Blackpool Illuminations are 6 miles of electric lights and light displays that run along the promenade of Blackpool, a seaside resort town in Lancashire, England.
Blackpool's promenade was illuminated by electric lighting for the first time in 1879 with 8 large electric arc lights were installed and switched on. As the town became the first in Britain to install electric lighting, people flocked came from miles to visit Blackpool to see "the lights". This was a year before Thomas Edison patented the light bulb.
In May 1912, the promenade was decorated with 10,000 lights to celebrate the opening of a new section. The event was so popular that the lights returned later that year, becoming an annual tradition from 1913 onwards. The only interruptions were during World Wars I and II. The Illuminations resumed in 1949 after World War II.
Today, Blackpool Illuminations feature over one million light bulbs, showcasing a mix of traditional lights and modern LED displays.
Up until 2020, a typical Illuminations season lasted for 66 days, from September to November. They were extended to 100 days during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they have remained lit for longer ever since. For the 2024 season, they shine from 30th August 2024 to 5th January 2025. August 30 to January 5.
Since 1934, a famous person has performed the switch-on ceremony. Notable figures include Mel B (Scary Spice) in 2024, Tim Burton (2015), David Tennant (2007), The Bee Gees (1995), Kermit the Frog (1979), Sir Stanley Matthews (1951), plus the cast of British television shows like Coronation Street, Doctor Who and Dad's Army. Recent switch-on events also feature live performances and concerts.
In 1977, the legendary racehorse Red Rum turned on the Illuminations. He also paid a visit to Blackpool Pleasure Beach and opened the Steeplechase rollercoaster. And he also won his third Grand National in the same year. A busy year for the UK's best-known racehorse!
The switching-on of Blackpool Illuminations in 2008 was the topic of an episode of BBC Two's Top Gear. In it, the programme's three presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May each had to make it from Switzerland to Blackpool on one tank of fuel in time to turn on the lights. Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond made their destination on time. However, while the two presenters argued over who should turn the lights on, The Stig beat them to it and hit the switch.
It takes 22 weeks to install the displays and 14 weeks to dismantle them. This means the Illuminations are physically present for most of the year, even though they're lit for around three months.
During the Illuminations, Blackpool Tower is fully lit up. Since 2007, the Tower has featured a laser that can be seen from 30 miles away, though it has drawn criticism from astronomers for disrupting stargazing.
