The Blackpool Illuminations 2025 Switch-On event is approaching, marking one of the busiest days on the city’s calendar.
The event has been delighting crowds since 1879, celebrating its 146th year. Back in the day, it was just eight carbon arc lamps, making it the first public display in the UK. Now, the immersive light trail boasts a whopping six miles of art and light installations.
Blackpool Illuminations 2025 dates and times
The Blackpool Illuminations 2025 Switch-On event is taking place on Friday, August 29, kicking off at around 5:30pm, with the gates opening at 4pm. The lights themselves will turn on when the sun goes does, at 9:15pm.
Blackpool Illuminations will stay up until January 4, 2026, giving visitors plenty of time to enjoy the light trail. You can full the full list of the exact times here.
Who’s going to be switching on the Blackpool Illuminations?
This year, guests can enjoy an hour-long set from superstar Olly Murs at Blackpool’s Tower Festival Headland before he turns on the lights. Moreover, X Factor winner Louisa Johnson and English rock band Toploader will also be performing at the event.
The tickets
While 24,000 tickets were given out for free on the VisitBlackpool website, visitors who don’t hold a ticket can still attend the event by going to the live screening zone set up on the Promenade near Central Pier.
Travel advice before going
As always, visitors are advised to plan ahead before travelling to Blackpool Illuminations 2025. Free parking will also be available at council car parks. You can find them here.
Public transport will also face diversions during the busiest times, while the trams will operate on a split service.
Blackpool Transport is “taking a fresh approach to managing the massive influx of visitors while minimising travel disruption for residents on the Fylde Coast.”
Jamie Swift, head of service delivery, said: “Throughout the illuminations season, trams will primarily follow the usual timetable, and we will only divert buses away from the promenade at particularly busy times.”
“To avoid any confusion, these bus diversions will be in place on all Fridays and Saturdays between August 29 and November 1, but at other times we’ll take a more flexible approach.
“Buses will continue to run along the promenade when traffic is moving freely, which means visitors to the seafront will not have to go out of their way to catch a bus back home or to their accommodation, preventing any unnecessary inconvenience.”
“While we plan to run trams to the usual timetable, including our regular services to North Station, there may be occasions when traffic on Talbot Road causes unavoidable delays, and we will temporarily revert to a mainline only service.”