The world-famous Blackpool Illuminations have been one of the UK’s most enduring visitor attractions for more than a century. And the seafront show remains as compelling as ever thanks to new investment and innovation each year.
2021 welcomed the arrival of some stunning new features and the spectacular season was extended for the second consecutive year, shining over Christmas and New Year.
New features in 2021
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NEW Astral Dreams Projection
Location: Comedy Carpet
Astral Dreams was a stunning laser-mapped show, transforming The Blackpool Tower into a sea of light, sound and colour with five high-powered lasers that beamed on to the historic frontage.
The mesmerising projection was created by Blackpool-born international designer Jack Irving, who is best known for creating wildly theatrical outfits for Lady Gaga. Local producer, George Cornes, also composed a musical accompaniment to support the impressive laser show.
Thousands of visitors took their place on the Comedy Carpet directly opposite and enjoyed the free-to-view spectacle.
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NEW: Spiro Light Tunnel
Location: Tower Festival Headland
Take a walk on the light side! Spiro was an immersive walk-through sculptural tunnel of light spanning 26 metres in length.
It was first introduced during Lightpool Festival a couple of years ago. However, due to popular demand, the illuminated tunnel, created with individually mapped LEDs that allow complex patterns to beautifully dance around the audience, returned to the Promenade for the full Illuminations season much to the delight of thousands of selfie-loving visitors!
NEW: Illuminated Sandcastle and Beach Balls
Location: Tower Festival Headland
For many people, Blackpool Illuminations signals the end of summer as we edge into the colder, darker nights of autumn and winter. The hot summer days relaxing in a striped deckchair, building sandcastles and playing ball games on the beach are not quite here just yet, but we embraced all what we love about the seaside in the 2021 Illuminations display.
Two giant pixelated beach balls – seven metres tall to be exact – were placed on the Golden Mile between the RNLI lifeboat house and the iconic Comedy Carpet. Each ball, made up of 7,000 tiny beach ball lights, was a walk-through experience, giving visitors a fun photo opportunity.
The projection trailer located on the Tower Festival Headland was also transformed into a sandcastle and, if you were lucky, you might have spotted the two giant deckchairs too!
NEW: Venus Remixed
Location: South Beach
The popular tableau located at South Beach was first brought to life in 2008. Designed by Illuminations Curator, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, the 21-ft tall by 50-ft wide design included various Greek gods as well as water jets, a gigantic water tank and LED lights.
Skip to 2021 and the well-known tableau had undergone a glamorous makeover, pulling in inspiration from local drag talent. This fabulous digital performance with its revamped backdrop, three giant LED screens and fresh lighting featured a brand new sound and light show every 10 minutes to entertain spectators.
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NEW: I Love BPL Installation
Location: Tower Festival Headland
The outpouring of love and support Blackpool received when the tourism industry gradually reopened has been wonderful to see, which is why Lightworks, the home of Blackpool Illuminations, created a special I Love BPL selfie installation using traditional manufacturing methods and lamps.
Located on the Tower Festival Headland and standing at eight feet tall, visitors and residents alike were able to show their love for Blackpool and let the whole world know they were enjoying the brilliant Illuminations spectacle.
Don’t forget, you can still purchase the official I Love BPL merchandise, such as T-shirts, hoodies and branded mugs from the Tourist Information Centre at Festival House.
NEW: Princess Parade
Location: Princess Parade
The closest to our modern day Illumination displays first appeared in May 1912 to commemorate Blackpool’s first royal visit as Princess Louise opened the new section of promenade named after her - Princess Parade.
Nearly 110 years later and Princess Parade still holds its original place in the Illuminations. New for 2021, the revamped display had been completely relit using traditional tungsten lamps to represent how it looked during the special royal visit all those decades ago.
2021 Blackpool Illuminations sponsors
Thanks to the generous support of our new and returning commercial sponsors and public donations, the world-famous Blackpool Illuminations continues to attract and entertain millions of visitors each year.
Comedy Station Comedy Club
The Comedy Station, Blackpool’s longest running comedy club, was a new sponsor of Blackpool Illuminations with a border box presence in the 2021 display.
Partingtons Holiday Parks
Location: Church Street to Talbot Road
We were pleased to welcome Partingtons Holiday Parks as a sponsor in the 2021 display with their blinging display of lights that wowed spectators on foot or in the car.
City Fibre
New for 2021, City Fibre, the UK's largest alternative provider of wholesale fibre network infrastructure, had their very own bespoke road section near Sandcastle Waterpark.
Returning sponsors for 2021:
We are always proud to welcome back companies and organisations that have supported us financially and operationally over several years.
Access Fylde Coast
Location: Cliffs at North Shore
Showing their informative projection film at the Cliffs, 2021 marked Access Fylde Coast’s second year with Blackpool Illuminations
Affinity
Affinity’s second year with Blackpool Illuminations helped bring awareness to their Fleetwood-based retail park.
Barclaycard
In 2019, the public were encouraged to make cashless donations to support one of the UK’s biggest free attractions. In collaboration with Barclaycard, fast contactless systems were introduced at kiosk collections points at the north and south gateways to the display.
Barclaycard’s support in agreeing a greatly reduced merchant charge enables us to receive the maximum amount of donations to help maintain our fantastic light show. To find out more about donating to help the Lights shine for years to come, please click here.
Beaverbrooks
Location: Balmoral Road to Rawcliffe Street
Beaverbrooks are the longest standing sponsor of Blackpool Illuminations. Following their successful centenary celebration display in 2019, Beaverbrooks road section display lit up again in 2021, consisting of a shimmering show of white lights with a strong focus on diamonds that dazzled the public!
Blackpool Promotions
Returning for a second year, Blackpool Promotions’ border box featured in the 2021 display.
Coral Island
Location: Cliffs at North Shore
Ahoy me hearties! 2020 marked a particularly special year for one of the largest tableaux in the display. Thanks to sponsorship from Coral Island, the Pirate Tableau, a firm family favourite in the Blackpool Illuminations, had undergone a major refurbishment – or should we say had its timbers shivered? The main structural pieces have been rebuilt and the moving parts refurbished, giving them an extra spring of life.
For the second year running, Coral Island was a returning sponsor of the much-loved tableau.
Elgin Hotel
Location: Cliffs at North Shore
2021 marked the fifth year the Elgin Hotel has sponsored the original Fire and Water tableau which had been reimagined thanks to their continued sponsorship.
Fylde Coast Women’s Aid
Fylde Coast Women’s Aid returned for a second year with their border boxes along the Promenade.
Hangar 42 Visitor Centre
Location: Gynn Roundabout
In the 2020 display, one of the replica Spitfires named Holly was placed as the centrepiece at Gynn Roundabout in a touching tribute to the Battle of Britain. The Spitfire was refurbished and converted back into a Mark VB Spitfire by the Illuminations team in collaboration with Blackpool’s aviation museum, Hangar 42. The fighter plane was once again tastefully illuminated with sweeping search lights.
Hikvision UK
In 2020, one of the largest suppliers of surveillance equipment, Hikvision, donated CCTV security equipment to use at the Illuminations donation kiosks and projection units. 2020 was the first year Hikvision has partnered with Blackpool Illuminations and they were back for a second year.
Houndshill Shopping Centre
Location: New Bonny Street to Adelaide Street
Continuing our relationship with Houndshill Shopping Centre for the fourth year running, their stunning road section led the public towards the town centre.
Nickelodeon
Location: Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Nickelodeon returned for another year with their fun road section featuring Spongebob and his pals next to Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Northern Rail
2021 was Northern's third year with their illuminated arches throughout the display.
Sooty and Friends
To honour the town’s friendship with Sooty, the Illuminations team created some additional features of Sooty, Sweep, Soo and Richard. For the third year running, these appeared across the roadway along the promenade in the form of 3D neon characters.
White Ribbon The White Ribbon’s border boxes returned to this year’s Blackpool Illuminations to raise awareness of domestic abuse.