Illuminations extended by two months

Blackpool will again keep its iconic Illuminations display running for an extra two months following bumper visitor numbers last winter.

Blackpool Council has announced that the attraction will run from Friday 1 September until Monday 1 January, 2024.

When the Illuminations ran for an extra two months last year, it resulted in an 18 per cent increase in promenade footfall during November and December, compared with 2021 which was itself a good year for tourism figures.

Footfall was also up almost 60 per cent compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019 when the Illuminations season ended in the first week of November.

The Illuminations were part of a wider Christmas By The Sea programme of events which saw promenade footfall  from November 18 to January 2 exceed six million, an increase of more than 10 per cent compared to 2021.

Last year's activities included a free skating rink, artificial snowfalls, light projection shows, log cabins, and large-scale light installations. Discussions are underway to hold a similar programme this year.

Coun Lynn Williams, leader of Blackpool Council, said: "All of the statistical and anecdotal evidence from tourism businesses, with some reporting record levels of trading during the winter months, suggests that we have found a winning formula to extend Blackpool’s season. That is something we very much want to sustain and build upon.”