Friday November 6th 2026
Jamie from Lune Bubbles
This View has been written by Joe Gilhooley LRPS Award winning and Licentaite of The Royal Photographic Society from Loanhead
In these days of putting safety first, it is wonderful that Midlothian has an annual organised fireworks display at Mayfield Public Park.
Traditionally held on November 5, the Mayfield and Easthouses Fireworks Display once again brought the community together on Thursday evening.
The 2026 event, sponsored by local group McSense, was surrounded by an evening of entertainment.
A small team of local volunteers organised the display under the guidance of Mayfield and Easthouses Community Association chairman Robert Hogg.
Show rides outside the park kept families amused, while Jamie from Lune Bubbles, based in the north-east of England, entertained the crowds as they waited for the fireworks.
Glencorse Pipe Band provided music during the evening, while PA and DJ music saw families dancing in the darkness.
Huge crowds patiently queued to enter the park and find a good vantage point. The fireworks had to be delayed by 20 minutes to allow everyone into the park. Judging by the volume of traffic, many people had travelled from other parts of Midlothian to attend.
It was all worth the wait. The fireworks were spectacular, lasting more than 22 minutes. Some of the bursts reached such heights that gasps could be heard from the crowd.
Once again, I was given permission to be the official fireworks photographer on the evening. I love fireworks photography, and it is a photographic challenge I really enjoy. I first photographed the annual Mayfield and Easthouses display in 2014.
Setting up my camera on a tripod in the darkness, in front of the crowds, is always a thrill. In total, I took more than 380 photographs during the display.
From experience, I knew I needed to have my lens at its widest setting to capture the fireworks as they burst high into the night sky. Then it was simply a case of keeping the camera firing using a wireless remote.
The success of the event was clear as I watched happy families leaving the public park after the display. The traffic outside also showed just how many people had travelled from other Midlothian towns, with cars queuing to make their way home.
I share my fireworks photographs on local Facebook groups, and the feedback on both the event and my pictures has been extremely positive.
Finally, the one thing we cannot arrange for an event like this worked in our favour: the rain held off until seconds after the final firework burst!
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