Bonfire Night Party Planner

Who this is for

Run a bonfire or fireworks evening in the garden. Set out the evening's running order with who is responsible for each part, list the food and drink and who is bringing it, and tick off the kit you have decided to have ready.

Households hosting friends, family or neighbours for a bonfire or fireworks evening on or around 5 November, and anyone sharing the hosting with another family.

What this helps you track

• The evening's running order, from arrivals to clearing up
• Who is responsible for each part of the night
• The food and drink, how much of each and who is bringing it
• The kit you have decided to have ready before guests arrive
• What still needs doing on the day

How to use it

1. Write the date, the location, the start time, the host and how many guests you expect.
2. Set out the running order with a time for each part of the evening and a name against it.
3. List the food and drink, the quantity you plan and who is buying or bringing each one.
4. Go through the kit checklist, add anything of your own on the blank lines and tick items as they are ready.
5. Fill it in on paper or in the browser version, which saves in your own browser, and tick the running order off on the night.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The online version keeps what you enter in your own browser and builds the completed PDF on your device.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

Does the planner tell me how to set off fireworks safely?

No. It gives you space to plan the evening and a list to tick, but the safety instructions come from the fireworks themselves and from the guidance and rules where you live, which you should check before the night.

Are there rules about garden bonfires and fireworks?

Often, and they differ by country and council, covering things like times, noise and what can be burnt. The sheet makes no statement about them; check the rules where you are and note anything relevant in the notes.

Can I use it for a street or group event?

It is laid out for a household party, but the running order and food tables work for a small shared event too. For anything larger, use a fuller event plan and keep this for the food and kit lists.

Why is the kit list partly blank?

Every garden and party is different, so the list gives common items and leaves lines for your own. Tick only what you have decided you need; nothing on it is a requirement.