Turn Your Living Room Into A Night Club.  

Push the sofas back against the walls, hang up a disco ball and flashing lights and you are all set. Create a playlist of your family's favourite dance songs, the fast and the slow. For couples, smoochy old favourites will remind you why and when you fell in love. For families with children, a conga line through the house is always fun. 

Dress To The Nines

Half the fun of going out is dressing in your favourite sexy clothes. They haven't had much to do this year. Break them out and add plenty of bling. In the afternoon, treat yourself to an at-home spa day. Line the bathroom with candles and take the time to try out all the pampering goodies you got for Christmas. For the kids, face paint is a great way to set the mood.

Create Your Menu Around An Exotic Location

What better way to get rid of the "stuck in blues" than to imagine yourself in a foodie paradise. For couples, Czarist Russia is full of possibilities. Bellini's loaded with caviar and an excellent sipping vodka will soon have you dancing the Kozachok.  

Stuck for ideas. Try our Italian sample menu.  

Italian sample menu with links to the recipes.

Appetizer

Bruschetta with goats cheese

Main

Fish and seafood crab pappardelle 

Dessert

Italian Apricot Fool

Drinks

BBC Good Food Prosecco Cocktails

The BBC's Good Food Blog is an excellent source of inspiration. If Italian or Russian cuisine isn't your thing, they have a blog showing recipes from sixteen different countries. 

BBC Good Food Mocktails

For the kids.

Get Out & Enjoy The Crisp Air

One thing Covid has taught us is the importance of fresh air, exercise and natural beauty. At the same time, we have been advised not to travel too far from home. Luckily we have been blessed with parks of outstanding natural beauty. In the Bracknell area, we have Lilly Hill Park and Mill Pond in Wokingham, Dinton Pastures and in Reading, Wellington Country Park.

Enjoy A Garden Firework Display

With the professional New Year's Displays mostly cancelled, this is the time to enjoy some spectacular garden fireworks. Keep in mind small children will probably not make it until midnight. At Star Fireworks we have an excellent selection of low noise fireworks that are perfect for early evening displays.

The forecast for our area is frosty and dry so build up a fire, grab a mug of steaming chocolate and start your midnight countdown. Our single ignition fireworks were designed with New Year's Eve in mind. Just light one fuse stand back and enjoy a display in a box.

This year our store is open for click and collect. Check out our page on how to buy your New Year fireworks.

Create A Fabulous 2021 Jar

I think we have all thought of the things we wished we could do in 2020. Many of the events we have longed for are those that we were always too busy to get around to in a normal year. Visting Art galleries or distant friends are a couple of examples. Have each household member write a list of things they intend to do once the world opens up again. Through 2021 take photographs and collect mementoes when you do these things. Pop them in the jar. Open it on New Year's E,ve 2021 and enjoy reminiscing.

With vaccines coming to the rescue, it is time to say goodbye to 2020. Enjoy your evening safely and welcome in a new year of hope.

For the sake of all the kids out there and adults who still act like kids, let's apply some creative thinking and rescue Halloween 2020 from the gloom.

With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, why not make a day of it. Gather your rule of six family or bubble and plan a day of old fashioned fun.

Don't Spare The Costumes.

Forget the store-bought costumes this year and involve everyone in crafting their costumes. Gather dress-up clothes, makeup, jewellery and a few Pinterest boards for inspiration. Create a family theme it could be as simple as witches or as exotic as a Dia De Los Muertos. This is also a good way to save money and the planet from disposable clothing. The New York Times has a great article on how to make masks.

Decorate The House And Garden.

Instead of focusing on the front of the house, bring your decorations inside and into the back garden. Save some of the more creative tasks for the day so the kids can enjoy decorating pumpkins and hanging spooky cobwebs.
Decorate the garden with torches and smoking pumpkins for a Druid vibe. A scary cake firework will round out the evening.

Involve the community

Just like the Thursday clap for the NHS, a small gesture helps relieve isolation and bring the community together. Email, phone or post flyers to suggest neighbours gather on their doorsteps at 7 pm to view and applaud the kid's costumes.

Scary Movie Night 

If You Don't Have A Garden you live in a flat or just love to watch movies fill plastic buckets with popcorn and sweets and settle on the sofa for a night of horrors. The Cut has an extensive list of the best films

Zoom Halloween

While we may be Zoomed out it is still the safest way to stay connected with family and friends. If you have a large extended family with lots of kids you could arrange to have each child give a short performance. Coach them to do something that connects to their costume and have every child win a prize.

For singletons play a game of charades where all the words are Halloween themed. Heads Up is another party game that works well on zoom.

Halloween Sweety Hunt

Instead of trick or treating hide sweets around the house just like an easter egg hunt. For older kids and adults you could even set up a scavenger hunt with clues that lead to one grand prize. 

We hope this gives you some ideas for a happy Halloween.

The team at Star Fireworks includes animal lovers and pet parents who also happen to love fireworks. After comparing notes and talking to Veterinarians, we have come up with the following guide to calming pets who are afraid of loud noises. We hope you find this guide useful and it helps your pets have a stress free Bonfire Night.

Small Pets

Small Pets such as Rabbits, Rodents and Birds should be brought into a quiet room or the garage. Give your pets extra bedding to burrow into so they feel secure. Aviaries and hutches can be covered with a thick blanket to block out the sight and sound of the fireworks. However, make sure there is enough ventilation.

Dogs and Cats

Dogs and Cats should always be kept inside when fireworks or a loud thunderstorm is expected. Close all windows and doors, and block off cat flaps to stop pets escaping and to keep noise to a minimum. According to studies (Crowell-Davis et al., 2003) 90% of stressful dogs can be helped.

 Arranging Your Home

Allow cats and dogs to pace about and find a favourite hiding place. Prepare the hiding place with blankets and pillows to muffle the noise and reduce flashing light. Close curtains and blinds as this will also reduce noise and stimuli. Familiar noises such as music, the television or the washing machine are also useful to drown out the bangs and whistles.

Through A Dogs Ear is a website with musical downloads that have been pet tested to calm your dog in many different situations. The Dogs Trust has compiled a selection of free downloads of noises that can be played to puppies to socialise them to sounds they may have to deal with. This early exposure is a great way to head off future problems.

The Show Tech Ear Buddy also helps muffle sound and has the added benefit of protecting your dog's ears while grooming. It is a good idea to get your dog familiar with it before they are in a stressful situation.

Distractions

Walk your dog in the morning before Fireworks are expected. Exercise is the best way to bring your dog into a calm state. Marrow bones, training exercises and problem-solving toys are all great ways to distract your dog from the noise.

How to Act

Dogs and some cats are influenced by the way their owners are behaving. The best thing you can do for your pet is stay calm and talk in a level reassuring voice. Do not try to sound cheerful as this can be exciting to your pet and raise anxiety.

Battersea Dogs Home has a wonderful video on how to train your dog to be calm during firework season.

Interventions

If you don't have time to train your dog to accept firework noises Fetch.co.uk has many remedies for a quick intervention. The ones we have tried and found effective are The Thunder Shirt Calming Dog Vest, Adaptil Plug-in Diffuser and YuCalm dog stress and Anxiety Supplement. They also have products that are great for cats. 

To learn more about Star Fireworks Display Company visit our website www.starfireworks.co.uk. 

Star Fireworks was established in 1971 as a family business in Bracknell.

Since then, we have evolved into an Award Winning Firework Display Company with a growing list of clients both at home and overseas. Among our many trophies, is the award for the British Champion of Champions Firework Display Company. 

Today Star Fireworks is known as the number one pick for Wedding and Family Celebration Firework Displays. 

In recent years we have gained a reputation for quality firework displays for high profile clients and venues. Top bands and musicians have chosen Star Fireworks to enhance their spectacular concerts. These include The Rolling Stones, Christina Aguilera, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Dame Shirley Bassey.

Our displays have electrified crowds at Britain's largest stadiums such as Wembley Arena and The City of Manchester Stadium. Bespoke displays at The Royal Botanical Gardens Kew and Hampton Court, demonstrate our flexibility when working with historical buildings and classic settings.

Our Skilled handling of indoor pyrotechnics and special effects has made us a favourite with top UK T.V. producers. Notably, we provided the fireworks for Big Brother from 2002 to the final days of the show. It is safe to say that millions of viewers have enjoyed our fireworks.

Our corporate clients include such household names as Marks and Spencer, Waitrose Stores, Nissan and BMW. We have spanned the globe, creating overseas events for the Crown Prince of Dubai, The Royal Air Force and International Banks.

Bonfire Night and New Year displays for councils and PTA's are a key part of our repertoire. From huge cities such as Liverpool and Manchester to smaller towns in the Berkshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire area, we approach each show with hometown pride.

While we enjoy star-studded extravaganzas we never forget our mission;

• To provide safe, affordable, spectacular displays to Local Authorities, Charities and Rotary Clubs.
• To produce unforgettable, breathtaking Wedding Displays.
• To build lasting relationships with Wedding Venues, Production Companies and Local Councils through constant striving for excellence.

With one of the highest customer retention rates in the business bookings, you can be confident we will deliver the display of your dreams.

Your display is our display and our displays are star quality.

To learn more about Star Fireworks Display Company visit our website www.starfireworks.co.uk. 

Bonfire Night is all about tradition; stick to a menu of perennial favourites to transport your guests back to the Guy Fawkes of their childhood. The nostalgic vibe and mouth-watering aromas will immediately get them into the Bonfire Night spirit.

• Baked Potatoes

Rub the potatoes with butter, salt and pepper and wrap them in foil. Place them around the edge of the fire. Wait until you have glowing embers for the best results. Use a long metal barbeque fork to remove them from the fire. Hold in gloved hands and slaver with butter.

• Sausages

Roasting your sausages over the fire with metal kebab sticks is the authentic way to cook this treat. However, if you have young children or a large number of guests, you may prefer to cook them in the oven.The Food Network has some recipes that will up your hot dog game.

• Treacle Toffee 

Good Food has an excellent method for preparing this teeth-cracking smokey sweet delight.

• Parkin

 Popular in the North of England, Parkin is a spicy ginger cake. our favourite recipe comes from The Daring Gourmet .

• Mugs Of Steaming Soup 

Cups of soup are a fantastic addition to any autumn outdoor get together. Not only are they deliciously warming, they are easy to negotiate with gloved hands. Check out Pinch of Yum's recipe for simple homemade tomato soup or keep it really simple, heat up the Heinz Cream of Tomato and toss in cheesy croutons. 

2. Plan The Drinks Menu

Bonfire Night parties are a bit of a conundrum; common sense says that alcohol and explosives are probably not the best mix. However, this is a British party, right? The solution is a designated firework lighter willing to wait until after the show to imbibe.

Another good idea is to serve heated drinks as they will not only beat the chill but will be slightly lower in alcohol content. Mulled wine and hot spiced cider are tasty options or add a period flavour with mulled mead.

To make mulled mead pour good quality flat mead into a large saucepan. Fill a muslin mulling bag with 1/2 tsp of crushed cloves, 1 crushed nutmeg, a teaspoon of chopped ginger and a couple of slices of orange and lemon rind, plus a 2" cinnamon stick. Add to the mead and gently warm or for a dramatic effect, heat a poker on the bonfire and plunge it into the mead.

Fireworks create such euphoria you may be surprised how little booze is required to keep the party swinging.

3. Look For A Fabulous Firework Shop

What is more fun than a bustling firework shop filled with incendiary goodies? Many of our customers exclaim that our Bracknell shop is like a sweet shop for grown-ups. While our shop may induce memories of fireworks past our fireworks certainly don't. Another oft-heard comment is, " Oh fireworks have come a long way since my day." If you have not been to a real firework shop lately and have been relying on supermarkets, sad selection believe me you are in for a treat.

4.Choose Your Fireworks

OK, so this has to be the best part of the planning stage. Shop a couple of weeks early, so the staff at the firework shop have time to spend with you. Our team are all self confessed, firework geeks. Let them know the size of your venue and the age group of your guest.They are incredibly knowledgable and will point you in the right direction.

If your designated firework lighter is also a firework geek one of our mega selection boxes such as The Desert Storm Crate will provide plenty of entertainment and an extended display. If you are looking for a quick, dramatic show and then let's get back to the drinking, then a selection of our impressive cakes will do the job.

Do not forget to add a few fireworks for old times sake such as Catherine Wheels and Fountains.

5. Pick Your Night

Competiton for guests at Bonfire Night Parties can be tough. There are so many excellent displays going on in the Bracknell/Reading area. The 5th of November 2019 falls on a Tuesday so why not plan your party the Friday before. 

Keep in mind that the 5th of November is the only night in November you can light fireworks up to Midnight. All other nights you must be finished by 11 pm. If you choose an alternate date, let your neighbours know so they can calm their pets.

6. Pull Out All The Stops With A Fancy Dress Party

Adding a fancy dress theme to your party is one way to ensure added interest. Guy Fawkes provides lots of opportunities for juicy dress-up ideas.How about a period twist on Vicars and Tarts; Puritans and Harlots.

7. Decorate Your Venue

Fairy Lights always add a festive touch to garden parties. If your venue is a farmers field or large garden consider slow-burning wax torches. They add a delectable pagan feel. Did you know that until 1859 everyone in England was required to celebrate Gunpowder Treason Day, in thanksgiving for the failure of the Gun Powder Plot? It is rumoured that the Protestant Church saw this as a way to co-opt and end the celebration of the pagan festival Samhain

The craft shops are full of Autumn decorations, many of which go on sale after Halloween. Add a few Jacobean touches, a couple of Guys, and voila you are set for Bonfire Night.

8. Get Your Invites Out Early And Make Them Stand Out

In these days of information overload who opens their emails? Phone calls and texts slip our mind in a couple of minutes. For a truly successful party consider a unique piece of snail mail. A small box of treacle toffee would certainly get attention. Include all the details, such as the best place to park and the theme.

If you are not actually sure what a Post Office is, then create an enrolling video invite.

9. Divide Up The Work And Cost

Well yes, this sounds like a lot to pull off so why not invite your guests to help. For larger parties, divide your guest list into three groups food, drinks and fireworks. Request that your guests bring one item from the group you have placed them in. The beauty of this method is you know in which area your friends excel. Be sure to have firm confirmations. If one group is full of regrets, then provide the required items. This way at least 2/3rds of the job has been delegated.

10. Build your Bonfire

Before building your bonfire, consider the size of your garden or party venue. Keep in mind that you will need a location to ignite your fireworks that is well away from the fire. Your bonfire should also be in an area that is free from overhanging trees or any building that could be damaged by sparks.

If you have a fire pit, this is the safest way to contain your fire. If you do not have a pit you can create a fire bed by hollowing out a cavity in the ground and lining it with rocks.

On our cold November nights, your guests will want to enjoy the fire, so be sure there is plenty of space to move around it.

Follow our tips for an extraordinary party, have fun and stay safe.

Here are a few ideas that we have found to be super ice breakers and lots of fun.

1. If Your Canine Friend Is Well Socialised Invite Him/Her 

This is a great idea for rustic and back garden weddings. After your intended, Fido is the love of your life. Naturally you want to share this day with him. Extra smart pooches have even been known to carry the rings down the aisle. 

Truth be told weddings can be a little nerve racking. Studies show that interacting with pets reduces stress and lowers blood pressure. Having your pet there on the day is sure to help every one relax. Best news of all, your pet ambassador works for free!

2. Biodegradable Confetti 

What could be dreamier than clouds of rose petals or showers of delphiniums. Most venues and churches are happy to allow flower confetti as it cuts down on clean up and will not harm local wildlife. Look for freeze dried petals as these will retain their colour and shape longer. 

3. Occupy The Kids

Organised games keep kids happy and allows their parents to relax and enjoy the party. DIY weddings could include a cup cake decorating station. For more formal affairs, party favours including colouring books and crayons help to keep the little ones quite. Hiring or enrolling a nanny for the day, will cement your reputation, as the most considerate of brides.

4. Serve A Signature Cocktail

Once the service is over and the wedding party is busy with photos, guests can feel at a loose end. This is the moment to have a signature cocktail served. Invent your own or pick your favourite drink from the night you met. Include a board explaining what this drink means to you both

For themed weddings there are a myriad of choices. Butter Beer for Harry Potter fans or Mead if you are in medieval mode. Suddenly both sides of the family are mingling happily and the party is on its way.

5. Signed Guest Frames.

Jacki Chen wedding photographer at Digifocus Photography swears by guest frames, " lots of wedding couple are using it now rather than the guestbook, which ends up in a drawer somewhere never to be seen. These are totally bespoke and the couple can choose the colour and style of frame. Also the colour of mount and pen used."

This is another activity that fills time when the photographs are being taken. Place an engagement portrait in temporarily and then replace with a wedding photograph, creating a beautiful memento that will bring you pleasure down the years.

6. For The Height Of Society Swank Hire A Toastmaster.

So you have your dream wedding planned down to the last minute. Hopefully the Maid of Honour and Best Man will take it from there. All you have to do is show up, be beautiful and have fun. If that is a scary thought why not hire a professional? Tim Podesta professional toastmaster says," hiring a Toastmaster as Master of Ceremonies for your very special wedding event ensures the day runs smoothly. The Bride and Groom stay stress free and can focus on  each other."

7. Dancing With The Clouds

Add glamour to your first dance with dry ice and theatrical pyrotechnics. Real dry ice creates romantic clouds that swirl around your feet for 6-7 minuets. Perfect timing for your first dance. Avoid smoke machines as they will fill the room with smoke and set off the fire alarms!

8. Photobooths

As Trish from Fotomoji Booth Co. says, " every single photo booth picture we've seen all have the same thing in common: people are genuinely having a blast. Props or no props, they all look like they're enjoying every moment of it. Watch them strut, sashay, whip and nae nae, but most of all, watch them laugh and giggle at your event. "

We could not agree more.

Photos courtesy of The Best Photo Booth

9. Music

Nothing compares to live music: the haunting loveliness of violin or harp; the foot stomping fun of folk or blue grass. However if live music is beyond your budget then a great DJ can get the party rocking. Do you have friends who love to perform? Give them a chance to show their love with a song or a dance.

10. Wedding Firework Display 

Wedding Fireworks add a truly spectacular bust of energy to your Wedding Reception. At Star Fireworks we find our adrenalin-boosting displays lifts guests to new heights of delight. For sheer colour and artistry there is nothing to compare. Additional Brownie points are available if you surprise your Groom with the show. Weddings tend to be designed around the Bride. Show your love by surprising him with a Firework Display; entertainment guaranteed to turn your groom into an ecstatic, wide eyed, boy.

11. Pyrotechnic Send Off 

Exiting your reception through a tunnel of fairy sparklers is the ultimate in photogenic romance. When followed by  an avenue of fiery fountains you are sure to feel as glamorous as a Hollywood movie star.

For more information on Wedding Fireworks, Dancing with the Clouds and Pyrotechnic Send Offs visit Starfireworks.co.uk.

Thank you to The Best Photobooths, Tim Podesta, Jacki Chen, Berkshire Wedding Fairs and  Pixabay for additional photos and information.

Alongside fireworks they are special effects galore available from Star Fireworks for the rest of your special day. To really excite your guests, surprise everyone with confetti. Confetti Cannons are your best bet to hand out to a few key people. An added bonus: your photos will look amazing!

As if confetti wasn't enough how about creating the perfect moment for your first dance by Dancing on the Clouds? This brand new effect covers your dance floor in low level dry ice creating clouds for you and your loved one to glide over. Using the dry ice rather than the usual smoke machine is much more effective and venue friendly. The dry ice stays at ankle height and doesn't interfere with the venue's smoke alarms. Another beautiful photo opportunity and an ingenious way for brides to ditch their painful shoes and dance away without anyone realising.

Keeping with dry ice, our dry ice party pack for adults will liven up any bar area. Cocktails, shots and jugs of your chosen drink can be turned into bubbling clouds of flavoured vapour with our food grade dry ice. The pack includes everything you need from specially adapted cocktail stirrers to shot glasses and of course a huge box of dry ice which will serve over 100 drinks throughout the night. Smoking!

These funky characters aren't like usual balloons, they are huge helium filled Air Walkers both standing at 50” tall. The specially weighted balloons allow the Bride and Groom characters to walk on air. You can of course choose to tether them to a set place, they make great decorations for your reception.

If you'd like any further information about the featured products please get in touch with a member of our team on 01344 425321 or email sales@starfireworks.co.uk

www.starfireworks.co.uk

Lets have fireworks! Wow, that’s a great idea. Who doesn’t love fireworks? The enchantment they add to Weddings, Fund Raisers and Balls, just can’t be beaten. However once the excitement dies down and you have volunteered to choose a firework display company, where do you start?

• 1. Safety, safety, safety. There I have said it 3 times because it truly is that important. As beautiful as fireworks are, they are also explosives. When you are working with an upmarket venue for a wedding or corporate event, their preferred supplier is usually professionally certified. However if you are organising a PTA fundraiser or charity event be sure to check safety certification and liability insurance.

All Star Fireworks display teams are trained to BPA (British Pyrotechnists Association ) accreditation. Display directors Andy and Sean are certified by the BPA as senior firers and are also members of the Institute of Explosive Engineers. They carry £10 million in public liability insurance for your peace of mind.

• 2. When you first contact a display company, look for companies that discuss your site plan and ideas in depth before quoting your event? Companies that give you an instant quote are probably shooting from the hip and should be avoided at all costs. Not all sites are safe or suitable for fireworks displays. Professional firework companies are incredibly detail orientated and safety conscious. If you feel you are being rushed into signing a contract that can also be a bad sign. Deliberate and detailed is the firework code.

Star Fireworks are experts at analysing your site and helping you create a safe, spectacular event. Their experience with working with local councils and writing detailed risk assessments takes the worry off your shoulders. They will often see solutions you have not considered, such as firing from barges or off the roof of buildings. As the resident fireworks company since 2002 on the set of Big Brother you can trust their theatrical experience to create a thrilling event.

• 3. Do they have a good reputation in your community? Have you heard about their displays from friends and neighbours. This can be far more important than the price quoted for the display. Let’s face it, in life you generally get what you pay for. Hair cuts, pizza, even lawn care might be places you can cut corners. Firework displays unfortunately are not. Friends, family and customers will be extremely vocal when they are expecting WOW and receive fizzle.

Star Fireworks have an outstanding reputation. In 2015 they received the Bracknell Business of the year award and they are the reigning British Fireworks Champion of Champions. They have been delivering exceptional firework displays in Berkshire for over 30 years. Their Guy Fawkes Night and Hogmanay firework displays are enjoyed at events all over the UK. True to their roots they still work with schools and charities that have smaller budgets. They also offer the best, value priced wedding packages of any certified firework company.

• 4. Who gives the biggest bang for the buck. While we acknowledge that price should not be the the deciding factor when choosing a fireworks display company, we all have to work within our budget. Plus nothing takes the joy out of an event more than discovering you have paid too much for it.

Star Fireworks have been retained year after year by school PTA’s, charities, festivals and wedding venues. The reason for their success is their commitment to producing blockbuster shows at the fairest possible price. Star Fireworks wedding shows compete and often beat the price of firework display companies all over the UK. All without sacrificing quality.

• 5. Do they have the technology to live up to your expectations? Creating large, impressive fireworks displays require a range of multi media elements. Lasers, audio, lighting projection, searchlights and special effects all go into creating todays cutting edge displays.

Star Fireworks have fired shows for the biggest names in show business. The Rolling Stones and Red Hot Chili Peppers to name a few. Star Fireworks use FireOne, the worlds most advanced digital firing system. Our director Andy is one of only a few firework professionals in the UK who trained in the USA and are certified to a ‘master’ level on the FireOne computer fireworks firing system. Christmas light shows in Bracknell and Derry are enhanced by Star Fireworks huge outdoor snow machines, laser projections and biodegradable confetti.

Andy and Sean travel to seminars from the USA to Japan ensuring they are on top of the latest technology. What ever the size of show, bringing your firework dreams to life is their passion.

For more information on Star Fireworks Display Company visit www.starfireworks.co.uk or call 0800 7810511

Wether you child is a conscientious overachiever or a last minute crammer it is time to teach them the importance of a good work life balance. 

At Star Fireworks that means PARTY!! Graduation Balls and Prom Nights are a celebration of hard work and a time that will never come again. The camaraderie of days spent in the trenches with class mates and fellow grunts is now over. The serious business of earning a living or going to Uni soon begins. Despite the best intentions friends will go their separate ways and only share the occasional Facebook Post.

Fireworks at Military Balls are a long standing tradition. We have provided many spectacular fireworks displays for our friends in the Military.

It is always an exceptional occasion for our teams. Nothing beats the sight of young girls in long dresses, glowing with excitement and wonder. While for guys, fireworks are compensation for dressing up. Let them know there is going to be fireworks and watch their enthusiasm grow.

This is a tradition that we believe should spread. While we often put on displays in Oxford and Cambridge most schools and universities have yet to considered fireworks. Which is a shame because they are such a great finale to the entertainment.

Fireworks are a great way to say," Well done, we are proud of you". 

While budget is always a consideration our professional display teams are surprisingly cheap. Especially if your school is in the Reading, Wokingham or Oxford area. 

There is also the option of a " do it your self display ". No need to go crazy. As fireworks are just a part of the evening  you do not need a "Guy Fawkes Night" size display. We offer many single ignition fireworks, that constitute a display in a box. Be sure to have a responsible parent designated as the firer, if you decide to go this route.     

Sparklers are also a great way to light up photos. Arrange them in metal buckets of sand with a suggested photo op time. Throwing graduation hats in the air while holding sparklers aloft perfectly expresses joy and release. 

As always at Star Fireworks our goal is to add a touch of magic to your family events. To create luminous memories you will carry down the years.  

• Up until 1959 it was illegal NOT to celebrate Bonfire Night.

• Get this, if you've ever had a dream about fireworks, it is likely that you love being the centre of attention and like to show off. It also symbolises exhilaration and enthusiasm.

• A rocket can reach speeds of up to 150mph or even faster! A shell can reach heights of up to 200 metres.

• A firework is just a chemical reaction. Colours are created by mixing certain chemicals together. The hardest colour to create is blue.

• The largest firework ever fired was a shell weighing a huge 420kg with a diameter of 120 metres. The shell required a 12 metre long mortar tube to be fired.

• A festival in Taiwan called the Yanshui Beehive festival is a very dangerous place to be. The festival involves thousands of fireworks being launched into crowds of people being protected by only a helmet, scarf, gloves and goggles.

• A firework rocket produced and fired in Portugal is known to be the largest rocket ever made. The rocket weighed 13kg!

• The first fireworks ever made were apparently made from long pieces of bamboo stuffed with gunpowder. These bamboo rockets were made by the Chinese and used to scare away evil spirits over 2000 years ago.

• The world record for the most rockets fired in 30 seconds is held by a company called Pyroworks International. Over 125,800 rockets were fired from the Philippines back in 2010.