Blackpool Illuminations 2011 – 2nd September to 6th November 2011

Blackpool Illuminations - also known as ‘The Lights’ - is a Lights Festival running each year for 66 days from early September to early November. Blackpool Illuminations first shone in 1879 and over 100,000 visitors made their way to Blackpool to see the Illuminations.

Blackpool Illuminations really deserves its title of ‘Greatest Free Light Show on Earth’. It costs £2.5 million, attracts over 3.5 million visitors to Blackpool each year and over one million light bulbs adorn Blackpool’s promenade from Bispham in the North to Starr Gate in the South every year.

Blackpool Illuminations – The Big Switch On

The brightest night of all in Blackpool is the Big Switch On ceremony. It is one of the UK’s biggest events and celebrities from the world of comedy, film, music or entertainment are invited each year to perform the switch on. For the second year Smooth and Real radio will host the switch on show. Keith Lemon the alter ego of comic Leigh Francis will switch on the Blackpool Illuminations on the 2nd September.

Since 2000, Blackpool Illuminations Switch On has been performed by the likes of Westlife, Ronan Keating, Geri Halliwell, Chris Evans, David Tennant and Top Gear’s presenter Jeremy Clarkson accompanied by James May, Richard Hammond and The Stig.

This year Olly Murs and Joe McElderry will perform together with Pixie Lott, Mike and the Mechanics´ Paul Carrack, The Overtones and new girl band, Wonderland managed by Louis Walsh, Westlife´s Kian Egan, Scouting For Girls and Beverley Knight.

In 2007, Natasha Bedingfield, Natalie Imbruglia and McFly performed live in front of thousands of people, followed by Scouting for Girls and Boyzone in 2008.

As well as one million light bulbs adorning Blackpool’s promenade, there are lots of shows and displays to keep visitors entertained for 66 days.

Blackpool Illuminations 2011

Blackpool Illuminations 2011 will start at 9.00pm on 2nd September and will finish on 6th November at 11pm.

World Fireworks Championships 2011 – 9th to 30th September 2011

Blackpool World Fireworks Championships have become an important component of Blackpool Illuminations. Each year, the world's fireworks elite gathers at this event to showcase their pyrotechnical expertise in front of thousands of visitors.

Don’t miss this incredible event starting the weekend of the 9th September 2011!

Accommodation During Blackpool Illuminations 2011

There are hundreds of bed and breakfasts in Blackpool and finding accommodation is usually fairly straightforward.

However, Blackpool gets incredibly busy during Blackpool Illuminations so if you are looking for a bed and breakfast in Blackpool, be sure to check our accommodation page where you will find over 370 bed and breakfasts, hotels and guest houses in Blackpool.