CityLife

Massive firework display for New Year's Eve 2009/2010

MANCHESTER will join some of the world’s biggest cities with a firework display to bring in the new decade.

The free, family event will take place in the city’s Exchange Square on New Year’s Eve and is only the second time the city has put on an official event since the Millennium.

Last year revellers enjoyed a ten-minute display following pressure for a celebration but in previous years, hundreds of people would gather outside the town hall to celebrate New Year’s Eve – only to be greeted by a solitary rocket at midnight.

World Tourist Attractions, who own the Wheel of Manchester, will fund the £50,000 display to send out ‘the noughties’ and welcome 2010.

The winners of the festive council-run talent contest Yule Tube – which is searching for ten acts to deliver the city’s Christmas message to the world – will be shown on the big screen as part of the celebration.

Coun Pat Karney said: “You don’t need to go to Sydney, New York or even Edinburgh to welcome in the new decade
in style – the best party is going to be right here in Manchester.

“I don’t know of any other English city which is going to be putting on a show as good as what we have planned.”