Celebrating Bonfire Night at Home: Safe and Fun Ideas for the Whole Family!

Preparing for Bonfire Night

Bonfire Night is nearly here, anf for many, it’s a chance to enjoy fireworks, warm drinks, and family time. But if you’d rather skip the busy displays and create your own cosy evening, celebrating Bonfire Night at home can be just as magical—and a much safer option, too. Here at CareYourWay, we’re all about making family celebrations enjoyable for everyone no matter how many of you there are, or what your interested in, so we’ve put together some easy, family-friendly ideas for a night that’s safe, fun, and memorable, to enjoy both indoors and outdoors.

1. Create a Cozy Firelight Indoors

For an alternative to outdoor bonfires, try setting up your own cosy firelight experience indoors. Arrange LED candles and fairy lights around the living room to create that warm, inviting glow. Dim the lights, get some blankets, and settle in for a relaxed evening with the family. Perfect for sharing stories or singing together in a safe, fire-free way!

Extra Tip: You could add a virtual fireplace on your TV or laptop for the sound and look of crackling flames, giving the room a really cosy, bonfire-night feel without any risk.

2. Safe Sparklers and Glow Sticks for Young Ones

When it comes to little ones or pets, fireworks can often be an issue to them if nearby. Instead, why nit try using glow sticks or ‘cold’ sparklers (battery-operated ones that don’t get hot) for a similar effect. Glow sticks are great for dancing around with in the dark, adding colour and sparkle to the evening without the noise disruption. 

Safety Note: Be sure to keep an eye on young children using glow sticks, as they can sometimes break. This way, everyone can enjoy a safe, fun glow without any worries.

3. Make Lanterns for the Garden

If you want to bring a bit of sparkle to the garden, why not bring out your arts and crafts skills and create some homemade lanterns! Grab some empty jars, pop in battery-operated fairy lights or LED tea lights, and let the kids decorate the jars with stickers, tissue paper, or anything they fancy. Place these glowing lanterns around the garden, and you’ll have a magical setup perfect for Bonfire Night. You could even run a competition of who can create the best!

Family Activity Idea: Let everyone make their own lantern, then use them to tell stories around your “campfire”—everyone can take turns sharing a favourite memory or telling their best spooky story.

4. Create a Delicious DIY Hot Chocolate Station

A warm drink and some tasty treats can make this evening be even more fun for the group! Set up a hot chocolate station in the kitchen or the garden, and let everyone customise their own drink with toppings like whipped cream, marshmallows, chocolate sprinkles, and maybe a dash of cinnamon. For a bonfire treat without any flames, try making oven-baked s’mores or microwave marshmallows on skewers—easy and tasty!

Tip for Fun: Get creative with flavours or toppings, being sure to include some healthy options too!

5. Storytelling or a Family Movie Marathon

Storytelling is a wonderful way to bring everyone together, and it’s perfect for all ages. Older family members can share Bonfire Night memories, or you could pick a theme and let everyone’s imagination run wild. If you prefer movies, a film night is a lovely way to enjoy this night indoors. Choose family favourites or classic films you love and may not have seen for a while!

CareYourWay Suggestion: Include everyone by choosing stories or films that everyone will enjoy. It’s a lovely way to involve all ages, making the night memorable for every family member.

6. Light Up Your Garden

For a festive light show that’s safer and quieter than fireworks, create your own colourful display with LED lights and fairy lights in the garden. Hang them from trees, drape them over furniture, or wrap them around the fence. If you want more colour, try colour-changing fairy lights for an extra touch of excitement.

Top Tip: If you’d like to make it a real show, consider setting the lights to twinkle or change colours. It’s a fun way to recreate the feel of a fireworks display while keeping things calm and safe.

7. Have a Sing-Along

Bring the group together for a sing-along! Whether you’re singing around your indoor “bonfire” or out in the garden, it’s a fantastic way to enjoy Bonfire Night together. Pick a few favourite songs, old and new, and encourage everyone to join in—singing is a lovely way to connect, especially with older family members who might remember songs from years ago.

CareYourWay Recommendation: Choosing songs that everybody knows guarentees audience participaton! 

We hope you'll enjoy these ideas to try something new this Bonfire Night, and if there is anything your CareYourWay Carers can do to assist your loved ones this year, please get in touch with us today. Let us help make your night as special as possible!