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Fireworks 2025

James

James

TS Founding Member
I wasn't sure whether to post in an existing thread, but since we already had a Fireworks 2024 thread, I thought I might as well create a new one for this year! (Mods, feel free to merge if you feel that's more appropriate)

As discussed in the General Discussion thread, it has been confirmed that the Fireworks event will only run for two nights in 2025, on the 8th and 9th of November, with Friday night cut from the event. Historically, Friday is usually the quietest day in the park, although it's usually a good day to get lots of rides in compared to the rest of the weekend. Presumably, Alton Towers have cut this day because it is the lowest for additional guest spending.

Interestingly, I was watching a TPW video, and Shawn stated there were rumours that the Fireworks event was to be scrapped entirely in 2025 (YouTube link here, mentioned at 16:25). I haven't seen this mentioned on these forums, so I thought it would be interesting to see people's views on this. Obviously, the event is going ahead, but does this suggest Fireworks is at risk from 2026 onwards? I don't believe the event has ever been a huge money spinner. However, I feel it's an important event that should stay much like Scarefest. Will the soon-to-be removal of the internally run entertainment team affect the fireworks event? As we know, a lot of it is already outsourced. However, original storylines have been developed by the Alton Towers entertainment team in the past. Could the 2025 show hark back to a more generic pop melody show with no storyline or theme?

Discuss ahead!
 
James said:
I wasn't sure whether to post in an existing thread, but since we already had a Fireworks 2024 thread, I thought I might as well create a new one for this year! (Mods, feel free to merge if you feel that's more appropriate)

As discussed in the General Discussion thread, it has been confirmed that the Fireworks event will only run for two nights in 2025, on the 8th and 9th of November, with Friday night cut from the event. Historically, Friday is usually the quietest day in the park, although it's usually a good day to get lots of rides in compared to the rest of the weekend. Presumably, Alton Towers have cut this day because it is the lowest for additional guest spending.

Interestingly, I was watching a TPW video, and Shawn stated there were rumours that the Fireworks event was to be scrapped entirely in 2025 (YouTube link here, mentioned at 16:25). I haven't seen this mentioned on these forums, so I thought it would be interesting to see people's views on this. Obviously, the event is going ahead, but does this suggest Fireworks is at risk from 2026 onwards? I don't believe the event has ever been a huge money spinner. However, I feel it's an important event that should stay much like Scarefest. Will the soon-to-be removal of the internally run entertainment team affect the fireworks event? As we know, a lot of it is already outsourced. However, original storylines have been developed by the Alton Towers entertainment team in the past. Could the 2025 show hark back to a more generic pop melody show with no storyline or theme?

Discuss ahead!
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I think at the end of last season everything bar Scarefest had an axe hanging over it, but Merlin don’t give out the budgets until early new year and then the parks have to cut their cloth accordingly. I don’t think they ever want to cut it fully but it is pricey so I would assume until the budget was confirmed Towers would have had to factor in potentially cutting it.
 
I've been going to the Fireworks each year since 2021 and always love it. Every year has been fantastic, with the exception of 2023, which I thought was just OK.

Fireworks are the main reason I get the Platinum MAP, but with one night less, I'm already considering whether to downgrade to Gold.

We've seen fireworks cut from Legoland in recent years, so sadly it's not beyond the realms of possibility that it could be cut entirely next year. I really hope it's not though, as the displays are a perfect mix of storytelling, pyro and special effects. The highlight of every season for me.

I'd be very disappointed if it it was just a bland, generic display this year, without the fantastic Alton storytelling.
 
I mean unfortunately I'll be skipping fireworks, with there being no Friday it's not worth spending the money when it's also highly likely to be scaled back in budget this year too, also they're still charging £240 for a basic ATH room on Friday night for 1 adult and it's an exclusion date so I think they were originally planning for 3 days until recently.
 
It's always been a fantastic way to end the season with a bang (pun intended). To me if your ending at Halloween your not really saying to families 'we are a family resort'.

I find it odd that it's not a huge earner as it's one of the only days of the year full ticket prices or top AP passes are applied. I don't think you can normally get a BOGOF voucher to be used on those day's.

You also have a massive Food & Drink audience as they are in the park till late.

It's another step backwards. I suppose they could label the last weekend 'dark rides', or something but with scarefest just happening I cant see that working. Wasn't a park this year doing fireworks once a month every month?
 
ThemeScream said:
I've been going to the Fireworks each year since 2021 and always love it. Every year has been fantastic, with the exception of 2023, which I thought was just OK.

Fireworks are the main reason I get the Platinum MAP, but with one night less, I'm already considering whether to downgrade to Gold.

We've seen fireworks cut from Legoland in recent years, so sadly it's not beyond the realms of possibility that it could be cut entirely next year. I really hope it's not though, as the displays are a perfect mix of storytelling, pyro and special effects. The highlight of every season for me.

I'd be very disappointed if it it was just a bland, generic display this year, without the fantastic Alton storytelling.
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Well they’ve made/making most of the staff behind last years project redundant so don’t expect the same attention, care or consistency.

Last year was something different, a real creative high to build on. But now it’s gone.

Fireworks should be a premium event and for me I wouldn’t mind an additional fee on top of day entry for all guests (including MAP), if that kept it.
 
Ash said:
Well they’ve made/making most of the staff behind last years project redundant so don’t expect the same attention, care or consistency.

Last year was something different, a real creative high to build on. But now it’s gone.

Fireworks should be a premium event and for me I wouldn’t mind an additional fee on top of day entry for all guests (including MAP), if that kept it.
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If that's within reason and spent on the event. But I feel it will be just another 'car park fee to build better connectivity in local roads to the park' situation.

My big question is why do they need all the massive show lighting infrastructure? To hire and install all those rigs is insane in cost, those big screens cost 1000s per day.

I may should old but I remember when thorpe did the fireworks and laser shows on the lake outside vortex. It was minimal but effective Alton in recent years seems like DLP in terms of Hardwear but temporary... a huge cost... I'm sure the public are happy with alot less but a better experience.
 
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The fireworks had the infrastructure so they can do storylines etc. The screens, lasers and fire are great.
 
Poisson said:
The fireworks had the infrastructure so they can do storylines etc. The screens, lasers and fire are great.
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But that adds so much cost. With DLP I can see it being justified as that permanent cost is spread over years / decades. With Alton all that expensive infrastructure is in place for 2 nights. Fireworks is probably 2 days on site prior and a day after. With all the other lighting, smoke, lasers, fire I expect that to be a week setup before and 3 days after.
 
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Which is why they should invest in a permanent water screen on the lake, and have an Aquanura style fountain show that functions in the day and night
 
SuperMuscleMan said:
But that adds so much cost. With DLP I can see it being justified as that permanent cost is spread over years / decades. With Alton all that expensive infrastructure is in place for 2 nights. Fireworks is probably 2 days on site prior and a day after. With all the other lighting, smoke, lasers, fire I expect that to be a week setup before and 3 days after.
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But if you take that view you may as well just have a couple of "light once" boxes from the local firework pop up shop in Uttoxeter and be done with it!

Why shouldn't they spend big; it draws the crowds in and many - including myself - rate the fireworks displays (certainly since they "went big" with the 2021 40th Anniversary) as one of the best, if not the best in the country. That is defintely an accolade Towers should be building on and promoting.

Towers aren't excelling at much lately, but the fireworks (this year pending) is one area they do currently excel in.
 
SuperMuscleMan said:
those big screens cost 1000s per day.
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They don't. The standard weekly hire rate for an LED screen (per square meter) is £300, which includes the set up cost and supporting structure. That's if you're renting it yourself and not bringing in an events company, with their own tech, to run the event.

Economy of scale also kicks in for the renal of equipment in bulk, from the same supplier, in addition to their tech and event staff.
 
SuperMuscleMan said:
But that adds so much cost. With DLP I can see it being justified as that permanent cost is spread over years / decades. With Alton all that expensive infrastructure is in place for 2 nights. Fireworks is probably 2 days on site prior and a day after. With all the other lighting, smoke, lasers, fire I expect that to be a week setup before and 3 days after.
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As I’m sure many members would attest too, I’ve been banging on about permanent “show” infrastructure for years.

Projection mapping the towers & towers street
A couple of water screens
Set of water fountains

Could make an enormous long term difference

For concerts, special events, fireworks, late summer nights, scarefest, Xmas, half term.
 
All the water screens they have used looked a bit rubbish. I'd rather they sacked them off and had normal screens.

More fire. More explosions. More lasers. More Lights. Not less.

As I said in the other thread, this is what the target should be. Overwhelming. They won't get this good, but why not aim high?

1740080171497.png
 
SuperMuscleMan said:
But that adds so much cost. With DLP I can see it being justified as that permanent cost is spread over years / decades. With Alton all that expensive infrastructure is in place for 2 nights. Fireworks is probably 2 days on site prior and a day after. With all the other lighting, smoke, lasers, fire I expect that to be a week setup before and 3 days after.
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Have you seen the cost for the lasers used at the Alton Towers show? You are talking in a ball park of around £60,000 each, the show the other year used about 6! This doesn't include any show control or infrastructure such as cables, rigging etc. For perspective, the lasers were a small part of lighting used in the show too. So you can imagine the cost at buying.

There is a reason why a very healthy hire business revolves around live shows / festivals in the UK and abroad. A hire company makes their money back, over many years by renting high end equipment to many, many clients. This also means they can afford to upgrade to the latest equipment all the time.
 
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DistortAMG said:
Have you seen the cost for the lasers used at the Alton Towers show? You are talking in a ball park of around £60,000 each, the show the other year used about 6! This doesn't include any show control or infrastructure such as cables, rigging etc. For perspective, the lasers were a small part of lighting used in the show too. So you can imagine the cost at buying.

There is a reason why a very healthy hire business revolves around live shows / festivals in the UK and abroad. A hire company makes their money back, over many years by renting high end equipment to many, many clients. This also means they can afford to upgrade to the latest equipment all the time.
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I work for internal hire at work in a different industry. The kit in our department can top £500k with around £50k per year upkeep on it, per item. Specialist equipment is usually not cheap and not maintenance free, and if not being used constantly makes it poor value to buy. If we don't keep up, we won't get the hire.
 
Cutting the event down by a third is very disappointing. The relative cost saving for 2 nights vs 3 in the grand scheme of things isn't particularly huge - the main saving being on pyro. Everything else has to be rigged and derigged just the same. It's just more of the same really though. Reduce the spend, reduce the experience. Reduce the returning visitorship. Great business model!
 
Alastair said:
Cutting the event down by a third is very disappointing. The relative cost saving for 2 nights vs 3 in the grand scheme of things isn't particularly huge - the main saving being on pyro. Everything else has to be rigged and derigged just the same. It's just more of the same really though. Reduce the spend, reduce the experience. Reduce the returning visitorship. Great business model!
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The pyro is going to be the biggest cost (alongside wages), I’m not justifying it (personally think it’s a stupid idea) but I don’t think it will be a small saving.

Last year rumour was Merlin cut the budget mid-season due to performance, I suppose an optimistic hope would be that instead of assigning all their budget now they are holding back to see what sort of season they have, and might expand fireworks if the season is going well but I really doubt that and I’m not going to hold my breath.
 
DistortAMG said:
Have you seen the cost for the lasers used at the Alton Towers show? You are talking in a ball park of around £60,000 each, the show the other year used about 6! This doesn't include any show control or infrastructure such as cables, rigging etc. For perspective, the lasers were a small part of lighting used in the show too. So you can imagine the cost at buying.

There is a reason why a very healthy hire business revolves around live shows / festivals in the UK and abroad. A hire company makes their money back, over many years by renting high end equipment to many, many clients. This also means they can afford to upgrade to the latest equipment all the time.
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Yes and my point was why not cut back on all this hired stuff... To hire and install it costs a fortune and requires alot of rigging. Why not have an emphasis on fireworks over lighting and effects? Alot less setup and hire costs that way.
 
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