File

By Peter Covino

Lifestyles Editor

There will be a hot time in Osceola County Monday night.

Kissimmee’s annual Guy Fawkes event will be held at Champions World Resort, 8660 W U.S. Highway 192, and features a 30-foot-tall bonfire.

Guy Fawkes, a legendary figure in the United Kingdom, is remembered each Nov. 5, for his foiled attempt to blow up the British Parliament.

Held since the 17th century in England, Guy Fawkes Day is marked by bonfires and fireworks. It is one of the most celebrated days in the United Kingdom.

Kissimmee’s Guy Fawkes event, is only in its fourth year but keeps on growing, said Justine Assal, a former United Kingdom resident and organizer of the local event.

“This is a great family event,” Assal said, and will include many traditional English favorite foods and beer, but the highlight will be the bonfire.

A crowd of about 3,000 is expected, a marked increase from the 400 people who attended the first Kissimmee event, held at the Osceola County Fairgrounds.

Kissimmee is a great location for a Guy Fawkes Day event, she said, because of the large British population. Kissimmee's Guy Fawkes event is believed to be the largest event of its kind in the Southeastern United States, she said.

And with the excitement of fireworks and the huge bonfire, both traditional parts of a Guy Fawkes celebration, the event should be popular with other area residents and tourists as well.

Bonfires and fireworks are a big part of Guy Fawkes Day in towns and cities throughout the United Kingdom, she said. Children make effigies of Fawkes, which are burned in the fire. The tradition of burning “Guys” also is part of the Kissimmee celebration. There will be a competition to build the best dressed “Guy” dummy to be thrown onto the fire. Prizes will go the best three dummies.

Making a Guy is fairly simple, requiring just some old clothes and newspaper to stuff the lifesize dummy. Past entries and other information are available at the event website (Guyfawkeskissimmee.com). Judging will be at 7:30 p.m. and participants need to be by the stage area at 7:20 p.m.

In addition to the fireworks and bonfire, the night includes the food traditionally served at the event — black treacle toffee, toffee apples and baked potatoes, as well as other British food staples such as Cornish pasties and steak and kidney pie.

Beer and wine also will be for sale, and area pubs will be offering up samples of British beer.

Other events include a British fancy dress costume contest for adults/children at 8:30 p.m.. Costumes must have a British theme in order to win. There will be prizes for adults and children.

There also will be an area with rides for children.

The bonfire will be lit at 8 p.m. with fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

Admission is $5, cash only.

“This is going to be a slice of Britain for the night,” Assal said.