Have your dog home and settled before dark from Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 November. Saturday 7th is the big one, with four public displays around Bristol on the same night plus all the back-garden fireworks. Bonfire Night itself is this Thursday, and Diwali on Sunday gets a later fireworks curfew.

Below you'll find every Bristol display we could confirm for the rest of this fireworks season, the nights and hours to stay in, what to stock up on and where to get it locally. If your dog finds fireworks hard, our guide on how to keep your dog safe during fireworks has the full advice.

Bristol firework displays 2026

These are the public displays in and around Bristol. If you live nearby, expect bangs from roughly when the fireworks start until the event finishes, and keep in mind sound carries a long way on a still night. Times can change on the day, so check the organiser's page if you're planning around one.

Old Down's show uses low-noise fireworks, which is good news if you live close by. A low-noise display still isn't a place to take your dog though.

If you're near the Downs, Canford Park on Saturday 7th is the one to plan around. In south Bristol, Ashton Park is on the same night.

When to have your dog home

The sun sets around 4.40pm in Bristol in early November, and garden fireworks start as soon as it's dark. Aim to have your dog walked, fed and indoors by 4pm on the nights below. By law, fireworks have to stop at 11pm most nights, but that's pushed back on Bonfire Night and Diwali.

  • Thu 5 Nov: Bonfire Night: Old Down and Avon Valley. Have your dog home by 4pm; fireworks are allowed until midnight.
  • Fri 6 Nov: Downend, Almondsbury, Avon Valley, start of Diwali. Have your dog home by 4pm; fireworks are allowed until 11pm.
  • Sat 7 Nov: Busiest night: Canford Park, Ashton Park, Thornbury, Avon Valley. Have your dog home by 4pm; fireworks are allowed until 11pm.
  • Sun 8 Nov: Diwali: Have your dog home by 4pm; fireworks are allowed until 1am.
  • Thu 31 Dec: New Year's Eve: Have your dog home by early evening; fireworks are allowed until 1am.

On the other evenings between now and mid-November, keep walks in daylight anyway. Leftover fireworks tend to go off on random nights, especially weekends, and you won't get any warning.

What to stock up on

Get these in early this week so you're not dashing out on Bonfire Night itself.

  • Long-lasting chews and a stuffable toy. A Kong filled with something tasty, or a lick mat, gives your dog something to focus on. Chewing and licking help them settle.
  • Blankets and cushions for a den. An old duvet over a table or crate makes a cosy hideout and soaks up some of the noise.
  • A pheromone diffuser. Plug-in diffusers release a calming scent you can't smell. They work best when switched on a few days ahead, so plug one in now. Ask your vet if you're unsure.
  • A calming wrap. Snug-fitting anxiety vests help some dogs. Try it on a normal evening first so it doesn't become another scary new thing.
  • A secure harness and an up-to-date ID tag. By law your dog's tag needs your name and address. A harness that fits properly is much harder to back out of if they get spooked.
  • Treats you know agree with them. Fireworks week isn't the time to try a new food.

If your dog has struggled badly before, the most useful thing to get is a vet appointment. Your vet can prescribe medication if needed, and it usually has to be given before the fireworks begin.

Where to buy them in Bristol

Bristol's independent shops are the best place for a properly fitted harness and good chews, and the bigger chain stores round the edge of the city stock diffusers and calming wraps. Call ahead before you go, as stock runs low in fireworks week. You'll find all of these on our dog services map if you filter by Shop.

Your vet practice is also a good place to buy diffusers and calming products, and they can tell you which are worth it for your dog.

If your dog goes missing

Frightened dogs can run a long way, so act fast. Report them to your microchip database first, then contact the people below and post in local Bristol dog groups.

If you're in South Gloucestershire or North Somerset, contact your own council's dog warden instead.

Sources

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How to keep your dog safe during fireworks