Sparklers no longer banned in Brampton in time for Diwali celebrations

Brampton has walked back its ban on sparklers in time for Diwali later this month but bigger, more noisy fireworks are still outlawed.

The city received more than 1,000 complaints on Oct. 24 last year as some residents set off fireworks for Diwali, the annual Festival of Lights celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists across the world.

With users on social media saying the explosions could be heard going off as late as 5:00 a.m. in some parts of Brampton, the city banned all person-use pyrotechnics in Brampton which included sparklers – hand-held fireworks that burn slowly and give off bright sparks.

But an update to the city’s fireworks bylaw approved by Brampton City Council has removed the ban on sparklers, as well as toy pistol caps. The move was welcome news for the Canadian National Fireworks Association, which thanked the city for walking back the ban in a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying sparklers are “one of 4,000 federally tested, legal and permissible fireworks products.”

All other forms of personal-use fireworks are still prohibited in Brampton with a $500 fine for setting off fireworks and $1,000 for selling fireworks. Brampton received 1,491 calls related to fireworks in 2022, up from 492 in 2018.

This year Diwali falls on the evening of Nov. 12, and while personal fireworks are still banned, Brampton will be celebrating with live music and performances from local and international artists, free family-friendly events, food vendors and a 15-minute fireworks display – the largest and most spectacular of any city-run pyrotechnics show.

The celebration will run from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Nov. 12 at Sesquicentennial Park with limited parking available on-site for on a first-come, first-serve basis.

For more information on the Brampton Diwali Mela click here or visit www.brampton.ca.