FIREWORKS night is set to go off with a bang this year as last minute preparations get underway for Saturday night’s events.

The Daily Echo-backed displays at Stanpit Recreation Ground in Christchurch and Butchers Coppice on Saturday promise a host of activities.

At Stanpit the gates will open at 5pm with entertainment from the Gugge Band, a bouncy castle, soccer shoot-out and fairground rides, as well as refreshments and other stalls.

The bonfire will be lit at 6.15pm and the fireworks will start at 7.45pm.

At Butchers Coppice the gates open at 5.30pm with the bonfire lit at 6pm in time for the guy competition at 7pm and fireworks at 7.30pm.

There will also be a climbing wall, archery, gladiator challenge, children’s rides and the traditional stalls and refreshments.

Other displays taking place include the fireworks at Littledown on Saturday.

Gates for Bournemouth Fireworks 2011 open at 5.30pm with three displays taking place throughout the evening at 7pm, 8pm and 9pm.

Tickets can be bought in advance on 0844 576 4500.

And the night sky will be lit up in myriad colours over Poole Harbour as the fabulous firework spectacular gets bigger and brighter than ever.

Poole Tourism’s organised event, as part of sponsor Wave 105’s Festival of Fireworks, claims to be the largest free firework extravaganza on the south coast and will see the quay buzzing from 4.30pm.

Before the dazzling display at 8pm there will be street entertainers, jugglers and fire performances throughout the evening, plus live music from Djambo.

“This is one of the most popular Poole events with people coming from miles around,” said Bruce Grant-Braham, chairman of Poole Tourism Partnership.

“Not only is it much safer than trying to have a display at home, you also get to soak up the cracking atmosphere.”

Poole Quay will be closed to traffic from 4pm and a number of Quay businesses are supporting the event.