What’s New for the 2016 Blackpool Illuminations

This year’s Blackpool Illuminations display is bigger and better than ever before. On arriving in the resort, visitors will be greeted with a mixture of light and sound displays.

The new-look welcome tunnels will greet you whether on foot, car or coach and will give you a warm welcome as you begin your Illuminations journey along the world famous promenade.

The 2016 display welcomes a whole host of new features and some returning favourites. A special section in the Golden Mile will be home to Star Trek, who is commemorating 50 years of one of the biggest TV and movie franchises of all time. One of Blackpool’s newest and most popular bar and restaurants, the Beach House Bistro and Bar has its own section in the heart of the display.

A new road section for 2016 Chandelier Causeway will include a series of stunning LED and strobe lighting festoon, alongside chandeliers celebrating the glamour and glitz of lighting situated between Central Pier and South Pier. There is a brand new experience Kaleidoscopia based at the Starr Gate entrance of the display and will see over 10000 LED lights mysteriously change colour and patterns, creating a multitude of rhythmic shapes in light above you as you enter the show.

Enchanted Garden is a new installation located on the Cliffs section allowing you to enter a magical forest of illuminated trees and lights with all your favourite characters, allowing great photos to be taken, get those selfies online now using #bplilluminations

And not forgetting Blackpool’s long-established award-winning Chinese restaurant, Michael Wan’s Mandarin, who are also supporting the Blackpool Illuminations, with their display between Gynn Island and the Hilton Hotel.

Cllr Gillian Campbell, Deputy Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “The 2016 Blackpool Illuminations season is now under way and we’ve got an incredible Illuminations display that is certainly bigger and better than before.

We’ve now got the addition of LightPool and we’ve introduced three stunning new projection shows, and a dedicated LightPool Village, where visitors can take to refuel before continuing their Illuminations journey.

“I would urge people to come and visit Blackpool, see all the lights and all that we have to offer.”

Along with returning favourites including Bling, Alice’s Garden, Ballroom Glitz, Mirrorball Arches, Arts for Walls, McDonalds, Logo Lights and Head Lights, will make up all of the 2016 display.

Also new for 2016 and sponsored by the Best Western Carlton Hotel, is a 36-page souvenir programme and the definitive guide to all things Illuminations and LightPool.

The brochure is free to anyone who donates £5 to the Illuminations fund and is available from the VisitBlackpool Tourist Information Centre, the Promenade collection huts and the LightPool village.

The LightPool programme returns for a second successive year, with three brand new 3D projection shows on to the Blackpool Tower buildings. There is also a major new exhibition ‘NEON: The Charged Line’ at the Grundy Art Gallery and a week-long festival of light taking place throughout the town centre during October half-term from October 28 – November 2.

LightPool, which proved a hugely popular addition to last year’s Illuminations display, is aimed at re-inventing the Illuminations display and providing clear links to the town centre. It has been funded from the Coastal Communities Fund; Arts Council’s National Lottery funded Grants for the Arts programme and with contributions from Blackpool Council and LeftCoast.

Blackpool Council continues to fund the Illuminations show, but increasingly it relies on donations from the general public or businesses.  This year, the new look arrival areas gives visitors the chance to make a donation and to buy some official merchandise. All donations and merchandise received is reinvested into the design and creation of new displays and experiences for future generations.

For more information on Blackpool Illuminations and LightPool please go to visitblakcpool.com/illuminations or Tel: 01253 478222.

The Illuminations and LightPool shine nightly from 2 September – 6 November. LightPool Festival takes place from 28 October – 2 November.