Cheap & cheerful ways to celebrate Bonfire Night on a budget
Bonfire Night is one of my favourite evenings during autumn, but between event tickets, food, and fireworks, it can easily burn through your budget (pun intended!).
The good news is you don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy a magical night. There are plenty of budget-friendly ways to make the 5th of November special, whether you’re heading out or staying home.
Here are my favourite cheap and cheerful Bonfire Night ideas
1. Find free (or cheap) local firework displays
Before you spend loads on big-ticket events, check your local council, school, or community Facebook pages- loads of small displays are completely free or just ask for a small donation.
Top tip: Many pubs, sports clubs, and village greens host their own bonfire nights- often with sparklers and a hot chocolate stand. Arrive early and take your own snacks to save even more!
2. Host a bonfire night at home
Create your own cosy celebration at home. You don’t need a huge garden or a bonfire - just some budget fairy lights, tea lights in jam jars, and sparklers will be more than enough! As a child I used to love running upstairs to spot and watch other peoples fireworks from the window too! This is a great substitute if your kids want to join in on bonfire night festivities but hate the noise! You’ll get the same excitement for a fraction of the cost - and you can pop the kids straight to bed after!
3. Make it all about the food
Bonfire Night food doesn’t have to mean expensive takeaways. A few simple homemade ideas can make the night feel special without spending loads:
Hot dogs or burgers: grab supermarket own brands and load up with onions & ketchup!
Baked potatoes: wrap them in foil and pop in the oven for a proper “bonfire” feel.
Hot chocolate bar: set up a little station with whipped cream, and marshmallows the kids will love it almost as much as the adults haha!
Top tip: Lidl, Aldi, and Asda usually have Bonfire Night-themed deals on marshmallows, sparklers, and hot drink sachets - stock up early before they go!
4. DIY fireworks
If you’re skipping the fireworks this year, you can still give the kids a magical night! Try these cheap, safe alternatives:
Glow sticks: get a £1 multipack from Poundland or B&M to make great pretend “sparklers.”
Fairy light jars – pop battery lights into mason jars for a twinkly effect.
Bonfire crafts – cut out flame shapes from coloured paper and build a paper “bonfire” indoors!
Firework art – sprinkle glitter or chalk pastel dust over black paper and abit of glue for sparkly “explosions.”
These activities keep the little ones happy and your budget intact.
5. Skip the fireworks, keep the glow
If you want to avoid spending £30+ on fireworks but still want some excitement, go for cheaper alternatives that still bring atmosphere: you can usually get a big pack of sparklers for less than £5!
Overall, you don’t need to spend a fortune for a fantastic Bonfire Night. Because with a little planning and creativity, you can have just as much fun for next to nothing. So grab your sparklers, pull on your cosiest jumper, and make the most of the night. Whether it’s a free local display or a night of homemade hot chocolate in the garden, it’s the memories (not the money!) that make it magical!
