11 illuminating facts about the Blackpool Illuminations

The Blackpool Illuminations is a world-famous annual light display, dazzling visitors for over 100 years. Here are 11 illuminating facts that you might not know about the greatest free light show on earth!

1. The length of Blackpool Illuminations is just under six miles. It starts at Squires Gate and finishes at Red Bank Road

2. Over one million LED lamps are used across the Blackpool Illuminations display

3. There is more than 100 miles of light garlands used across they display which hands between the Promenade poles and over the carriageway

4. Blackpool Illuminations cost over £2 million to stage each year

5. The Illuminations attract over 3.5 million visitors a year

6. The displays are designed and constructed at the Lightworks depot were twenty staff members including artists, joiners, mechanics, electricians, painters, engineers and technicians work year-round to ensure the displays are ready for the Switch-On event

7. Altogether 65,000 staff hours are spent on maintenance, preparation, installation, operation and dismantling the features each year

8. There are more than 500 different designs across the light display 

9. The Blackpool Illuminations are switched on by guest stars at the Switch-On ceremony each year. Past guests included are Alfie Boe, Lucy Fallon, director Tim Burton, Steps, Geri Halliwell and David Tennant to name a few

10. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Switch-On ceremonys in 2020 and 2021 were virtual events making them accessible to an international audience for the first time in history

11. The 2021 Switch-On concert was hosted in The Blackpool Tower Ballroom with performances by KSI, Ella Henderson, The Wombats and Wes Nelson