Fhurt Pownder
Robin Hill’s annual “Fireworks with Mountbatten” returns this Saturday 8 November 2025, and excitement is already bubbling across the Island, partly because it’s one of Mountbatten Isle of Wight’s major fundraisers, and partly because locals swear they’ve seen things in the woods that definitely weren’t squirrels.
Mountbatten’s fireworks night is a highlight of the autumn calendar, combining pyrotechnic brilliance with community goodwill. All proceeds go toward hospice care for Island residents, with last year’s Walk the Wight alone raising over £515,000, and the charity’s total annual running cost topping £10.5 million, much of it met by fundraising and donations.
So far, so perfectly normal.
Then come the rumours.
Sightings, shapes, and suspicious sparks
Witnesses claim that each year’s display attracts “certain unregistered attendees”, flickering silhouettes over Downend Hill that don’t quite match the fireworks schedule. Some locals attribute them to optical illusion; others to the Federation of Legendary Lore Investigation & Evidence Specialists (FOLLIES), which reportedly monitors supernatural activity with a clipboard in one hand and a marshmallow stick in the other.
One slightly bewildered reporter (identity withheld, though they sign their pieces W. Flange) insists they conducted interviews with several creatures at last year’s event. No one else remembers seeing these creatures, or indeed the reporter after 9 p.m., but the resulting notes were found later near the toffee-apple stand.
According to these documents, the Myrstone Phoenix had volunteered as “Fire Marshal First Class”, the Newport Dragon was moonlighting as “Pyrotechnic Consultant and Morale Booster”, and a rather stern Havenstreet Basilisk was supervising crowd safety by staring at everyone in alphabetical order.
Meanwhile, a Wootton Bridge Troll allegedly managed the burger stall, charging a small toll for ketchup; a Chale Green Goblin led the children’s parade before being distracted by glowsticks; and the Rowbridge Gnome swept the arena afterwards, muttering about “cuts to mythical staffing.” A Newbridge Fawn tuned 'fixed' the plumbing in the bathrooms, which then suffered a serious flood, while the Banshee of Carisbrooke provided the countdown to each firework with a shriek that melted candyfloss.
Whether any of this actually happened remains debatable. The only tangible evidence is a half-singed invoice marked “Phoenix Feather – Do Not Refund.”
What’s confirmed (by humans, at least)
What is most definitely real, beyond any cynical question, is the event itself:
When: Saturday 8 November 2025 — gates open 2:30 p.m.; fireworks 7 p.m.
Where: Robin Hill Adventure Park, Downend Road, Newport
Tickets: Adults £7.50 | Children £5 | Family (2 + 2) £20
Why: To support Mountbatten’s hospice and bereavement services across the Island.
Organisers promise food, music, and one of the Island’s largest displays, with every spark contributing to life-changing care. Families are urged to wrap up warm, arrive early, and keep an open mind about what they might, or might not, see drifting between the trees once the fireworks begin.
Speculation & public service note
The FOLLIES Press Office declined to confirm attendance, issuing a short statement:
“Our agents may or may not be on site. Should citizens witness unusually large reptilian silhouettes, please remain calm and enjoy the show. Donations gratefully accepted.”
Meteorologists predict clear skies and “a 30 per cent chance of unexplained lights”. Local authorities have reassured residents that any dragon-related sparks will be covered under Robin Hill’s existing insurance policy, clause 12b: “Acts of Fire or Minor Miracle.”
A final thought from our correspondent
As the Isle of Wight prepares to gather under the autumn stars, perhaps that’s the real magic, humans and (possibly) mythical neighbours standing side by side, watching the same sky for very different reasons.
Whether you see a firework or a phoenix, a rocket or a dragon’s sigh, the important thing is this: every burst of light supports Mountbatten’s work of compassion and care. And if you happen to hear a faint wail counting down from ten… best raise your cocoa and join in.
References
Mountbatten Isle of Wight – Fireworks 2025 Event Page
Visit Isle of Wight – Official Listing
On The Wight – Event Announcement Article
Mountbatten Fundraising News – Walk the Wight Raises £515,000 (2025)
Federation of Legendary Lore Investigation & Evidence Specialists (FOLLIES) Press Release No. 42 – “Probably Present.”
BOOK YOUR TICKET
https://robin-hill.com/event/mountbatten-fireworks
