Blackpool has a jaw-dropping events calendar with mouth-watering shows, concerts and special events.  

Renowned as the Dance Capital of the World, Blackpool boasts two magnificent ballrooms which regularly host major competitions; the largest is Blackpool’s annual Dance Festival 24 May – 1 June.

On day 35, exactly half way round the tour of Britain, Blackpool celebrates the arrival of the Olympic Flame in the resort.  Thousands are expected to the line the route to the Tower Festival Headland where everyone is invited to enjoy a once in a lifetime experience as part of a memorable evening of celebrations. 22 June

Blackpool will once again be celebrating Britain’s Armed Forces, past, present and future, with a week of events during 23 June – 1 July.

Aircraft both classic and modern take to the skies in Blackpool’s brilliant FREE airshow – a marvellous family day out for young and old! 12 August

The World Firework Championships in September sees international pyrotechnical experts stage amazing displays in the skies above the Promenade. 7, 14, 21 & 28 September

Blackpool Illuminations is the greatest free show on earth, this year celebrating its Centenary and the Big Switch On weekend from Friday 31 August features special celebrity guests and a free concert. The lights shine for 66 nights until Sunday 4 November.

Don’t miss your chance to preview the famous Blackpool Illuminations on 28 August as part of the popular Ride the Lights. So grab your bike and ride at any point along the promenade from Starr Gate at South Shore to Red Bank Road in Bispham. You can ride as much or as little of the route as you are able.

Showzam! is a vibrant international festival of circus, magic and new variety. The fun-packed annual event brings a stunning selection of world-class talent to Blackpool… The next festival will take place 10-19 February 2012.

Blackpool’s events calendar is regularly updated with new and exciting reasons to visit the resort. Keep checking these pages to discover what else we have in store for you during your next vist

Comedy Carpet Live, a new festival of events that will take place appropriately on April Fools weekend, 31st March and 1st April 2012. It is set to become an annual celebration the week before Easter, linking in to Blackpool’s latest piece of public artwork, The Comedy Carpet on Blackpool Promenade

At last the new trams have started to arrive in Blackpool.  This is the final stage in a  £101 million restoration project to improve Blackpools 125 year old tramway, which has included changes to the stations, track and a brand new tram depot on Starr Gate.

Blackpool has become the first location in the world to opperate the new FLEXITY 2 tram from Bombardier.

• The Illuminations started with a display of eight arc lamps back in 1879.
• The event was so innovative it even preceded Thomas Edison’s patent of the humble electric light bulb which didn’t arrive until the following year.
• In 1879 the Illuminations were described as artificial sunshine and 100,000 people came to see this first great light show.
• The equipment weighs more than 711,000 kilograms which is equivalent to 350 Blackpool trams.
• Illuminations have been sold to Jeddah.
• There are over a million lamps in the display.
• In 1939 the lights were erected but never switched on because of the outbreak of war.
• In the 1960′s electronic controllers were pioneered in the Illuminations. Rope light or “linear light” as it was originally known was also pioneered here.
• Most of the display now operates on low voltage eg.24v.
• Cable and wiring in the display stretches more than 200 miles.
• The Illuminations cost £2.2 million to stage.
• The equipment itself is worth about £10 million. 
• Wind turbines at the Solarium on New South Promenade contributed to powering the llluminations for the first time in 2004.
• In 2002 the display included a world’s first in exterior LED technology.
• The army of visitors will spend more than £275 million while visiting the resort during the Lights.
• 30 staff, which include Artists, Electricians, Joiners Mechanics, Painters and Engineers, work all year round to ensure the displays are ready on time
• Altogether 65,000 staff hours are used on maintenance, preparation, erection, operation and – finally – dismantling the features, fixtures and fittings.
• The Lightworks facility, which replaced the old Rigby rd depot in 2010 is a modern purpose built home for the lights.

The biggest and brightest night of the year in Blackpool sees one star have the honour of flicking the famous switch to launch the 66 night light extravaganza.

TV’s hottest funny man, Mr Keith Lemon. will this year flick the famous switch to launch the 2011 Blackpool Illuminations.

Joining him for what is guaranteed to be a fantastic nights entertainment will be:
Scouting for Girls, James Morrison, Pixie Lott, Joe McElderry, Olly Murs, Paul Carrack, Wonderland , Beverley Knight, Darren Hayes, The Reason 4, The Overtones, Wynne Evans and The Kixx.s

Get on your bike…Ride the Lights!! An exciting preview of Blackpool Illuminations between 7pm and 10pm. Ride at any point along the promenade from Starr Gate at South Shore to Red Bank Road in Bispham. You can ride as much or as little of the route as you are able.

Ride the Lights is not a bike race, it’s a fun and FREE bike ride open to all. A great opportunity to get out and about on your bike with both family and friends

Hot ice

Hot Ice returns for the 2011 season with a fantastic new production running until 4 September.

This show is fast moving and thrilling, with skaters who have travelled from every corner of the globe to entertain you with speed, grace and elegance, whilst balancing on the fine edge of steel.

Also, over the weekend there will be ground displays next to Central Pier. Including a full size model of the Typhoon and the Typhoon Ground Display Team, RAF Regiment Climbing wall, RAFA Exhibition Trailer and the Lytham Spitfire Memorial Exhibition.

Be sure to put this one in your diary to avoid disappointment.

  

 

 

 

After a recent overnight stay from a Visit England( Quality in Tourism)  representative we have just recieved our three star rating only just missing out on a four by 2%, ( Read our full report on this site) but even more important than that was the fact that we was also awarded a Breakfast Award, this represents that the food available is way above and beyond what would be expectded at our star rating. Both Caroline and myself where over the moon at recieving this and believe that all the hard work we have put into the Avonlea over the past 14 months that we have been back is all well worth it,  Many thanks to all our guests past and presant for all you support and kind words, to those not yet to experance the Avonlea we look forward to meeting you soon.

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