Sultan announces 2025 edition of fireworks occasion
By Connor Steel
LOCAL RESIDENTS have been invited to attend the annual ‘HMS Sultan Bonfire and Fireworks Night’ to be held in its usual October Half Term holiday slot; the training establishment announcing that tickets are now available to purchase for this year’s edition that will be marking the eightieth anniversary of both Victory in Europe (VE) and Japan (VJ) days.
The 2025 edition is scheduled to be held on October 30 (Thursday) with the gates opening at 5:30pm and there will be a mix of activities to enjoy; including funfair rides, games and refreshment spaces. The main attractions are planned to begin at 7:30pm with this bonfire lighting and later a VE / VJ anniversary themed firework display starting from 8:30pm.
Mark Collins (Nation Radio) will be guiding visitors through this event and 1940 music tunes will be played through the fireworks display, which will be approximately twenty-minutes in length and is set to celebrate its ‘Greatest Generation’. Gates will close at 10:45pm and toilet facilities / disabled access are to be available alongside several volunteer teams.
Tickets have been launched online via their website and they must all be purchased before attending the event with no cash entry to be accepted on the night. Parking will be available for a small cost of £5 per vehicle and must be brought alongside entry tickets; this event again operating a designated area within the grounds of Sultan to be open after 5pm.
Early Bird tickets are available until October 26 and will see adults gain entry for £7 per person, whilst every child ticket is priced at £4 for those aged between three and fifteen years old. Children under three will gain free entry and a family of two adults / two children will cost just £20 with visitors urged to purchase their tickets earlier to avoid disappointment.
If purchased after October 26 these prices will rise to £10 per adult and £5 for a child ticket whilst a family will cost £25 to enter with no guarantees of availability. There will also be two entrances with different postcodes; the ‘parking areas’ being available by searching for PO13 9XH or PO13 9XF whilst the on-foot entrances can be found near to PO12 3TR.
Visitors are reminded that there will be required security checks to keep everyone safe and therefore people are asked to arrive with plenty of time, thus avoiding the long queues seen in 2021 that saw many miss this ‘occasion’. Residents are also advised there could be increased traffic in Gosport throughout the evening, particularly in Grange and Rowner.
PICTURED BY ORLA MARIE STEEL: Bonfire crackles into life against a large crowd at HMS Sultan during past event.
