31st August - 5th November 2007
Blackpool Illuminations 2007 Details
Competition to Design a section Of Illuminations for 2008
For the first time in history Blackpool Council have decided to create a competition, open to the public to design a section of the 2008 Illuminations!
The winning designer will receive £3000, have their design created, and have their name on the design. Their design can be a road section or a massive tableaux up to 7 meters high by 36 meters long.
The only real criteria that has been placed on the entries is that they should stimulate, excite and entertain the audience. Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen will be on the judging panel and entries must be submitted by 6th December 2007.
For more details and technical specifications please either michael.wilcock@blackpool.gov.uk or write to Michael Wilcock, Blackpool Illuminations Department, Rigby Road East, Blackpool, FY1 5ES.
David Tennant to Switch on Blackpool Illuminations 2007
Today, 22nd August, with just 9 days to go to the Big Switch On the performers for the Switch on party have been announced!
David Tennant will actually throw the switch at approximately 9.30pm on the night. Preceding the Switch On will be performances from Natasha Beddingfield, Natalie Imbruglia, Gareth Gates, McFly and The Ghosts.
Natalie will be singing hits from her hits collection, due to be in shops next week. Natasha will be performing her new single Say it Again, before its October release.
Blackpool and BBC Radio 2 have today (30th March) announced the name of the mystery celebrity who will be flicking the famous switch to mark the start of the 2007 Blackpool Illuminations.
BBC TV Time Lord David Tennant will be swapping the powerful controls of the TARDIS for the controls of the most famous free light show in the world during a free concert and special live broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on Friday 31 August 2007.
Tennant, who returns to television screens on BBC One on Saturday 31 March as Doctor Who makes a welcome return to the resort after starring in the internationally acclaimed BBC Drama ‘Blackpool’, and will be guest of honor at the biggest and brightest night in Blackpool’s calendar.
Jackie Potter, Strategic Director, Tourism and Regeneration said today:
We are absolutely delighted that David Tennant has accepted our invitation to switch on the Lights on Friday 31 August 2007. Blackpool’s Switch On celebrations are enjoyed by a huge family audience and we are sure this will be a popular choice.
The free concert during which he will throw the switch marks the start of Blackpool’s Big Switch On Weekend. We hope that thousands of fans of David, and of Blackpool, will join us in the celebrations and that they stay to enjoy all the free events Blackpool will be hosting throughout the weekend and indeed during the Illuminations Season.
The 2007 Illuminations will also be a delight for Doctor Who fans, as Illuminations bosses are soon to unveil plans for a new display featuring characters and creatures from forthcoming episodes.
Tennant joins an illustrious list of stars to have launched the lights including the fourth Doctor, Tom Baker, who illuminated the town as Doctor Who back in 1975.
Sci-Fi fans are in for a real treat with the 2007 display, as the most menacing, mysterious, and mean monsters from the most recent series of Doctor Who make their Illuminations debut. These new displays are situated outside the Dr Who Exhibition.
South Promenade Switch On
This year for the first time not all the 'Switch On' action is in the main arena!
Look out for the beautiful, white, star covered horse that will be parading along the South Shore promenade with his own beautiful light up show girls on board, creating lots of "WOW” moments. The Bare Back Burlesque troop are Britain's only equestrian burlesque company and usually perform their very unique style of burlesque at exclusive parties up and down the country. They are incredibly proud to be joining the illumination team for this year’s Switch On. And these showgirls aren't just pretty faces, they will be performing a dazzling array of gymnastic stunts and maneuvers atop their glittering circus steed who also has a few tricks of his own up his furry sleeve!
Alongside this moving light show, there will also be the chance be enchanted by the famous Whoopee Beaux Belles dance troop, who will be performing under the world’s largest Mirrorball, Located on South Shore Promenade. The Whoopee Beaux Belles are an all female dance troupe, their name is inspired by the Bow Bells of London and the famous Parisian dance troupe the Bluebell Girls.
BareBack Burlesque will perform six 15 minute sets at 6pm, 6.45pm, 7.30pm, 8.15pm , 9.00pm and 9.45pm on The Great Promenade Show and the Whoopee Beaux Belles will be performing at the Mirror Ball at 4.00pm, 6.30pm, 7.45pm, 8.45pm.
World Fireworks Championships Blackpool
Tourism bosses in Blackpool have announced a line up of International Master Blasters in the return of World Fireworks Championships to the UK’s Number One Resort.
Firework companies from around the globe have been invited to stage pyrotechnical displays, bringing an International flavor to Central Promenade during the opening weeks of Blackpool’s Illuminations season.
Top firework manufacturers will represent their homeland by staging stunning pyrotechnical displays in the skies above Blackpool’s Central Beach during September in a show which should be evocative of the style or tradition of their country.
The countries chosen to perform are Portugal, Canada, United Kingdom and Austria
Opening the competition are Pirotecnia Minhota representing their homeland Portugal, on Sunday 2 September, as part of the Blackpool Illuminations ‘Big Switch On Weekend’ celebrations.
On Friday 7 September, it is the turn of Canadian Company DW Fireworks to set the skies ablaze and dazzle the crowds.
Jubilee Fireworks will fly the Union flag for the UK on Friday 14 September, as they attempt to outshine their opponents in a glittering display. This outstanding British Team were crowned ‘Champion of Champions’ in the 2006 National Fireworks Championships.
The final competitors, Design Fireworks, will travel from Austria to try and stake their claim on the title, with an explosively original show on Friday 21 September.
To mark the close of the competition a celebratory performance on Friday 28 September, during which the winner of the competition will be announced. British Pyrotechnical experts from Kimbolton Fireworks, have the honor of the final display, they have created displays for many prestigious events including the celebration of the hand over of Hong Kong to China.
The first of the free displays is on Sunday 2nd September, with further displays every Friday in September. Each display is free to view, and the fireworks companies will be launching from North Pier, ensuring plenty of space to view each spectacle from Blackpool’s Central Promenade.
Each competing company will have to design and launch a display to impress the public, and the judging panel by combining cutting edge pyro-musical design with a style or tradition from their country. Entrants must launch fireworks particular to their homeland and showcase their own pyrotechnical expertise, to win the title.
Promenade wind turbines installed
Although the turbines cost £147,000, councilors hope they will cut £13,250 off the town's annual energy bill.
Julian Kearsley, Blackpool Council's executive director, said people would be able to comment on the designs. The resort is testing two types of turbine to harness the seafront wind.
The first ones to arrive will be three-blade turbines mounted on 15m (49ft) poles. They have 9m (29ft) blades - making them 19.5m (64ft) high in total. They will be joined in early May by a smaller 14m (46ft) "helical" turbine which has "S" shaped blades. The council expects them to last for 25 years.
There are already two wind turbines at the Solaris Centre in the resort and this pilot will extend the project.
"Our initial experience of the two wind turbines at the Solaris Centre has been good," said Mr Kearsley. "Geographically, Blackpool is in a tremendous position to harness the power of the wind and turn it to our advantage. "This pilot will enable us to confirm wind speeds, turbine output and the number of turbines required." The council said the illuminations, although a "key element" of the town, means it uses more power than other councils. Powering street lighting, traffic signs, municipal buildings and the resort's light show costs about £1m a year, it has said.
Interior design guru, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is to create a section of next year's world famous Blackpool Illuminations.
Laurence's involvement is a real creative landmark because this the first time ever that Blackpool has invited an internationally acclaimed designer to contribute to the much loved annual spectacle.
I'm totally seduced by Blackpool's high-kicking glamour and historical reputation for giddy glitz. I'm delighted to have been asked to provide designs for the illuminations and am more than aware of what an accolade it is. And I intend not to disappoint. For me, as a designer, this is, I suppose, the ultimate in seeing my name, or at least my design, up in lights. I can't wait to get started.
Laurence's new section of lights has been called Decodance and is shown below. His designer lights will be positioned alongside the Blackpool Tower right in the heart of the resort.
TOP STARS LINE UP FOR BLACKPOOL'S BIG "LIGHTS" NIGHT
Blackpool Tourism and BBC Radio 2 have revealed that the name of the mystery celebrity who will be flicking the switch in the glittering Illuminations Switch On Ceremony on Friday 31st August 2007 is Dr Who - David Tennant.
The Switch On Arena located at the rear of Coral Island, just off the Promenade will open to the public from 4.00pm with entry strictly on a First Come, First Served basis. A special raised area for wheelchair users in located in the centre of the arena and this again is entry on a first come, first served basis.
Broadcast live from Blackpool, thousands of visitors will be welcomed to the Radio 2 Arena by top BBC DJ Mark Goodier, as he presents a one-off Switch On special show live on air between 8.30pm and 9.30pm. Preceding the actual Switch On will be performances from Natasha Beddingfield, Natalie Imbruglia, Gareth Gates, McFly and The Ghosts.