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You may have heard a few fireworks this weekend - but next week is official Bonfire Night - we've rounded up a great list of local fireworks for you.

Plus good news for the artsdepot and Barnet's very own Pearly Queen.

🎆 6 Fabulous Finchleyish Fireworks

The nights are drawing in, the skies are getting ready to sparkle, and Bonfire Night is almost upon us.

Whether you love a dazzling display, a roaring bonfire or simply an excuse to wrap up warm and head out, we’ve rounded up the best local firework fun. Book early – the best spots can sell out fast.

1 Alexandra Park Fireworks and Drone Festival N22

New weekend format this year: Saturday brings the full festival atmosphere, while Sunday offers an earlier, family-focused experience with more space to enjoy the event together. And of course fireworks.

Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November 2026

Alexandra Palace Way, London N22 7AY

2 Moss Hall Schools Association Bonfire Night Fireworks N3

Doors at 4, no entry after 17:30, fireworks at 18:30. Advance tickets only £7, under 2s go free.

Sunday 8 November 2026

Moss Hall Junior School Playground, N3 1NR

3 Highgate School Autumn Lights Festival N6

An unforgettable afternoon and evening of spectacular fireworks, music, funfair rides, fantastic food and activities for all ages, across two separate shows. Early show: gates 3 pm, fireworks 5:15 pm, exit 6 pm. Late show: gates 6:30 pm, fireworks 8:15 pm, exit 9:30 pm.
Sold out — no tickets on the gate.

3 Bishopswood Rd, London N6 4PH

Saturday 7 November 2026

4 Totteridge Fireworks Night N20

Gates at 5:30, food stalls/kids rides, ahead of the bonfire lighting at 6.30pm, and fireworks at 7.45pm. Bars, bands and fire pits keep the bonhomie blazing right through to 1am! Card only, no cash.

Friday 6 November 2026

Totteridge Millhillians Cricket Club, Totteridge Cricket Club, Totteridge Green, 7, London N20 8PB

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5 The Walker Ground Fireworks Display + Drone Show N14

Head to The Walker Ground sports complex for Southgate's firework, complete with rides, inflatables and warming refreshments.

Saturday 7 November 2026

175 Waterfall Road Southgate N14

6 Finchley RFC Fireworks Night 2026

And if you’re looking for fireworks further ahead - fireworks, food, music and dancing at Finchley Rugby Club in a few weeks’ time.

Friday 20 November 2026

Have firework fun, Finchley 🎆

Events

ARTS

Thursday 5th November

​First Look at 'The Water-Lily Pond' Mural | Thu, Nov. 5 | From 2:00 pm | The Visitor Pavilion, Claremont Park, Brent Cross Town | Free | Be among the first to see a 41-square-metre hand-painted mural of Monet's The Water-Lily Pond, chosen by students at Clarion School, with talks from local speakers.

COMMUNITY

Thursday 5th November

​Staying Safe Online with Nationwide Building Society | Thu, Nov. 5 | From 10:00 am | Highgate Library, Chester Road, N19 5DH | Free | Practical tips on keeping scammers away from your bank account and shopping online safely.

​The Missing Half of Your Training | Thu, Nov. 5 | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | THRIVE Personal Training & Health, Spectrum House, 32-34 Gordon House Road, NW5 1LP | Free | Health coach Priya Sinha Kenward on building recovery into a busy, stressful life, in a practical and interactive talk.

Friday 6th November

​Totteridge Fireworks Night | Fri, Nov. 6 | 5:00 pm to 11:30 pm | Totteridge Millhillians Cricket Club, Totteridge Green, N20 8PB | £9.50 to £42 | The Totteridge fireworks display is back for Bonfire week.

Wednesday 11th November

​The Story of Holocaust Survivor Sam Gardner | Wed, Nov. 11 | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | Chipping Barnet Library, Stapylton Road, Barnet, EN5 4QT | Free | Maralyn Turgel tells her father's story of survival, from Buchenwald to Windermere, with Generation 2 Generation. Arrive early to tour the Between Life and Death exhibition. Adults only.

KIDS

Monday 2nd November

​Acorns Baby & Toddler Group | Mon, Nov. 2 | 9:30 am to 11:15 am | St Mary's Church Hall, 30 Hendon Lane, N3 1TR | £3.50 per child, £5.50 for two | A weekly term-time group with ride-on toys, a trampette, slide and ball pit, plus craft, stories, rhyme time and snacks.

Wednesday 4th November

​Oral Health Drop-In | Wed, Nov. 4 | 10:30 am to 11:30 am | Osidge Library, Brunswick Park Road, N11 1EY | Free | Bring your questions about your child's teeth to the Whittington Health oral health team.

MUSIC

Thursday 5th November

​Musical Afternoon with Camillo | Thu, Nov. 5 | 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | Avery at Barnet Grange, 59 Wood Street, Barnet, EN5 4BS | £5 | Singalong hits from the 50s, 60s and 70s, plus Latin American folk songs, with Age UK Barnet.

OLDER PEOPLE

Friday 13th November

​Age UK Barnet: Monthly Bingo | Fri, Nov. 13 | From 2:00 pm | The Ann Owens Centre, Oak Lane, N2 8LT | Free, £3 donation | Friendly competition and a chance to connect with others.

THEATRE

Monday 2nd November

​The Revlon Girl | Mon, Nov. 2 | 7:00 pm | Park Theatre, Clifton Terrace, N4 3JP | £35 | The original Olivier-nominated production returns ten years on. Runs until 14 November, with 3:15 pm matinees on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Events - Book Ahead

Wednesday 25th November

​Rest and Relaxation: The Science of Switching Off | Wed, Nov. 25 | 6:45 pm to 8:00 pm | Ann Owens Centre, Oak Lane, N2 8LT | Free | BBC Radio 4 presenter Claudia Hammond and Professor Catherine Loveday in conversation about what rest really does for the brain, and how to build more downtime into everyday life.

Sunday 6th December

​OmVed Festive Market | Sun, Dec. 6 | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | OmVed Gardens, Highgate | Free | Gifts from local makers and artisans, with festive activities, mulled wine and mince pies from the OmVed kitchen.

​Linnet Baroque at Christmas | Sun, Dec. 6 | 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm | St Mary-at-Finchley, 26 Hendon Lane, N3 1TR | £8 to £12 | Handel, Bach and Telemann: arias from the Messiah, cantatas, Christmas hymns and instrumental interludes, with wine and mince pies after.

Local Lowdown

Repairing

• North Finchley's artsdepot is getting some TLC. The arts centre has won a £25,000 grant from the Christos Lazari Foundation for urgent repairs and refurbishment, with backing from local MP Sarah Sackman, who helped it secure a long-term lease at a peppercorn rent last year.

Binning

• The days of weekly bin collections look numbered. At last week's council Q&A, Barnet's cabinet signalled that fortnightly bin collections are almost certain, alongside an above-average council tax rise to close a £200m budget gap. Food waste will still go weekly. The council's budget survey closes on Wednesday.

Remembering

• Barnet falls silent on Sunday. Services are being held across the borough for Remembrance Sunday, 8 November, including St Mary-at-Finchley at 9.50am and St Kilda's on Ballards Lane at 10.45am. The Mayor also lays a wreath at Finchley Memorial Hospital on Friday 6 November.

Locking

• Hoping to watch the fireworks from Primrose Hill this week? Think again. The Royal Parks is locking the gates overnight until 9 November, covering Bonfire Night, and will shut the park from 8:00 pm on 30 December until 6:00 am on New Year's Day, citing safety.

Wrapping

• Got a coat you never wear? Wrap Up London is collecting warm coats, hats, gloves and scarves from 2 to 22 November for charities helping people through winter. Drop them at North Finchley, Church End or South Friern libraries during staffed hours. Children's and dog coats welcome, but no fur.

The Finchleyite: Evie Waldren

​Evie Waldren is the officially crowned Pearly Queen of Barnet, appointed by the London Pearly Kings & Queens Society. And an organised Pearly Society was actually founded in Finchley in 1911.

She was crowned in January 2026 by the London Pearly Kings & Queens Society, following previous service as a pearly consort and queen-in-waiting based in Highgate.

Evie is part of the historic London Pearly tradition - keeping alive the iconic Cockney culture of wearing hand-adorned suits and dresses covered in thousands of pearl buttons for charity and community events. She is part of a small, dedicated group of only around 40 to 50 active pearlies remaining in London.

She regularly participates in local North London community initiatives – last week she visited the Finchley Foodbank to meet volunteers and find out more about what the foodbank does.

Editors' Note - From Tessa

We left London for half-term and headed to Somerset.

Took a trip on the highest and steepest water-powered railway in the world (The Lynton to Lynmouth Cliff Railway).

Beautiful views and the weather held out.

Also, let us know about local events or local news. We curate our content to keep it a 5-minute read, so can't include everything we're sent.

You can now get a guaranteed (paid) listing for local events or local lowdown/news items.

​And email us with any projects or ideas you'd like us to write about.

Tessa Davis Sasha Frieze