 1 November, to 10pm on November 6;
- Links Road, Aberdeen, from its junction with Urquhart Road to the roundabout at the Beach Ballroom
From 2pm to 10pm on November 5;
- Greyhope Road, Aberdeen, from its junctions with St. Fittick’s Road and Coast Road
From 5:45pm to 9pm on November 5;
- Beach Boulevard – full length.
- Links Road from its junction at Beach retail Park(ASDA) to its junction with Urquhart Road.
- Esplanade from a point just north of Accommodation Road, southwards to the roundabout at Burger King
- Accommodation Road – full length
- Cotton Street – full length
- Constitution Street – full length
- Urquhart Road from its junction at Park Road to is junction at Links Road
- Miller Street between its junctions with Castle Terrace and Garvock Wynd.
From 9pm to 11pm on November 5;
- Beach Boulevard – From its south junction with Links Road and its north junction with Links Road.
Road restrictions for the event include:
From 5.45pm to 9pm on November 5;
- No right turn from the entry road at Sunset Boulevard on to Links Road, Aberdeen.
- No right turn from Queens Links Leisure Park car park on to Links Road, Aberdeen.
- No left turn from Beach Retail Park car park on to Links Road, Aberdeen.
- No left turn from Wales Street on to Beach Boulevard, Aberdeen.
- No right turn from Hanover Street on to Beach Boulevard, Aberdeen.
- Exit from Doubletree by Hilton Hotel is by right turn on to Links Road, Aberdeen, and left turn on to Constitution Street only
Waiting restrictions for the event include:
From 6pm on November 4 to 9pm on November 5;
- Links Road from its junction at Esplanade to its junction at Urquhart Road(Only Blue Badge holders will be accommodated for disabled parking)
- Beach Boulevard – full length
- Cotton Street – full length
- Urquhart Road from its junction at Links Road to its junction at Park Road
- Esplanade, both sides, from Beach Boulevard to Accommodation Road
From 2pm to 10pm on November 5;
- Greyhope Road from its junctions with St. Fitticks Road and Sinclair Road
Suspension of width restriction:
From 9am to 11pm on November 5;
- On The Esplanade between its junction with King Street and its roundabout junction with Links Road
Residents are asked that bins should only go out on the morning of collection rather than the night before for safety reasons, and should be taken back as soon as possible after collection, especially on Thursday and Friday.