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Nearly 2,000 attend sold-out Ashlands Bonfire 40th anniversary celebrations

Sunday, 15 November 2026 at 15:43

Ilkley Carnival also provided equipment to help with the celebrations.

Nearly 2,000 people attended a sold-out Ashlands Bonfire in Ilkley as the event celebrated its 40th anniversary with its biggest fireworks display to date.

The annual event took place on Saturday 7th November, with organisers marking the milestone by staging the largest bonfire and fireworks display in its history.

All 2,000 tickets were sold, with families and residents gathering for an evening of celebrations at Ashlands Primary School.

Organisers have reported positive feedback from attendees, with one visitor describing this year's event as the best yet.

They said:

“We've been coming to Ashlands Bonfire for years, and this was definitely the best one yet! The atmosphere was fantastic and the fireworks were absolutely incredible.

“It was brilliant to see so many people from the community come together, particularly for such a special anniversary.”

Around 50 volunteers contributed approximately 400 hours to planning, delivering and cleaning up after the event.

Their work included preparing the site, building the bonfire, managing the celebrations and clearing litter from the school grounds, surrounding streets and neighbouring open spaces.

A spokesperson for the Friends of Ashlands said:

“What an incredible way to celebrate 40 years of Ashlands Bonfire!

"To sell out all 2,000 tickets, see everyone enjoying themselves and then deliver the best fireworks display we’ve done so far is something we're enormously proud of.”

The event also received support from local businesses and organisations, including fireworks sponsor Whitaker Cadre and logistics partner Silverspring Sales & Lettings.

Ilkley Carnival also provided equipment to help with the celebrations.

Although the final fundraising total has yet to be confirmed, organisers are confident the event has raised enough money to fund another project at Ashlands Primary School.

Previous bonfire events have helped pay for improvements including a library renovation, playground equipment and an outdoor learning area.

Headteacher Donna Russell said:

“We're incredibly grateful to everyone who gives their time, energy and support to make this fantastic event happen.

"Events like this bring our community together, create lasting memories for local families and importantly, help support the school and the opportunities we can provide for our children.

“We're immensely proud to be part of such a longstanding tradition and would like to thank everyone who supported this year's celebrations, particularly those who helped make the 40th anniversary so special.”

Donna also thanked former pupils George Peters, George Buckley and Tom Harris, alongside Mark Stead, for their work over several months to organise the event.

Now in its fourth decade, Ashlands Bonfire remains a longstanding community tradition in Ilkley, bringing local families together while raising money to support the school.

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