Bonfire party ideas

What is Bonfire Night?

In the early hours of November 5th 1605, a man named Guy Fawkes was caught in the cellar of parliament with 36 barrels of gunpowder, and consequently executed for plotting to blow up parliament and kill King James I. Later that same night, bonfires were lit in celebration of the safety of the King, and this has turned into the tradition we know today of lighting bonfires - along with effigies of Fawkes - to remember that fateful night.

If you’re wondering how to celebrate this Bonfire Night, here are some of our favourite ideas…

Bonfire Night Recipes

To kick off, why not cook up some tasty treats for the whole family?

Crunchy Toffee Apples (makes 6)

A firm favourite on Bonfire night, these are easy to make and taste delicious:

1. Wash the apples of your choice and poke skewers into their middles
2. Over a low heat, dissolve 300g demerara sugar, 3tbsp golden syrup and 25g salted butter in a pan with 75ml of water
3. Add a small dash of cider vinegar and stir through
4. Dip one apple at a time in the toffee sauce and ensure it’s fully coated
5. Finally, roll it in one of our tasty Granola varieties for a little added bite
6. Place on a lined baking tray or board to serve

Hot Apple/Cider Punch

Can be made with alcohol or apple juice, but both options are equally moreish:

1. Pour 2L of apple juice or cider into a saucepan and place on a gentle heat
2. Add 2 tsp vanilla extract, a stick of cinnamon, a pinch of ground cloves or 6 whole cloves, 3 or 3 star anise, and some grated nutmeg to taste
3. Simmer but don’t boil
4. If necessary, add a few teaspoons of sugar
5. Pour into glasses and serve warm
6. Please remember to drink responsibly folks.

Craft Ideas for Kids

With lots of adults around to entertain, it can sometimes be difficult to keep the kids on board too. A couple of crafty activities can work wonders.

Catherine wheels

All you need is a few paper plates, paint, threads of sequins, star stickers and sticky tape.

1. Begin by drizzling paint onto the paper plate and repeat with a second colour.
2. Tip the pate so the paint mixes and try to spin it around to create a cool pattern (you might want to do this outside or protect the walls and floor with old/dust sheets)
3. Decorate the plate with the threads of sequins and star stickers for that added touch
4. Punch a hole in the top of the plate so it can be used as a mobile, or stick it directly on the fridge!

Indoor Sparklers

These are especially great if it’s raining, and they’re much safer too! Grab some old tinsel, skewers, sticky tape, plasticine and a pair of scissors.

1. Roll a small ball of plasticine and use it to cover the pointy end of the skewer
2. Cut a small length of tinsel and wrap it around the plasticine, securing with a piece of tape
3. Wave them around in the air!

Safety first

While Bonfire Night is fantastic fun, it can also be dangerous so it’s vital that you keep yourself and others safe. Fireworks travel up to 150 mph so they have the potential to cause serious harm; but have no fear, we have some top safety advice to ensure you have a wonderful time.

• When lighting a firework, ensure there are no flammable objects near-by and that everyone else is standing indoors or well away from the area
• Once the firework has gone off and it’s safe to go back, clean up and place the remaining pieces in a bucket of cold water until you’re finished for the evening
• Animals should be kept inside, with windows and curtains closed to keep noise and light stress to a minimum
• If your pet is hiding under the furniture, let them stay there and leave them alone as trying to get them out will only cause them more distress
• If you’re planning a bonfire, make sure you check it before you light it as you may have a acquired a few hedgehog friends while it’s been stacked in your garden

There’s still a few days left so don’t forget to remember, remember the 5th of November…

Oh – but before you go, we’ve also got a great competition running throughout November to Win Kilner Goodies, including a clip-top storage set and a hamper of yummy granola. What are you waiting for? Enter today!