There’s no denying the magic of the sights and sounds of fireworks whizzing and bursting into dazzling colour overhead!

Join us for a traditional fireworks display at Thornes Park in Wakefield on Saturday 7 November 2026. The evening will feature a low-impact firework display first, for those that don’t enjoy loud noises, before the spectacular main event a little later. The evening will also include childrens rides and amuseument stalls, stage entertainment and street food.

4:30pm | Gates open
6:00pm | Low-impact firework display
7:30pm | Main firework display

Brought to you by Wakefield Council in partnership with the Friends of Clarence, Holmfield and Thornes Parks.

Please note:
This display will not feature a bonfire.
Sparklers and personal fireworks are prohibited.

Pitch Information

You will be required to bring your own unit / gazebo to trade out of for this event. You are also responsible for ensuring your unit / gazebo is secured and appropriately weighted whilst on site.

Please note we are not accepting mobile bar operators as alcohol is not permitted to be sold at this event.

The catering area for this event is located in Thornes Park, Wakefield, WF2 8TY. All caterers will be located in the main field area.

Pitch Fees   

There are different fees applied to the trading spaces available as outlined below. Our pitch fees are approved by cabinet and are in line with the current rate of inflation.   

Small Unit/Gazebo (up to 3m x 3m)

	Standard Rate	Wakefield Business Rate
Pitch Fee	£114.75	£103.50
VAT (20%)	£22.95	£20.70
Total	£137.70	£124.20

 

Medium Unit/Gazebo (up to 6m x 3m)

	Standard Rate	Wakefield Business Rate
Pitch Fee	£172.30	£155.00
VAT (20%)	£34.46	£31.00
Total	£206.76	£186.00

 

Large Unit/Gazebo (over 6m x 3m)

	Standard Rate	Wakefield Business Rate
Pitch Fee	£209.10	£188.10
VAT (20%)	£41.82	£37.62
Total	£250.92	£225.72

 

Wakefield Based Business Caterer Discount

If your business is based within the Wakefield District you will receive a discount on your catering space. Please note you must tick the box below and add evidence within your application.

VAT

All prices are subject to VAT. If you are VAT registered you will be able to reclaim the VAT amount in full from HMRC, and we will supply VAT receipts where requested - this can be outlined in the form below.

If you are NOT VAT registered you will not be able to reclaim the VAT charged and will have to pay the full amount including the VAT cost.

Application Criteria

We look for creative and aesthetically pleasing stalls which fit in with the theme of the event, and we are keen for the Festival Markets to be full of good quality food and products, at a fair price.

Reminder: we are not currently accepting mobile bar operators as alcohol is not permitted to be sold at this event.

In order to ensure both quality and fairness we will be using a scoring framework to mark all caterer applications.
All applicants will be scored by a panel of three Council officers against 6 areas listed below. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure they complete the online application in full and attach the supporting evidence.
Applicants final score and commentary from the panel is available on request, via email, following the outcome of their application.
Please note that whilst we do welcome feedback via email, the decision of the panel is final.

In your application we would ask that you give details of everything you wish to sell onsite. Successful applicants will be advised in their offer to trade of any products listed on their application which cannot be sold. We are very careful to minimise product clashes across the site and selling products without prior authorisation from the Festivals Team will be considered a breach of the Terms and Conditions.

Applications will be judged taking into consideration the following critera as outlined below with each criteria scoring marks. Please ensure you consider the criteria when completing your application.

 

Award Criteria	Weighting	Weighting Breakdown
	Caterer
Locality	0%	The business is registered outside of the Yorkshire Region
	10%	The business is registered in the Yorkshire and Humber Region
	20%	The business is registered in the Wakefield District (WF1 – WF12)
Repeat Trade	0%	The applicant has not attended any of our events previously or has not attended in the last 2 years.
	5%	The applicant has attended between 1-3 events run by Wakefield Council’s Festival Team in the last 2 years
	10%	The applicant has attended 3 or more events run by Wakefield Council’s Festival Team in the last 2 years
Themed Products/ Themed Dish	0%	No themed products/dishes listed in application
	20%	The applicant will offer one product/dish which incorporates the events theme
	40%	The applicant will offer a product/dish which is directly produced or manufactured by the applicant and incorporates the events theme
Pricing & Product Offer	0%	No evidence included with the application
	5%	The applicant includes a product list
	10%	The applicant includes a product list with prices to be charged at the event and includes supporting images.
Dietary Options and/or Religious Considerations	0%	The applicant isn’t offering any products to caterer for any dietary requirements or religious considerations.
	5%	The applicant is offering one product which caterers to at least one dietary requirement and/or religious consideration and provides evidence of this.
	10%	The applicant is offering multiple products which caterer dietary requirements and/or religious considerations and provides evidence of this.
Sustainability and/or ethical considerations	0%	The applicant will not be offering any ethical or sustainable considerations.
	5%	The applicant will be offering one or more ethical and/or sustainable consideration for the festival.
	10%	The applicant will be offering multiple ethical and/or sustainable considerations for the festival and includes a detailed ethical and/or sustainability statement
Total Score Available	100%

 

Event Information

Power

There is no electricity supply for catering pitches. Generators are permitted, however we do specify that they must be diesel and silent. They must also be appropriately guarded. The responsibility of re-fuelling falls with the vendor. We don't accept petrol generators on our event sites.

Water

Please note there is no access to water on site. If you need water, you will have to provide this yourself.

Parking

Parking will be available in the designated supplier car park available on site at the Penny Appeal Campus, you can park there at your own discretion and this is free of charge. Please note the Council will not be held responsible for any parking tickets incurred. Vehicle movement will be restricted during the event operating hours. 

Supporting Documentation

Public Liability Insurance                                                                         

A copy of your Public Liability Insurance Certificate (the Council requirement is a minimum of £5 million cover). Please note this is different to Employers’ Liability Insurance.

Risk Assessment

Businesses with less than 5 employees are not legally required to have a risk assessment. If you employ 5 or more employees you will need to submit a risk assessment.

Please refer to HSE website for more information: https://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/risk/index.htm

Stall holders serving food or drink must have undertaken a risk assessment for allergen management and have full, effective procedures in place to control the risk of food intolerances or allergy. For more information, please see Allergen guidance for food businesses | Food Standards Agency

Evidence of Environmental Health Registration                                             

Proof of food business registration with your local Environmental Health Service. This is required for all persons/businesses who provide/sell/serve/handle or produce food and/or drinks (including alcohol). For information on how to register please see the Government website: Register a Food Business

Food Hygiene Rating & Inspection

Please provide the last inspection date and your food hygiene rating (where applicable for your type of food business). Please note that applications will only be considered for businesses that have been awarded a 3 or above under the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme

Fire and relevant safety Certificates

PAT Test Certification - Stall holders should ensure all electrical equipment has been PAT tested and provide current documentary evidence. 

Gas Safety Certificates (where applicable – carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer qualified to work on the equipment you are bringing to site).

Photograph(s) of Products and Set-Up   

The presentation and appearance of your unit/gazebo is important as is the goods you are proposing to sell. The online application process requires you to upload photos of your unit/gazebo and products.

 

Application Closing Date

Applications will close at 11:45pm on Sunday 21st June 2026.

Once applications have closed, if any of the above documents have been submitted incorrectly or are missing, the application will be treated as incomplete and you will not be given preference during the selection process. Late applications are accepted at the discretion of the organiser and will be placed on a waiting list.

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by Friday 03 July 2026.

The Council is responsible for the organisation of the festival and the applicant has agreed to take the licence to occupy the pitch on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement.

Please ensure you read and comply with the terms and conditions outlined as this will form your contract with Wakefield Council.

1.  Trading Times

Trading may take place from 4pm on Saturday 7th November 2026. The event will close at 8pm. Trading must cease at this time. 

2.  Set Up and Clear Down

Access to site for set up is between 12pm and 3pm on Saturday 7th November 2026. Access to site for clear down is from 8:30pm.

3.  Location of Pitch

The Council retains the right at its absolute discretion to re-site the pitch within the event site where it deems it to be necessary in the best interests of the event, other event attendees or as may be required on health and safety grounds or otherwise. Please note pitch allocations are non-negotiable.

4.  Manning of Stall

Stalls must be manned by a responsible person and remain open during trading hours.

5.  Goods

Only items approved by Wakefield Council will be displayed, sold and/or promoted at the event.

6.  Servicing

Vehicles should be removed immediately upon loading or unloading. There will be no vehicle access during the event opening hours. Any replenishing of stock, if required, must take place outside these times. All vehicles must be off the event site by 3:30pm and may not be brought back onto site until after event close and when the event management team deem it safe to do so.

7.  Allocated Trading Space & Storage

Building out beyond the limitations of the allocated pitch area will not be permitted. This includes building out to the front, sides and back of gazebo/unit. Additional space is not available to purchase.

8.  Cancellation

If the event is cancelled for any reason, then fees paid in advance will be refunded in full (including VAT where applicable). Wakefield Council will not be liable for any consequential losses, including but not limited to for example loss of earnings due to cancellation. Cancellation made by a caterer for any reason less than 5 weeks before the event will result in a forfeit of all fees paid in advance (including VAT where applicable). Cancellation made by a caterer for any reason more than 5 weeks before the event will result in a refund of the fees paid in advance (including VAT where applicable) less a sum equivalent to 15% of the fees paid + VAT towards our administration costs.

9.  Insurance/Indemnity

The caterer shall provide evidence of adequate Public Liability Insurance (minimum £5 million) which must be valid to cover the date of the event. Caterers are liable for all claims arising from the conduct of their services/unit and shall indemnify the Council against any third party claims arising as a result of providing the service. Please note this is not Employers’ Liability Insurance.

10. Alcohol sales

No alcohol can be sold on this site by catering vendors.

11. Music

Playing of music from your gazebo/unit is not permitted.

12. Security

The vendor is responsible for the security of their property whilst on the event site. There will be members of SIA trained security staff on site.

13. Litter

Wakefield Council want our caterers to take greater responsibility for reducing litter and non-recyclable waste at the event so our visitors can enjoy the event in a safe and litter-free environment. To achieve this Wakefield Council will provide general waste and recycling bins. These will be accessible, visible, and clearly labelled throughout the event site. Please note, our bins do not accept glass or hazardous waste such as batteries, aerosols, paint, solvents, and oils/oil drums. You are responsible for the appropriate disposal of these items off site.

All litter left around your pitch must be cleared at the end of the day. Please ensure you use the bins outlined above and not the public bins.

14. Electrical Equipment, Gas Applicances & Generators

Stall holders must ensure all electrical equipment has been PAT tested and provide current documentary evidence. If the stall holder is using gas appliances they must provide evidence of a gas safety certificate (carried out by a qualified gas safe registered engineer). You are reminded of the health and safety requirements and controls that should be in place where the use of generators or gas cylinders are used. For more information, please see cieh-national-guidance-for-outdoor-and-mobile-catering.pdf. You also required to ensure that your stall/business complies with wider Health and Safety regulations, please refer to the HSE website Health and safety topics (hse.gov.uk). We do not accept petrol generators on our sites.

15. Power

Please note that there will be no on-site power available at the event. Generators are permitted with prior consent from the event management team. These must be silent diesel powered as we do not accept petrol generators on any of our event sites.

16. Water 

Wakefield Council do not provide caterers with access to water, any water required must be supplied and managed by the caterer.

17. Allergen Law

Caterers serving food or drink must have undertaken a risk assessment for allergen management and have full, effective procedures in place to control the risk of food intolerances or allergy. For more information, please see Allergen guidance for food businesses | Food Standards Agency

18. Food Regulations

All persons/businesses providing food or drink are required to ensure that their stall/business complies with all legal requirements for food safety and standards, health & safety, fire safety and vehicle standards (where appropriate). For more information on ensuring that you meet these requirements, please see cieh-national-guidance-for-outdoor-and-mobile-catering.pdf. Please note that inspections, audits and checks may be undertaken during any event by the Council or other legal service, to undertake checks against these standards.

19. Conduct

The caterer shall conduct the sale of their products in a proper, efficient and courteous manner and must at all times conduct their sales in a manner satisfactory to the Council.

20.  Management

The caterer shall observe and comply with and ensure its staff observe and comply with all instructions given by or on behalf of the Council’s management and the Council’s rules and regulations.

21. Parking

Parking will be available for in the designated supplier car park available on site at the Penny Appeal Campus, you can park there at your own discretion. Please note the Council will not be held responsible for any parking tickets incurred.

22. Sub-Contracting/Pitch Sharing

Sub-contracting, sub-letting or the sharing of a pitch or any part of a pitch is strictly forbidden. We expect the caterer applying for the pitch to be the caterer running and managing the pitch on site.

23. Unit 

The vendor must ensure the interior and exterior of the unit and its fittings and equipment are in good repair and kept in a clean, orderly and sanitary condition and allow the Council to inspect the Unit to ensure compliance with this requirement.

Wakefield Council is required by law to protect the public funds it administers. We may share information internally and externally with other organisations responsible for auditing, or administering public funds, or where undertaking a public function, in order to prevent and detect fraud.

We may also disclose information to a Specified Anti-Fraud Organisation for the purpose of preventing fraud under Section 68 of the Serious Crime Act 2007.

Our GDPR Transparency is notice available on our website here: https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/media/itiefmc5/jotform-events-and-festivals-application-privacy-notice.docx

For further information visit https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/about-the-council/budget-and-spending/fighting-fraud.