The Blackpool Tapestry

Community arts organisation Aunty Social returns to Lightpool 2026 with a new collaborative community artwork that celebrates Blackpool’s heritage by mixing up the ancient and modern in their own unique luminescent style.

Inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, which has recently returned to England for the first time in nearly 1000 years, Aunty Social has worked with local communities to create a Blackpool-themed tapestry that depicts our local history.

Residents of Blackpool were invited to contribute to the 10 metre tapestry through call outs and open workshops. Participants joined Aunty Social volunteers at open community sessions to sew the timeline or they stitched along at home using illustrative templates and stitching guides tailored to a variety of experience levels.

Volunteers researched fibres, fabrics, UV reactive materials and historic embroidery techniques before delving into Blackpool’s heritage. Using stitches and design inspiration from the 11th century Bayeux Tapestry, The Blackpool Tapestry illustrates and memorialises a range of fascinating (and bizarre) moments in Blackpool's history through a collaborative UV textile lightwork.

From Horace, the 13,500-year-old Ice Age elk who roamed across the Fylde to the first Illuminations switch on and Strictly Come Dancing at the Tower Ballroom; the Tapestry tells the story of the UK’s most famous seaside resort through the eyes of its residents.

A Lightpool 2026 commission

Artist: Aunty Social
Aunty Social is a Blackpool-based community arts organisation that gives people opportunities to develop their creativity, learn new skills and connect with others through positive activities. They coordinate a diverse programme of arts and cultural activities designed to bring people together in a safe, supportive, gentle space.

Opening Times

Lightpool Festival Trail

21 Oct 2026 - 31 Oct 2026

Ticket Pricing

Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.