Freedom Festival Fireworks over Hull

Hull will be celebrating in style this weekend. With the Freedom Festival coming to a spectacular and dramatic close, and the biggest fireworks display Hull has ever seen.

At 10.15 pm sharp the largest fireworks display in Hull's history will commence, launching more than 12,000 fireworks skyward at a cost of £28,000. Worth every penny.

The fireworks themselves will be set off from key city landmarks, such as the tidal surge barrier. There will also be a barge in the river launching massive fireworks into the city's night-time sky.

Some of the city's key landmarks, including the River Hull tidal surge barrier, will be used as a launch pad for the fireworks along with a barge in the Humber will also be used as part of the display.

Thousands of people will be watching the city's firework spectacular from vantage points around the city with the best viewing areas near The Deep car park and the marina and waterfront areas. These viewing spots will fill up quickly and access is granted from 9.15 pm so we recommend that you get there early to grab a good perch for the show.

Councillor John Robinson, portfolio holder for culture at Hull City Council, said:

"The Freedom fireworks offers an opportunity to see the city centre sky lit up like never before, which is a reflection of the scale of the fantastic Freedom Festival weekend. The fireworks will be enjoyed by people celebrating across the city, the Clipper crews, their families and visitors to the yacht race and Freedom Festival. It will also be seen across the world through documentaries and television coverage."

The display is part of a three-day dance, arts and music festival, with live performances from the likes of JLS, Alesha Dixon, Pixie Lott, Florence and the Machines, and Peter Andre. And coincides with the launching of the Clipper 09-10 Round The World Yacht race on Sunday afternoon and a BBC last night of the Proms on a Sunday evening.

Janet Reuben, chief executive of Visit Hull and East Yorkshire, said:

"With international musicians, the last night at the proms, the start of the Clipper 09-10 Round The World Yacht Race and the biggest fireworks display ever seen in Hull, this city is really going to come alive."

The Freedom Festival follows on from the celebrations held in 2007, to mark the bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act in 1807. Hull MP William Wilberforce was instrumental in the passing of the act.

Hull has been promised some surprises and some unexpected events during the display which has already got people speculating as to what exactly they are going to see over the weekend. One thing is for sure, it is going to be a brilliant few days for the City and give them something to live up to for future firework displays.

The fireworks are scheduled to start at 10.15pm on the Saturday Night, get there early, the gates open at 9.15pm. The best spots for viewing are at The Deep car park and all the waterfront areas near the marina. See you there!