Blackpool Illuminations

There is probably not a person in the world (well maybe some people) who have not heard of or seen Blackpool Illuminations. They usually shine from the first weekend in September until the around the 7th November and the switch on is always a big event. Everybody from Red Rum to Dr Who and Top Gear have flicked the famous switch over the years and this year it is the turn of Robbie Williams who will turn them on Friday 3rd September 2010. This year's switch on is causing controversy as it has always been a free for all event, but this year while still free is a ticketed event. So people wanting to go and watch had to apply then there would be a lottery for wristbands, of which the people of Blackpool were going to be given a few thousand tickets and the rest given to others. However it emerged last week that some of these tickets had ended up on ebay, which obviously angered people from Blackpool, so they are supposed to be in the process of being removed from ebay. Back in the day when I was growing up, the switch on was always at Talbot Square opposite North Pier and as it got to be a bigger event, it moved to Central Car Park. This year it will be held on St Chad's Headland as as well as Robbie Williams, it has emerged that Russell Watson, The Wanted, Olly Murs,  and Gabriella Climi will be appearing, Alesha Dixon and The Plain White T's are also rumoured to be appearing.

There are many ways to view the illumination's and if you have the energy, there is no better way than walking them (although it is a very long walk!!!)
If you want an easier way then you can either drive through them and depending on what day and time you choose to go, it can take a good couple of hours or if you don't want the stress of driving there are open top bus tours which operate Monday to Friday from Marton Mere Holiday Park.
If you fancy something a bit different why not book tour on an illuminated tram which departs from North Pier Tram stop and costs £5 for adults and £3.50 for children over 5 (under 5's are free).
Blackpool Landau's also operate tours prices on request to each landau and as far as I am aware they are not allowed to operate on Saturdays (according to Blackpool evening gazette) due to the amount of traffic.

For more of my Blackpool and Illuminations photos go to my Flickr website.

On Tuesday 31st August 2010, there is a 'Ride the lights' event along Blackpool promenade, which is a preview of the lights by push bike only. It is from 7pm until 10pm and you can ride and see as much or as little as you choose with no other traffic other than bikes oh and its free too.

Blackpool - My Home Town

Well I decided to do this blog over a year ago but things happened and it never materialised so I am going to start now by saying 'We are premier League' because we were not when I decided to do this and want to say Good Luck for this season to Ian Holloway and all at Blackpool FC. 
What can I say about Blackpool???

Well I have lived here since I was a baby when my mum and dad moved here from Glasgow and have grew up thinking that Blackpool was a dump, although it has its moments it is having more and more events and attractions on and is trying to establish itself as the number one UK tourist spot once more. Being more famous in recent years for the 'hen and stag parties' although there are still plenty that come to party, Blackpool is doing its best to bring the families back to the resort.




I am a keen but amateur photographer and love getting out and about taking photographs and want to make the most of the town I live in, so now try and go out whenever there are events on in Blackpool and take some photographs and publish them on Flickr so that people can see how great the town is.  As well as looking in the Blackpool Evening Gazette, I always check Visit Blackpool for all the latest news.
This year on Friday 3rd September the lights will be switched on by Robbie Williams which is a great pull for the town although for the first time it will be a ticketed event and I do wonder if there will be many local people who will get tickets. This event is a register now and there will be a lottery for tickets. I want to share some of my photographs and details on some of the events that have and are taking place in Blackpool.

Since the promenade started being done up it has become a really nice place to go and relax, there are grassy areas and seated areas and in lovely surroundings as the promenade was beginning to look shabby and really needed updating.  I used to go to the pleasure beach quite regularly, although I don't really like the rides, it is a great place to take some fantastic photographs, but since they started to charging an entrance fee (which I begrudge paying seeing as though you still have to pay for all the rides) I haven't been, although I believe they do have special offers regularly on books of tickets and the Hot Ice show is always fantastic.

The sandcastle water park is a great attraction for families and people of all ages and at the prices are £10.35 for adult and £8.55 for children over 3 (there are discounts for seniors and people with disabilities) and also family tickets available. It is a great day out with lots to do but it does not have its own car park so it is either street parking (of which there is little in this area) or in the car parks although there are car parks, they are expensive if you are parking all day so if you are on holiday, it may be cheaper to travel by tram or bus.

Below are some events that have taken place in and around Blackpool.

Blackpool Championship Parade

Every year Blackpool hosts the World Firework Championships and this year is no different, but usually they take place over a few weekends however this year they will take place over three days being 10th - 12th September 2010.  They will also be set off from the beach between Central and South Pier this year instead of from North Pier as in previous years.

It is always a great event although in some instances the events have had to cancelled due to our lovely British weather!!!