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New Year’s Eve firework display WILL return to Manchester this year – road closures and event detail

They're back with a bang...

Daisy Jackson - 21st December 2023

For the first time since Covid, Manchester will have a firework display on New Year’s Eve.

The city will once again ring in the new year with a free dazzling display over the city’s skyline, featuring a live DJ set and a huge countdown to midnight.

The family-friendly event will be taking over Castlefield Bowl this year, with capacity for 10,000 people on a first-come first-served basis.

Manchester’s New Year’s Eve firework celebration will be the first to take place here since we rang in 2020 – and we all know what happened after that.

The event will kick off at 10pm on Sunday 31 December with a live DJ set from Hits Radio DJ Jordan Lee.

Then as the clock strikes midnight and we welcome 2024, a huge firework display will illuminate the skies.

Manchester City Council has confirmed that this will be an alcohol-free event, with bag searches in operation, and bags should be limited to being no bigger than A4 size.

Councillor Pat Karney, Christmas and New Year spokesperson for Manchester City Council said: “No-one can deny that 2023 has proved to be quite the year for Manchester with a list of successes in the fields of culture and sport as long as your arm, added to a rapidly growing global reputation as a city to do business with.

“Coming as it does after the dark days of the last few years, we think the time is now right to show how proud we are of our fantastic city and to celebrate it as we close the door on 2023 and look ahead to 2024 and beyond.

“This in no way means we’ve forgotten how hard life is for a lot of people just now, but we do know that bringing people together helps – it’s what Manchester does best.

New Year's Eve fireworks will return to Manchester this year. Credit: Unsplash — New Year’s Eve fireworks will return to Manchester this year. Credit: Unsplash

“Mancunians really are the best people in the world and we can’t think of a better way of welcoming in a new year filled with new possibilities for all of us, than spending it with those we love.”

Castlefield Bowl is in a residential part of Manchester and as such, revellers will be asked to clear the area promptly after the New Year’s Eve fireworks have finished.

Councillor Pat Karney added: “We want everyone to be able to enjoy New Year’s Eve, including the growing number of local residents who live in this part of town.

“I will therefore be working closely with local Deansgate councillors and the Castlefield Forum to ensure that we minimise any nuisance for local residents.”

The event is being delivered by the city council in partnership with Hits Radio.

Road closures for Manchester New Year’s Eve firework display

Duke Place (Duke St – Arena) – 8.30pm – 1am
Rice Street (Duke St – Arena) – 8.30pm to 12.45am (Resident vehicles managed in and out of closure)
Liverpool Rd (Potato Wharf – Lower Byrom St) – 8.30pm – 1am
Duke Street (Stone St – Castle St) – 11pm to 12.45am
Beaufort St (Collier St – Duke St) – 11pm to 12.45am
Castle St (Car Park – Canal Bridge) 11pm to 12.30am (restrictions out of car park between 11.30pm and 12.15am).

Featured image: Photo by Chris Curry on Unsplash