Category: Blackpool News and Events
The ‘Blackpool Cup’ Football Tournament Returns This Easter
15 March 2024
Blackpool is once again preparing to welcome 400 youth football teams and over 10,000 attendees during the Easter Weekend as they return for Blackpool Cup tournaments.
The tournaments will bring a major boost to the local economy as well as showcasing Blackpool’s credentials as a family-friendly resort, capable of hosting major International sporting events.
Teams are travelling from seven countries across Europe, including Netherlands, Poland, Ireland and the four home nations together with more than 70 local teams based in Blackpool in which is sure to be an exciting festival of football and fun.
The weekend kicks off with an official opening ceremony at the iconic Blackpool Tower Circus. Matches will be played over at the excellent new facilities on Myerscough College and UCLan Sports Arena.
This year the Blackpool Cup is supporting two local charities, the NHS Blue Skies Hospital Funds and Blackpool Carers along with the Butterfly Tree Charity in Zambia. There will be donation stations set up for people to bring along any old kit and boots, which will be sent out to Zambia after the competitions along with the tournament match balls.
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Blackpool Air Show 2024
8 March 2024
One of the UK’s biggest and best FREE airshows, Blackpool Air Show is scheduled to return for 2024 across the weekend of the 10th and 11th August 2024
Full details of the 2 day festival of all things aircraft, stunts and more flying specials will be announced with the RAF Typhoon display team and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight who are also confirmed for both days of the free event.
The festival also features stalls and ground displays from the likes of the RAF, Blackpool Life Boat and is a real carnival event in the shadow of the Tower.
The best views are from on the Tower Headlands – with the displays mostly taking place over the Irish sea infront of the Blackpool Tower between the Central Pier and North Pier.
If you are unable to make the show, you may be able to watch some of the displays on our live webcam – located on the roof, overlooking the promenade.
Previous Blackpool Air Shows
The history of the Blackpool Air show dates back over 100 years to 1909, when it was first held at Blackpool Airport showcasing some of the first planes ever built. This makes the Blackpool Air Show one of the longest running in the World!
Sadly, the 2020 show was cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic. But our friends at VisitBlackpool and Live Blackpool compiled some videos of previous displays below.
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Blackpool World Fireworks Championships 2024
Returning once again for 2024, the amazing FREE event on Blackpool promenade is set to light up the skies once again with 3 dazzling displays!
Blackpool Welcomes The Best Pyrotechnic Displays in the World
SAVE THE DATE. This year, the dates are confirmed as:-
- Saturday 7th September 2024 – Heat 1
- Saturday 21st September 2024 – Heat 2
- Saturday 5th October – Heat 3
Usual Timings of the Event
The crowds will start to build from 7.30pm with the first fireworks fired at approximately 8.30pm
Whilst the famous Blackpool illuminations light up the whole of Blackpool Promenade, these amazing fireworks displays which are choreographed to music will light up the skies.
The stunning displays, which are set to music, will take place over the beach in front of The Blackpool Tower and just a stone’s throw away from Coral Island. All of the displays are free to access.
Getting to the Event
Traffic builds early and roads into Blackpool get very busy due to the sheer volume of traffic – Public transport is recommended.
If you are wishing to travel by car, visitors are advised to park n the southern car parks and use the trams to travel directly to the event.
Please remember all displays are subject to weather conditions, things could change at the last minute.
2021 World Fireworks Championships
The winners of the 2021 competition were Germany – with their amazing display captured from our roof online here
The finale was a stunning display by Titanium Pyrotechnics – captured on video from the roof of Viva Blackpool online here
2019 World Fireworks Championships
The winners of the 2019 competition were Ukraine – Dance of Fire and are still reigning champions beating off competition from Estonia and Canada.
To see the winning display, check out the video courtesy of YouTube / Pleasure Beach Thrills
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Lightpool Festival
25 April 2023
The award winning Lightpool Festival returns to Blackpool from the 20th to the 28th October 2023.
Running alongside the World Famous Blackpool Illuminations, this FREE series of events, outdoor activities and special illuminated art installations are staged across a wide range of venues and locations across the town.
The programme features a spectacular mix of extraordinary light installations, live performance and 3D projection shows – not to be missed, across one of the busiest weeks of the year in Blackpool.
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King’s Coronation Celebrations in Blackpool
16 April 2023
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Happy 10th Birthday To VIVA!
5 August 2022
The last couple of years have proven to be an unpredictable bag of emotional highs and lows for all. Yet true to human nature, despite any adversity, we tend to come out at the other end with our heads held high; stronger than ever.
This is also true for Blackpool’s very own entertainment gem: Viva Blackpool.
This year we celebrate 10 fabulous years of establishment as the go-to performance venue of the ‘Vegas of the North West’. We have come far since we opened all that time ago and still continue to wow visitors and locals alike with our unique take on the glitz and glamour of show-bar entertainment.
Taking a stroll down memory lane, we find ourselves in June 2012 where Martin Heywood (Managing Director) and Leye D Johns (Entertainment Director and Resident Host) first held the keys not only to the building, but to the doors of an exciting and ever evolving future. With fire in their bellies and endless ideas ready for fruition, it took them no more than 5 weeks to turn the old Mecca Bingo site into the beautiful Purple Palace of present. The opening night was an astounding success and of course, the rest is history. Now, they look back with pride at how far they have come and how their achievements have exceeded even their own expectations.
Viva have had no issues with producing spectacles of the highest caliber for an entire decade – taking your breath away with mesmerising visuals, vocalist and dancers of superb excellence, hilarious antics from the outrageous yet loveable Leye D Johns and of course stunning costumes; all peppered with an overall compilation of utmost professionalism within our glamorously dressed purple themed setting. It is clear that Viva have never compromised their aspiration for quality no matter what we may have faced.
With a hunger for progression, Viva have never remained the same over their double digit timeline. As we gained admirable popularity both locally and across country, we also became a platform for shows outside of our vicinity. Sharing our stage with visiting shows, we opened our venue to be a place of opportunity for entertainers worldwide. To this day, acts from all around the globe travel to perform at Viva, staying true to the concept of diverse entertainment and catering to all demographics. Viva’s prestige has even extended as far as celebrity performances, the venue seeing a number of reputable entertainers such as Joe Longthorne MBE, Cannon and Ball, Roy Walker, Billy Pierce and even the likes of Tyson Fury.
In true Viva form, we did not stop at prominence. With expansion in mind, the brand continued to grow within the hospitality industry, opening the doors to ‘Viva Vegas Diner and Bar’ in 2017. Focusing on an authentic American style diner experience, within the last few years ‘Viva Vegas Diner’ have established themselves as one of the most popular comfort food and drink destinations in Blackpool. With a fantastic location at hand; situated next to our sister venue, the restaurant looks directly onto the sea front, creating an atmospheric dining experience like no other. A must visit spot of high-end novelty.
Coming up to present day and reopening our doors to the public after lockdown – Viva have come back with full throttle! With a refurbished interior, and a take on an entirely new line-up of productions for the season, the show-bar never fails to surprise with our refreshing approach to keeping our visitors engaged and stimulated; from pre-show dining to post-show entertainment. This season Viva sees its very first West End Musical as one of its resident shows; bringing ‘Boogie Nights’ to the stage, starring none other than the original lead Shane Richie’s son: Shane Nolan. With impressive success so far in regards to what we have to offer this year, it is clear that Viva is a prime example of triumphant risk-taking. No rest for the creative!
We truly see Viva Blackpool as a powerhouse role-model for independent businesses everywhere – with constant nurturing, hard-work and a little bit or dazzle dazzle it seems anything is possible! 10 years of success stories and a name that now holds a solid ground in Blackpool’s entertainment history, Viva will not be going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, we are eager to share with you the surprises that we have in store for you over our next fabulous decade to come. Keep your eyes peeled -10 years may have passed, but we’ve only just begun…
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Queens Jubilee Celebrations in Blackpool
1 May 2022
Blackpool will be celebrating the Queens Jubilee with a wide range of events across the resort in June.
The headline event will be a unique one off ‘Heritage Tram’ parade on the afternoon of Thursday 2nd June – as a fleet of trams will come out of retirement and travel in convoy from Blackpool Pleasure Beach to the North Pier, before being available for the public to take journeys on them North and South on the promenade.
Other public events will be happening on the Blackpool Comedy Carpet including a giant picnic, a unique beacon lighting across 3 locations in Blackpool (including the Blackpool Tower) and a huge fireworks display fired from Blackpool Pleasure Beach on the Saturday Night 4th June.
To commence the two bank holidays at the start of the four-day holiday weekend. on Thursday 2nd June a grand parade of heritage trams will take place along the seafront, a giant outdoor picnic and free entertainment on the Comedy Carpet, a light and laser show, and a burst of fireworks at the top of The Blackpool Tower.
Staged in association with Blackpool Transport and the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID), the parade will see around a dozen trams from the heritage fleet travel in convoy from the Pleasure Beach to Little Bispham, creating one of the largest tram parades the resort has seen.
The convoy, which sets off at 2.30pm, will pause at the Tower Festival Headland opposite the Viva Showrooms and the Viva Vegas Diner for a unique photo opportunity.
Between 3pm and 7pm, people will be able to relax at The Big Comedy Picnic, an al fresco eating out area opposite The Blackpool Tower and the Viva venues, with free live entertainment – including our very own Jersey Beats and Viva cast!
Then, between 9pm and 9.45pm, there will be further entertainment before the resort joins the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons, followed by a light show and a burst of fireworks on The Blackpool Tower.
Although the historic trams were officially “retired” when new European-style trams were brought into service on the seafront route in 2012, a number of them were retained and thanks to an army of volunteers have been brought back into regular use. They now form one of the finest heritage fleets in the world.
Blackpool is one of thousands of locations and landmarks across the UK where beacons will be lit. In true Blackpool style, it will be adding its own unique twist to the ceremony. Beacon lighting has long been associated with celebrating major milestones, including Royal Jubilees, weddings and coronations. Dating all the way back to 1897, beacons were lit to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Most recently, beacons have been used to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day and Her Majesty’s 90th birthday in 2016.
A spokesperson said: “We are thrilled that Blackpool Transport and the Tourism Business Improvement District are partnering with us to create a unique celebration of this very special royal milestone.
“A parade of heritage trams on this scale is something that has not been seen for many years and it promises to be a spectacular sight. The addition of a burst of fireworks at the top of The Blackpool Tower will create a magnificent finale at the end of the first day of the holiday.”
The parade and beacon lighting ceremony form part of a brilliant programme of events across the resort to celebrate the special royal milestone. These include:
- The lighting of The Blackpool Tower in red, white and blue throughout the four days.
- Jubilee-themed events and live entertainment at Blackpool Pleasure Beach throughout the four-day holiday weekend including late night riding, fireworks and a Jubilee Concert on Saturday 4 June.
- A chance to take afternoon tea in one of Blackpool’s magnificent heritage venues including the magnificent Blackpool Tower Ballroom, the Imperial Hotel, the magnificent Mazzei Café in the Winter Gardens, and the Art Deco Café overlooking the Italian Gardens in the award-winning Stanley Park.
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Brand New Peter Rabbit Attraction HOPS Into Blackpool Opening 2022
25 November 2021
The well loved classical character PETER RABBIT will burrow into Blackpool Promenade next year with a new £1 million attraction set to open in 2022 in partnership with Merlin Entertainments.
Beloved characters from the award-winning PETER RABBIT™ animated TV series are set to make a new home on Blackpool’s famous seafront next year in a partnership that marks the first stand-alone Merlin visitor attraction to be based on the series
The attraction will open on Blackpool Promenade, next door to Madame Tussauds on the seafront as a stand-alone attraction – the first time Merlin has ventured on such an attraction based upon the series and is a World first! The addition will join Merlin’s six other attractions in Blackpool including The Blackpool Tower and SEA LIFE Blackpool.
The brand-new concept is the first time Merlin has created a stand-alone visitor attraction experience based on the series.
The new experience will provide the opportunity to hop into the over-sized world of Peter and his friends to embark on an adventure across five fluffy-tailed themed zones. Guests will need to think like a rabbit, move like a rabbit and deploy rabbit-like senses with a whole burrow-full of creativity in order to complete the challenges and earn badges – seeing if they have the skills to join the secret treehouse club!
Guests will also be able to meet, greet and ‘high-paw’ with Peter himself – making the experience a bumper bunny day out! All of Peter’s friends will be joining him on the promenade – an exciting trip for thousands of pre-schoolers who will visit the resort in years to come and part of Blackpool’s strategy to become a year round destination!
The new experience will provide the opportunity to hop into the over-sized world of Peter and his friends to embark on an adventure across five fluffy-tailed themed zones. Guests will need to think like a rabbit, move like a rabbit and deploy rabbit-like senses with a whole burrow-full of creativity in order to complete the challenges and earn badges – seeing if they have the skills to join the secret treehouse club!
Developed in partnership with Silvergate Media, Penguin Ventures (on behalf of PETER RABBIT™ brand owners Frederick Warne & Co.) and Blackpool Council, the attraction is set to open next door to the famous Madame Tussauds Blackpool as part of a new standalone experience. The addition will join Merlin’s six other attractions in Blackpool including The Blackpool Tower and SEA LIFE Blackpool.
Kate Shane, Regional Director for Merlin Entertainments, said: “We are thrilled to be welcoming such an icon to Blackpool! Peter Rabbit is a well-loved household name for young and old and is globally renowned. We are delighted that this new attraction concept will be created here in Blackpool first. We firmly support Blackpool’s overall ambition to be the UK’s number one family seaside resort and with such a family-favourite brand joining our Blackpool Cluster of attractions we can’t wait to ‘hop’ to it and get the experience open next year.”
Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “This new attraction will be another fabulous addition to Blackpool’s growing portfolio of world-class attractions that are aimed at a family market.
“The creation of a standalone experience featuring one of the world’s best-known children’s characters will provide another compelling reason to visit what we believe is the UK’s ultimate family resort.”
Lisa Macdonald, SVP Consumer Products and Content Sales at Silvergate Media, said: “We’re excited to partner with Merlin Entertainments on a new stand-alone attraction that brings the animated adventures of Peter Rabbit and his friends to life for families in Blackpool. Harnessing the multi-generational appeal of Peter Rabbit to create a unique brand experience and unforgettable day out will enhance its enduring popularity for generations to come.”
Thomas Merrington, Creative Director Live & Experiential at Penguin Ventures, said: “Working with Merlin on creating this attraction over the past year, pulling together ideas and new themes from the show and seeing them come to life has been such a thrill. This really will deliver a brand new experience and I am so excited to see how our young fans will engage with the multiple aspects of this highly interactive play attraction.”
© Frederick Warne & Co Limited and Silvergate PPL Limited, 2021. Based on the works of Beatrix Potter. PETER RABBIT and BEATRIX POTTER are trademarks of Fredrick Warne and Co. All rights reserved.
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Bobby Ball (1944-2020)
29 October 2020
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