A fireworks and food event will be held at the Select Car Leasing Stadium this Sunday, giving Reading fans a social occasion at their team's venue. The gathering, run by the independent firm Social Eats, is scheduled from 4pm to 8pm on November 8 in the car parks outside the stadium's north side.
This family-oriented event offers a pause from the football season, which sees Reading sitting 6th in League One on 22 points after 14 games. Entertainment will feature a fireworks show, a laser display, live music, various food vendors, and amusement rides.
Ticketing and parking details
Tickets can be purchased on the Skiddle website, and booking ahead is advised as space is limited. A portion of the car park will provide free parking, allocated on arrival. Social Eats will email ticket buyers with specific parking instructions before the event. "Once the designated parking area is full, visitors will be required to use other public parking options in the surrounding area," Social Eats said. Parking for Blue Badge holders is free, and stewards will oversee parking.
What to bring and stadium rules
Anyone under 18 needs to be with an adult and have their own ticket, but infants under four do not require one. Attendees may bring one unopened non-alcoholic beverage, limited to 500ml. Only assistance dogs are permitted. Bags will be checked at entry, and banned items consist of glass, weapons, alcohol, food from outside, fireworks, drones, and large umbrellas. Multiple food stalls will serve various dietary needs, and card payments will be accepted. Smoking and vaping are restricted to specific zones.
Accessibility and facilities
The venue is accessible for wheelchairs, set on level ground made of tarmac and gravel. Free tickets for carers are offered through Skiddle, and accessible toilets include baby-changing stations. Pushchairs are allowed, but note the gravel surface. The stadium building will not be open, though the Reading FC Club Shop will operate from 4pm to 8pm for merchandise, where fans can perhaps look for the name of the team's top scorer this season, J. Marriott, who has 8 goals in 9 appearances. The event will proceed in rain, and tickets are not refundable unless it is cancelled. Any questions should go to Social Eats, as the football club is not managing the event. "This includes ticketing, parking, security, and handling customer enquiries," Social Eats stated.
Reading's recent form has been mixed with two wins, two draws and one defeat from their last five matches, a sequence that includes a dramatic 2-2 draw at Bristol Rovers on Tuesday 10 November. The team's next fixture is a challenging away match against second-placed Stockport County on Saturday 14 November.
The report in full is at readingchronicle.co.uk
