It is creeping ever closer to being that time of year again, when people up and down the country look up to the skies to see it lit up with numerous colours, as fireworks are set off here, there and everywhere. Whilst the official date of Bonfire Night is the fifth of November, the truth is that people start setting off their fireworks from around the end of September. More importantly, official displays are organised in numerous different locations, with the Ripley Bonfire being one of the best supported that the south-east of England has to offer, promising an exceptional occasion for Guildford residents.
A Spectacular Occasion
Although it is Lewes in Sussex that hosts one of the biggest and most famous Bonfire Night celebrations in the United Kingdom, the Ripley Bonfire has become a legendary event for people around the south-east of the country to attend. It takes place on the last Saturday in October, seeing as many as 12,000 people turning up to get involved. The bonfire itself takes centre stage, being a spectacular offering, which is put together by a wealth of different volunteers. Then there are the fireworks, which light up the night sky and cause a host of ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from the watching crowds.
That isn’t the sum total of what the Ripley Bonfire has to offer, however. There is also an extensive funfair that offers those in attendance the chance to hop on and off the rides, as well as take part in the numerous different activities that are there. There is a bar located in the perfect spot to be able to view both the bonfire and the fireworks, whilst live music will keep everyone entertained throughout. Add in the fact that there are also stalls on which you can buy plenty of different varieties of food and you can see why it is that the Ripley Bonfire is such a popular event.
A History of the Ripley Bonfire
When the Ripley Bonfire first started, it took place between Pond Dip and the entrance to the green in which Pond Dip is located. At some point, however, a pipe was laid across the pond that eventually caused it to dry up. Whilst this was undoubtedly a shame to the people that used to enjoy attending the pond, as well as something of an issue for the wildlife that used the area, it has been of great use to the organisers of the Ripley Bonfire. Since the middle of the last century, the area where the pond used to be located, known as ‘Pond Dip’, is where the bonfire is built.
If you’ve ever been to the Ripley Bonfire and wondered why the area it is built in is called Pond Dip, now you know. The area became something of a natural amphitheatre when the pond dried up, allowing the bonfire to be built in such a way that those attending can have a great view of what’s happening from almost any angle. The Ripley Bonfire’s location has been all but set in stone in the years since it moved from close to its current location into Pond Dip, which allows people to attend each year and know exactly where they need to head to in order to have the best view of proceedings.
Fundraising for the Ripley Bonfire
Although the Ripley Bonfire is a free event as far as attendees are concerned, it would be untrue to suggest that it doesn’t cost anything to operate. In fact, it costs about £12,000 a year to stage the bonfire. Obviously, a big chunk of this money goes on the cost of fireworks, but that isn’t the only expense that organisers have to bear in mind. It costs money for roads to be closed, for example, as well as the hiring of the marching band. Then there is the fact that old equipment has to be replaced for safety reasons, whilst both insurance and first aid have to be put in place on site.
You can make a donation to the running of the Ripley Bonfire by visiting its official website, but there is also an army of volunteers that move through the crowd on the night in order to collect money in buckets. These volunteers can be discerned thanks to the fact that they will usually either be in fancy dress, or else have tabards or armbands on to identify them. In 2025, the event will also have card readers in place at some collection points, allowing people to make a donation that way instead. Buckets will also have QR codes on them, should you be a touch more tech-minded.
How to Get Involved
If you have either enjoyed the Ripley Bonfire in the past or else like the sound of it and want to get involved, you can do just that. Such a huge event involves the coordination of many different things, which is why an army of volunteers is needed in order to make it all work. The Ripley Bonfire Association takes on the responsibility of coordinating everybody, ensuring that the bonfire gets to go ahead in the village every year. New people are always welcome to join in, with fun all but guaranteed by the organisers. Whether you want to be a collector or a Marshall, there are jobs for all.
Then there is the small matter of the building of the actual bonfire, which measured approximately 36,750 cubic feet when the bonfire was created in 2019. The building of the bonfire takes place across three Sunday mornings in October in the buildup to the main event, with tea and biscuits being supplied to those who are happy to help. If you’d rather get involved in a less physically intensive capacity, you can become one of the official sponsors of the event. The likes of Wills & Smerdon Estate Agents and the Distillers of Surrey have done exactly that in the past.