One hundred and forty-six years ago, the first ever Blackpool Illuminations took place. Since then, the lights have become an annual tradition that’s no longer just for northwestern locals – people come from all over to see Blackpool’s huge light show cover nearly six miles of the city. This year the Illuminations are back for an extended period, going right through the Christmas period until early January. The switch on is this week.
This isn’t just a regular old light switch on – this is a proper event. Expect multiple musical performances, stuff to eat and drink, and, of course, the moment itself, when thousands of lights will turn on at once.
If you’re lucky enough to be heading to the Illuminations this week, here’s everything you need to know.
When will Blackpool Illuminations be switched on for 2025?
The ‘Switch-On 2025’ event is on Friday August 29, when the lights turn on at 9.15pm after an evening of music from celebrated artists and local bands alike.
After that, the lights will come on every day until January 4. From Saturday (August 30) they’ll go on daily at 8pm, but this will get earlier as the days get shorter. Until November 7, the lights will go off at 10.30pm on weekdays and 12am on weekends, being reduced to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays from then on. Additionally, on New Year’s Eve they’ll stay on until half past midnight.
Here’s what times the Blackpool Illuminations will turn on each day:
- August 30 to September 11: 8pm
- September 12 to September 18: 8pm
- September 19 to September 25: 7.30pm
- September 26 to October 2: 7.15pm
- October 3 to October 9: 7pm
- October 10 to October 16: 6.15pm
- October 17 to October 25: 6pm
- October 26 to December 13: 5pm
- December 14 to January 4: 4.30pm
Switch On party timings and headliners
The gates for the Switch-On will open from 4pm, with the party really starting at 4.30pm when the first act will take to the stage.
Top-billed is Olly Murs, who will perform a set of his greatest hits before doing the honours of flicking the switch. Also playing will be ‘Dancing in the Moonlight’ stars Toploader and X-Factor winner Louisa Johnson, as well as a selection of up-and-coming local artists who will perform as part of the ‘Blackpool Introducing’ showcase.
How to get to the Blackpool Illuminations and where to park
The Switch-On event will be held at the Tower Festival Headland, just opposite the iconic Blackpool Tower. If you’re travelling by train the best place to get off is Blackpool North, as the Headland is only a ten minute walk from there.
If you’re driving, the organisers recommend parking in the Central Car Park Multi-Storey, which is also a 10-minute walk from the venue. If that’s full, the council has created a handy list of all the nearby car parks you can try including short-stay, long-stay, and even spots which have electric charging bays.
Can I still get tickets?
Unfortunately, tickets were allocated through a ballot, so if you weren’t lucky enough to be awarded a couple you’ll have to wait until next year and try again. There is no resale tickets available, so anyone trying to sell you one is a scammer. The only way to receive a ticket from someone else is through a direct transfer from someone you know.
There will be screens along the promenade that you can watch if you didn’t manage to get tickets this year, so you can still enjoy the atmosphere and watch the city light up first hand.
How many lights are in Blackpool Illuminations?
Across the six miles and dozens of different displays and designs, there are more than 1 million lights which will illuminate Blackpool’s streets until January 4. All those bulbs and their wires weigh the equivalent of 350 tram cars, and consume nearly 96,000 units of electricity – we certainly wouldn’t want to foot the £50,000 bill.
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