Remember, remember the fifth of November, Gunpowder, treason and plot etc.- Guy Fawkes Night and the reason why Birmingham, like many others around the country hold its annual Birmingham Fun Fair and Fireworks display.

This event, which is provided annually by courtesy of Birmingham Council, attracts thousands of spectators to celebrate Guy Fawkes Night and his failure, along with his followers, to blow up the Houses of Parliament.

The amazing fireworks display, is identified by previous attendees as one not to be missed.

If you intend to be present on the night, the advice from Activ Birmingham is to be early if you want a good viewing spot.

Birmingham Council's location for the annual Birmingham Fun Fair & Firework display is:-

Venue: Pype Hayes Park, Erdington, North Birmingham, B24 0HG

Admission: FREE

Telephone: 0121 303 3008 for further details

Event Details

Why not visit the traditional annual Birmingham Funfair & Firework Display. For the best and safest fireworks night in Birmingham, get ready for a night out under the stars at Pype Hayes Park, Erdington. There's plenty to do before the fireworks - experience the thrills and spills of the funfair, warm up with some snacks and soak up the atmosphere.

Birmingham Fun Fair & Firework Display Programme:-

4.00pm - Gates open for Fun Fair
The bonfire element has been cancelled for 2011 due to a lack of City Council funding.                                                                        7.30pm - Firework Display
10.30pm - Event closes

There are no parking facilities available at Pype Hayes Car Park (except for people with disabilities - access off Chester Road). However there is free parking at the Fort Shopping Centre and a special park and ride service from 5pm-11pm. Shuttle buses will be located near WH Smith and will run from the Fort to the Bagot Arms opposite the Park.

Network West Midlands bus routes to Pype Hayes Park are 28, 67, 144 & 914.

There are Birmingham Bus drop of points in the vicinity of Pype Hays Park, also check Weather Birmingham it may help you with your choice of clothing. Why not make a full afternoon of it and have an early meal at one of the many Birmingham Restaurants? Or, perhaps, a drink at a local Birmingham club. For those travelling a distance why not consider an overnight stay at one of the hotels in Birmingham. If you are unsure of the site location, simply grab a Birmingham Map. Or why not simply have an afternoon meander around Birmingham City or attempt the Birmingham Walkabout and view the sights.

The following article is for those interested in how November 5th, all begin?

Guy Fawkes was born in York in 1570 and was initially brought up as a protestant. Protestants differ in the degree to which they reject the Catholic belief and practice. Fawkes eventually changed religions by converting to Roman Catholic after learning how Henry VIII (1509-1547), who was a devout Catholic had defended the Church against Protestants as he did not agree with their views. Eventually, however Henry VIII, following the then Popes refusal to grant him a divorce from Catherine of Aragon, declared himself the supreme head of a new Church of England, which was split from Rome and so commenced years of religious conflict in Britain. Until his death in 1547, although still split from Rome, the English Church remained Catholic country.

However, under Henry's son King Edward VI (1547-1553), England became a Protestant country and Catholics were treated badly and their bishops put in prison. When Queen Mary I (1553-1558) came to the throne, England again did a U turn back to Catholicism. The same applied under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603) when England once more became a Protestant country, although Elizabeth looked for ways which were acceptable to both religions and allowed many things from the Catholic religion. When Elizabeth died in 1603, leaving no children Queen Mary's son James I became next in line to the throne. James was also a Protestant and the Catholics became upset that there was to be another Protestant monarch, especially so when James passed a law imposing heavy fines on those who did not attend Protestant church services.

In 1604, under the leader ship of a Robert Catesby, a small group of men decided that violent action was necessary and decided that the answer to the problem was to simply blow up the Houses of Parliament, the date of the deed being set for November 5th of that year. In so doing they would rid England of the new King and Members of Parliament who were making life difficult for all Catholics. The small group eventually totalled thirteen, who had all agreed under oath to join the conspiracy.

The small group acquired 36 barrels of gunpowder to carry out the proposed massacre and managed to store them in cellars directly under the Houses of Lords. They had initially decided on tunnelling their way under the Houses of Parliament but the plan changed when one of the group, a Thomas Percy, was able to hire the cellar. Fawkes, who had previous gunpowder experience, was given the task of igniting the gunpowder.

The plot failed when one of the group, by letter, warned his brother-in-law, Lord Monteagle, not to attend Parliament on the day the explosion was planned. Monteagle became suspicious and passed the letter to a Robert Cecil, the Kings chief minister. A full search of building, on the 5th November, was organised and eventually, during the search of the cellars, the barrels and Guy Fawkes were found.  Fawkes was tortured, he had not had SAS training, and eventually admitted the plot and provided all the names of the men who had formed the group. Fawkes was eventually executed on 31 January 1606, by being hanged, drawn and quartered.

Even if the plot had not been uncovered it was unclear if the conspirators would have pulled of their plan as it has been suggested that the powder was so old that it probably would not have ignited. Did someone try??

On the night of the discovery of the gunpowder plot, bonfires were set alight in celebration of the safety of King James I, since this date 5th November has been known as Bonfire Night and is now commemorated every year with fireworks and the burning effigy of Guy Fawkes country wide.

We at Activ Birmingham, having provided you with the history of Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night, hope you have a very pleasant 5th November evening, wherever you are, enjoy yourself, but be careful and look after the children, especially if it is not an official event as unsupervised bonfire & firework display sometimes result in accidents, with some being very serious.