Following recent concerns over the future of the annual display, the council has provided an official update, recognising just how highly valued the event is to local residents.

However, citing increasing financial pressures and a need for fairness across the whole of North Northamptonshire, the local authority has confirmed it can no longer directly fund or run the event. The Corby display has historically been unique, as the council does not provide equivalent, directly-funded fireworks events in other local towns like Kettering or Wellingborough.

A Community-Led Future

Instead of cancelling the tradition entirely, officials are now actively exploring opportunities with independent organisations to hold a display in or around the town. The council has pledged to support these groups with vital advice regarding health and safety requirements and event planning processes to help get a community-led display off the ground.

“We are aware of the concern locally about the future of the Corby fireworks and I want to take this opportunity to reassure residents that we have held several, positive conversations with community groups interested in working with us on a future event,"

said Cllr Martin Griffiths, Leader of the Council.

"These conversations give us genuine optimism that a fireworks event can continue in the future, whether in Corby itself or the surrounding area."

With budgets tightening nationwide, the council noted that difficult decisions have to be made to balance local priorities alongside the heavy staff and volunteer resources required to safely manage large-scale public events.

"As a council, like many across the country, we are having to make increasingly difficult decisions about how and where the money we get is spent,"

Cllr Griffiths added.

“We remain committed to supporting any group that wishes to take on the Corby Fireworks and welcome further conversations with interested community organisations.”

Further updates on whether a community group has successfully taken on the event are expected to be published in due course.

Would you like to see a community group step in to save the Corby Fireworks? How important are these large-scale events to our local towns? Have your say and get in touch with the news team at [email protected] or drop us a message on our social media pages.