A new fair and firework event took place recently in Blackburn. Held in Corporation Park on Friday and Saturday, October 1 and 2, the event was promoted by Brinley Gore and family.
Since the easing of lockdown at the beginning of April, Blackburn with Darwen Council has been very supportive to show people, allowing many fairs to take place on public land throughout the borough.
There were no fewer than 11 fairs in the five-and-half months prior to Gore’s latest visit, which was due to be followed by the traditional bonfire at Witton Park on November 6, with Michael Mulhearn as lessee. Mega Value Fun Parks (Cowie & Wynn) and the Lancashire Section of The Showmen’s Guild were among other fairground providers.
In addition to Corporation Park, Brinley Gore and family also presented fairs this summer in Blackburn’s Queens Park and Bold Venture Park in Darwen. Unlike those earlier events, with only juvenile attractions in attendance, the October fixture featured a handful of major attractions.
Corporation Park is a traditional Victorian park created in 1857. Designated with Grade 11 listed status and a Green Flag Award, it is located half a mile from Blackburn town centre.
Promoted as a Firework Spectacular with Mega Fun Fair and Tree Lighting Illuminations, the event was advertised on social media, with a feature in the Lancashire Telegraph, and big banners on portable fencing. These were placed outside the main entrance to the park on the busy Preston New Road, as well as prominent positions on Barbara Castle Way – one of the main routes through the town centre.
In addition to the major rides and attractions, there were nine juvenile pieces of equipment, headed by Gore’s Fun Fairs‘ Runaway Train family coaster. Two  game stalls were provided by the lessee and Lloyd Holland and three catering kiosks (two from the lessee’s family and one from Harriet Hill completed the line-up.
Unfortunately, on both nights rain fell, with some really heavy downpours on Saturday that would have had a serious impact on numbers. Nevertheless, it was not enough to stop the excellent firework displays on both nights, which lit up the skies over Blackburn for over 10 minutes each.
Key rides and attractions were: Lincoln Gore’s Joker Jump & Smile, Nicholas Hill’s Mad Max Miami and Twister, Leonard George Chadwick’s Ghost Train and Warren Taylor’s Fun City Fun House
Photo: Looking down the ground at Blackburn’s new fireworks event.
