The North East’s biggest fireworks spectacular marked its fifth year with a celebration that lit up the night sky in Bishop Auckland. Tom Burgess reports from Kynren Pyromusical 2023.

“Louder, louder, louder!” cried the young lad sitting on his dad’s knee behind me as Kynren Pyromusical 2023 got underway.

Two hours before I was getting into my car, ready to face the rain and the cold winds to enjoy what I’d been told was one of the best firework displays in the country.

Tickets for the event next year are already on sale and I can only imagine that they are selling quickly.

The display, at Flatts Farm in Bishop Auckland, was set to begin at 7pm but the organisers advised everyone to get there an hour early to get to their seats in time.

I didn’t think much of this before arriving and realising I was going to have to walk a good distance before enjoying the show.

I joined the trooping line of families and couples on a lit up and muddy path that wound its way zigzagging down the hill.

The view was incredible, looking down on the lit up stadium from on high.

I did begin to regret both my choice of coat and shoes as I walked, the rain and mud were combining to create quite the atmosphere.

Surrounded by the excited chatter of families I was buoyed through the weather all the way down through rows of lit up trees to the ticket turnstiles.

I couldn’t quite believe how many people were gathering for the display.

There were hundreds of people queuing for food and the smell of hotdogs, popcorn and chips was thick in the air.

I thought that I’d been to a good selection of firework displays before coming to Kynren but this gave me a new sense of scale.

The Northern Echo: Kynren Pyromusical 2023

The stadium was colossal, I had to pay attention to make sure I found the right door.

It felt like entering a football stadium emerging from the stairs into a sea of faces.

I didn’t make matters better by immediately confidently climbing the stairs towards the back of the stand where I expected to find Row W.

The realisation that my seat was actually all the way back down the stairs made me laugh.

The smile was wiped from my face minutes later when I sat down and realised the rain hadn’t avoided my seat.

With a now very wet bum I was settled in for what I hoped would be a spectacular display.

The view across the field over the lake at the stone wall where the fireworks were going to be set off focused my attention.

Despite the odd moment of rain it was clear that nothing was going to stop the show from going ahead.

The Northern Echo: Kynren Pyromusical 2023

At 7.01pm the show was underway and the crowd was waving phone torches in time to Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’.

My favourite moments were in the transitions between songs when the fireworks would ebb and the music washed over the crows.

The Northern Echo: Kynren Pyromusical 2023

The build-up to the choruses of family favourite songs was masterfully done.

Robbie Williams’ ‘Angel’s’ and Coldplay’s ‘Paradise’ were my favourite songs of the night with an incredible array of fireworks accompanying them.

I could not have agreed more with the little boy sat on his dad’s lap behind me as he screamed “louder, louder!”.

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The climax of the show was absolutely spectacular with golden fireworks lighting up the whole skyline.

I was swept out of the stadium, still enjoying the feeling of a magical day.

You can book Kynren tickets for the 2024 season already, you can find out more here.