Lichfield Festival fireworks display axed

A popular free firework show in Lichfield which has been running for 30 years has been axed, despite up to 7,000 people flocking to last year's event.

Organisers of the Lichfield Festival decided not to run the spectacular display which traditionally concludes the 12-day event at Beacon Park.

Instead revellers will be charged £10 a ticket for a circus in the park as organisers decided that a programme change was needed.

Festival manager Peter Bacon said after last year's 30th anniversary they wanted to "mark a change" and so used this year as an "opportunity to make the festival different".

The Lichfield Festival features music, dance, drama, film, and literature at venues across the city, and is usually brought to a close by a fireworks finale.

Mr Bacon said: "It is a really exciting event we have in its place, called the No Fit State Circus, but it does mean that we need to charge for tickets as it is a cost to put this on. So it is replacing the usual fireworks.

"I hope people will understand that we need to do something new. Things can't carry on the same as they do forever, everything needs a change."

Mr Bacon denied the move was down to any funding problems.

However city councillor Norma Bacon said losing the fireworks was a big disappointment.

"The end of the festival should go with that big bang. I was quite surprised when I found out about it. I thought that it was going to be the circus and then the fireworks, I didn't realise that there were no fireworks at all.

"I do think, while they need to cover their costs, £10 is quite steep, especially in this economy. I think there are going to be a lot of disappointed people. I know that the festival costs money to run but people look forward to this every year."

The Lichfield Festival has been running since July 4 and will come to a close with the circus on Sunday.

By Claire Fry