Showzam! hailed a great success

Showzam! Blackpool’s annual celebration of circus, magic and live performance has been hailed a great success.

Now in its 10th year the four day festival attracted people from far and wide to the resort, with more than 10,000 visitors attending the Showzam! Central events in the Winter Gardens, the Tower Ballroom and the town centre.

Produced by VisitBlackpool, in partnership with Blackpool BID, Showzam! the event formed part of the resort’s wider February half-term offer.  

Cllr Gillian Campbell, Deputy Leader of Blackpool Council said; “Showzam! certainly created a buzz in the resort this year making February in Blackpool the place to be.  With lots of free activity programmed for all ages, the festival was accessible for every one”.

In Showzam! Central, visitors we’re entertained by the incredible Magic Carpet Theatre bringing back their weird and wonderful sideshows including the girl in the goldfish bowl, the headless lady and the incredible 10 in 1 show.

Carnival Ball made a triumphant return to the Tower Ballroom on Saturday night with an electrifying atmosphere among the hundreds of people in the audience!

The Ballroom was packed to the rafters as guests arrived and took their seats for what was a thrilling night of live entertainment and dancing, featuring the sensational Mr Wilson’s Second Liners, who received a rousing ovation resulting in an encore for the revellers.

Whilst on the streets visitors to the resort were left stunned and excited by the daredevil street theatre antics, with hula hooping, comedy and magical wonder.

The festival attracted visitors from all over the UK and as far afield as London, with the festival organisers receiving fantastic comments that Showzam! had been ‘out of the ordinary’, ‘mesmerising’, ‘brilliant’ and an ‘excellent piece of living history’.  There was a real appreciation of how much of the Showzam! content was both child-friendly and free of charge.

A spokesperson for Blackpool BID said: “Showzam! Is always a popular event in the town centre and the street entertainers certainly add to the atmosphere.  Crowds have been entertained around the resort and Showzam! Central in the Empress Ballroom certainly proved to be a great success”.

The ever popular behind the scenes heritage tours took place at the Winter Gardens, Grand Theatre and Blackpool Pleasure Beach, providing a look inside some of Blackpool’s most famous venues and attractions.

Michael Jordan’s High Jinx show at Viva Blackpool provided thrills whilst performing breath-taking shows that truly inspired and amazed the audience. The Pleasure Beach held a variety of workshops for all ages from ice skating, magic and dancing.

For a quick reminder of some of this year’s highlights, take a look at our Showzam! round up by clicking on the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jcj0j42PqVM and check the photo gallery at www.visitblackpool.com/showzam  Also, if you can spare five minutes to complete our survey, you can be in with a chance to win a Blackpool goodie bag.  Click the link https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/22KD98Q to complete the survey.

The fun doesn’t stop there!  Blackpool is open for business for the rest of February half-term not just locally but also the North West for schools with different term dates.  The UK’s favourite amusement park Blackpool Pleasure Beach opens for WOW Weekends, and the start of an exciting new season, from Saturday 11 February until the end of March.

Dive in to Sandcastle Waterpark open 10am-5.30pm from 11-19 Feb; have an amazing animal adventure at Blackpool Zoo open daily from 10am; or why not experience Merlin’s top attractions at The Blackpool Tower, The Blackpool Tower Dungeon, Madame Tussauds and the SEA LIFE Centre.

Keep checking www.visitblackpool.com  for updates and to find out what else is happening during the half-term holidays. Why not make a short break of it and book your accommodation package! Click on the link   http://www.visitblackpool.com/blackpoolguide/ to view the 2017 Blackpool Destination Guide.