Don Valley Bowl, Sheffield: Yorkshire open-air venue to host first 'sensory friendly' Bonfire Night event with fireworks, live music, fire performers and street food
A new Bonfire Night event in Sheffield will include a ‘sensory friendly’ element for an inclusive celebration involving fireworks, fire performers, live music and street food.
The event was created by the team behind Sheffield’s popular Illuminate The Gardens and will take over Don Valley Bowl on Thursday, November 5, 2026 from 4pm to 10pm.
Arcnight will bring together two firework displays, lasers, live music, DJs, fire and walkabout performers, street food and fairground rides for a celebration of Sheffield, its people and its industrial and cultural heritage.
The event was created between 2017 and 2025 and the new setting allows them to build on that experience and create an inspiring production on a much larger scale, while retaining the welcoming and accessible character.
The evening will open with a sensory-friendly low-bangs display designed for younger children and those who prefer a quieter experience.
It will culminate in a huge musical finale from Optimum Fireworks, which organisers say will be the biggest firework display yet staged at Don Valley Bowl, accompanied by a laser show across the Sheffield skyline.
The newly announced entertainment programme centres Sheffield talent and community. Sheffield singer and songwriter Steve Edwards will perform with his live band, alongside The Beard Band and local DJ Geoff Ticehurst.
Artists from Sheffield’s inclusive arts charity Under The Stars will open the stage with a DJ and VJ performance. The charity uses music and theatre to support adults with learning disabilities and autism, helping its artists develop skills, confidence and creative careers.
Cirque De Bleurgh will introduce a live fire performance to the Bowl, while Fantasea Factory will deliver walkabout entertainment throughout the venue.
There will be around 20 local food traders, licensed bars and a fairground that will complete the programme.
The visual identity of Arcnight draws directly on Sheffield’s history as a city of makers. Its name reflects both the arc of a firework and the trails of light created during steelmaking, with the city’s industrial story intertwined through the production.
Managing director of Events Collective, Bob Worm, said: “We want people to look up and be genuinely awestruck, but we also want Arcnight to feel like Sheffield’s event: warm, welcoming and open to as many people as possible.
“Illuminate The Gardens showed us how much families value having a night that feels magical without losing that sense of community.
“At Don Valley Bowl we can take that ambition to a much bigger scale, while keeping a low-bangs display, accessible ticket options and a programme with Sheffield talent at its heart.
“This is a show made in Sheffield, inspired by Sheffield and created to bring thousands of people together for one unforgettable night.”
Under-threes can attend free with a ticket, while family ticket options are also available and you can learn more about the event and tickets on the Arcnight website.