The giant disco ball along the promenade in Blackpool
Blackpool is a Bridlington on the west. I guess I would not think of coming here if it were not for my friends Lee and his Mum Joyce. I first met them back in Canada on Gabriola Island where I was building my house. Lee actually is an amazing plasterer, a master plasterer, as I like to say, who came into my world at just the right time, when I needed and experienced traditional lime plasterer. It was his work that made my house what it is.
Lee's excellent plaster work over my relief work on the outer wall
In anycase, I have remained in contact with him and his family. His sister Wendy still lives on Gabriola and I was lucky in my timing that she arrived just yesterday before I left so I was able to catch up and hear the latest from the little Gulf Island in British Columbia. But I digress. Because I am here in Blackpool. Mostly visiting friends, so my exploration of its history and surrounding area is minimal. One of Blackpool’s claim to fame however, is its illumination done along the promenade for 6 miles every year. It really is quite the site. Here is a quick video of some of that illumination taken on Friday night.
So it is quite spectacular and Blackpool like Bridlington has become a seaside resort getaway. It had over the years been let to become rundown but now a lot of money is being spent to spruce up the promenade and shopping area and draw people back to the area. It will be a bit of a long turn around but the promenade is really quite lovely. Lee and I went running along it on Sunday.
A shot of the lights along the main promenade road
Blackpool Illuminations is an annual Lights Festival, founded in 1879 and first switched on 18 September that year, held each autumn in Blackpool on the Fylde Coast in Lancashire. They run each year for sixty- six days, from late August until early November at a time when most other English seaside resorts’ seasons are coming to an end. Dubbed as “the greatest free light show on earth”, they are 6 miles (10 km) long and use over one million bulbs. The display stretches along the Promenade from Starr Gate at the south end of the town to Bispham in the north.
A video of the Blackpool Tower alight
Even the tower, built in 1880 gets to be part of the show. I quite like Blackpool but next time, as Lee suggests, I need to visit the Lakes and get a taste of some fo the countryside.
You’ll probably laugh at me, but the only reason I know Blackpool exists is because of Coronation Street and I have always wanted to see what the fuss was about….
Thanks for making me aware of the Blackpool Lights Festival and for sharing your pictures and video.