Blackpool Illuminations
Wednesday, October 15th, 2008Blackpool Illuminations is an annual festival founded in 1879 which is held each autumn in the town.
The festival runs annually for sixty six days, spanning from late August until early November The amazing array of lights run for six miles and are believed to use over one million light bulbs. The display stretches along the Promenade from Starr Gate at the southern end of the town to Bispham.
Originally described as Artificial sunshine the first display consisted of just twelve Arc lamps which gleemed along the Promenade. The first display which showed any resemblece to todays was held in May 1912 to mark the first British Royal family visit to Blackpool when Princess Louise opened a new section of the Promenade, know today as Princess Parade. The Promenade was decorated with what was said be described as festoons of garland lamps using about 10,000 light bulbs.
The event was such a success, that in 1913 the council asked to stage the Illuminations as an end of season event.
In more recent years, BBC Radio 2 have hosted the event with a pre-switch on concert featuring bands, singers and comedians.
Source: Blackpool.