Enjoy a full-on half-term in Blackpool!

Isn’t it that time of year when most seaside resorts are battening down for winter?  Not here in Blackpool where the October half-term holiday just doesn’t get any bigger or better! It’s full-on entertainment with everything you need to make the school holiday as good as it can be.

All of the major attractions are open for business; we’ve got shows and events; a brand new festival and loads of free stuff for everyone. Oh, and we’ve also got the world-famous Illuminations shining every night! What’s not to love about October in Blackpool?

Here are just some of the things for all the family to enjoy:

Go Down The Rabbit Hole
Prepare to have your senses blown apart by the sheer spectacle of our amazing projection shows on to the front of the Blackpool Tower buildings.  LightPool 16 brings three brand new shows being projected each night until November 6 including Down The Rabbit Hole, an astronaut’s astonishing journey through space; Chasing Stars, another epic space adventure featuring real-life spaceman, Tim Peake; and Enchanted Blackpool, a fairy-tale collaboration between designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and his daughter Cecile. All shows are free to watch. Further details here:  www.visitblackpool.com/lightpool

Have a Peregrine adventure
It’s one of the big blockbuster films of the autumn – and parts of it were filmed right here in Blackpool. If you want to follow in the footsteps of Miss Peregrine and the occupants of her home for peculiar children, then we have got just the thing – a trail that takes you through the iconic film locations including North Pier, The Blackpool Tower and Circus, and the famous promenade. And there’s a chance for you to win an amazing prize. Go to the VisitBlackpool Tourist Information Centre close to North Pier to pick up your Peregrine map and game card for further competition details go to www.visitblackpool.com/peregrine

Be Amazed at LightPool Festival
There is a brand new festival coming to Blackpool for this October half-term – and it promises to turn the town centre into a spectacular playground. Between October 28 and November 2, there will be a range of light-based art works for everyone to explore as well as a full programme of live performances and illuminated trails. Festival programme details here:  www.visitblackpool.com/lightpool

Take a trip through the Lights fantastic
Blackpool Illuminations are one of the UK’s most enduring tourist attractions – mile upon mile of dazzling lights that bring a unique atmosphere to the UK’s favourite beach resort. For many, it marks a traditional car trip through the Illuminations – but why not experience them on foot or on one of our magical illuminated trams? Whichever way you do it, rest assured that this fabulous free show guaranteed to create family memories.

Check out the Neon
NEON: The Charged Line is a highly acclaimed exhibition of neon-based artworks showing at The Grundy Art Gallery until the end of the year. It features works by some of the world’s leading artists, including Tracy Emin and “Young Brit” Gavin Turk.

Eat fish and chips at the end of the pier…
It’s one of the simple but truly delightful pleasures in life. Who says so? The great British public who voted that a fish supper at the end of the pier in Blackpool was the most enjoyable family experience in Britain. So what are you waiting for – we’ve got the fish and chips, three piers and a fantastic promenade.

Sink your teeth into Halloween!
It’s that time of year when the fun gets spooky. This year, Halloween in Blackpool is spine-tinglingly good. We’ve got the thrilling Blackpool Tower Dungeon and a full week of horrors at Blackpool Pleasure Beach (October 22-31) where you will find zombies, creepy-crawlies, fire eaters, live music, pumpkins galore and a Circus of Horrors. And on October 29 the gore-fest comes to a heart-stopping finale when the Pleasure Beach becomes Vampire Beach. Large and small monsters welcome.

Go Star Trekkin’
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Star Trek franchise with a fantastic exhibition on the Golden Mile. Produced in association with Paramount and CBS, Star Trek: The Exhibition, includes original props, costumes, scripts and photographs that have never previously been seen in Europe, as well as the opportunity to step aboard a spectacular recreation of the iconic bridge from the Starship Enterprise.

Experience the magic of the musicals
Blackpool wouldn’t be Blackpool without a vast array of top shows. This October, you can enjoy some of the best quality entertainment outside London’s West End. The Opera House will be staging Ghost The Musical between October 3 and 15 and the infectious jukebox musical SHOUT! from October 19 to November 3. And just down the road at The Grand Theatre you can hear the very best of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons in the brilliant Walk Like A Man from October 17 to 29.

Save money with The Blackpool Resort Pass
So many attractions in full swing during October half-term……don’t worry; we can make it so much more affordable with the famous Blackpool Resort Pass. The Resort Pass and Pass Plus give you heavily-discounted entry into Blackpool’s leading attractions including Blackpool Pleasure Beach & Nickelodeon Land, The Blackpool Tower Eye, Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE Blackpool, Blackpool Tower Dungeon, Blackpool Model Village, Sandcastle Waterpark and Blackpool Zoo. New for this year is a food offer at the famous Coral Island entertainment complex plus lots more bolt-ons to add on including car parking, trams and shows. Buy your own personalised pass here:  www.blackpoolresortpass.com

Travel with ease during October half-term
Take a stroll down the promenade, hop on a bus to Stanley Park or catch one of our Blackpool trams. However you prefer to travel around resort this October half-term we have it covered.
For a full list of car park locations visit www.visitblackpool.com/travel/parkiing
Travelling by bike? For more information about cycle routes and to hire a bike in advance visit www.blackpool.gov.uk/cycling
The integrated Blackpool 1 ticket gives you unlimited use of the trams (excluding heritage trams) and Blackpool Transport bus network. An adult Daysaver cost £4.50* with an under 16s child Daysaver costing £2.00*. Family tickets £10.00. For more information on cost and timings visit www.blackpool transport.com
*based on £4.50 (adult) and £2.00 (child) advance purchase price,  £5 (adult) and £2.50 (child) when bought on board
Blackpool’s buses connect most hotels to the main resort attractions with a regular service making getting around a doddle. You can get timetables and discounted Blackpool 1 tickets from the Blackpool Transport Travel centre on Market Street (open daily) behind the Town Hall (next to BHS).
For more information go to www.blackpool transport.com email: [email protected] or call 01253 473001

Historic and Illuminated Tram Tours
Our popular Illuminations Tours will run from Saturday the 3rd September until Sunday 6th November 2016. Tours will operate from Blackpool Pleasure Beach only. Each evening we will endeavour to operate as many trams as required to meet demand. Lancashire half term week which this year falls between Saturday 29th October and Sunday 6th November 2016 is traditionally our busiest period in the Blackpool calendar and tours can be extremely busy at this time. Please queue early to avoid disappointment.