New Illuminations for 2020

Rainbows, hearts and heroes will bring on the Light this year! With new Illuminations for 2020. Take a look at the new features:

New Illuminations for 2020

Blackpool’s 2020 Illuminations feature a special tribute to the heroes of COVID-19. See a dazzling display of hearts and rainbows along the famous Golden Mile.

Blackpool Illuminations is themed Bring on the Light this year.

From Friday 4 September to January 3, 2021. It’s the first time the Lights have shone over Christmas and New Year.

New Illuminations for 2020

All your old favourites return again, along with new illuminations for 2020. Take a look at this year’s amazing new displays –

Spitfire Display at Gynn Roundabout

Did you know? Blackpool was one of the largest military training centres in the world during World War II?

In fact, almost 800,000 RAF recruits had their initial training in the town. During this time, Blackpool residents raised funds to sponsor three Spitfires. They were Progress I, II and III.

This year, Holly, one of the replica Spitfires, is the centrepiece at Gynn Roundabout in a touching tribute to the Battle of Britain. Holly’s been refurbished and converted into a Mark VB Spitfire. The Illuminations team worked in collaboration with Blackpool’s aviation museum, Hangar 42.

We went along to take a look, the day after installation. It’s the week BEFORE the big Switch On event –

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The fighter plane is tastefully lit with sweeping searchlights. A dazzling video mapped laser show, synced to music, lighting up the fuselage every 15 minutes. Here she is, with thanks to one of our talented readers:

This moving and iconic piece of history will draw attention from visitors of all ages. But it’s not the first time this Spitfire has been in the spotlight. She’s been quite the actress before. You might have seen her in successful TV dramas ‘World on Fire’ and ‘Home Fires’.

Did you know? There’s a Spitfire on permanent display at Fairhaven Lake in St Annes? Why not visit and take a look?

NHS and Key Workers Tribute on the Golden Mile

There’s recognition of the selfless efforts of NHS staff and key workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Blackpool Illuminations pays a special tribute in this year’s display. A section of the famous Golden Mile features a festoon of hearts and rainbows. It’s a special thank you to the NHS.

There’s an adjoining ‘Corona Heroes’ section. It features the faces of 50 key workers. They’ve all been nominated by you for inclusion in this year’s display. The winners selected by Illuminations Curator, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.

And here they are:

BLACKPOOL ILLUMINATIONS CORONA HEROES ROLL OF HONOUR

NAME	JOB	EMPLOYER/LOCATION
Mark Stanley (deceased)	Specialist paramedic	Todmorden Ambulance Station
Isabel Johnson	Student nurse/COVID volunteer	UCLAN/East Lancashire Hospitals Trust
Spencer Gibbons	Director, Independent Living	Warren Manor, Blackpool
Dr Carole Gavin	A&E consultant	Salford Royal Hospital
Donna Doyle	Restaurant manager	Alder Hey Hospital
Will Ritchie	COVID fundraiser, aged six	The Wirral
Liam Entwistle	PPE stores department apprentice	Blackpool Council
David Anderson (and Jasper)	Hospital chaplain and therapy dog	East Lancashire Hospitals Trust
Mark Jenkins	Carer	Blackpool
Laura Martin	Cardiac day care nurse	Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
Dianne Bennison	Domestic staff	Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
Dr Jason Cupitt	COVID lead consultant	Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
Rachelle Sutton	Nurse	Nightingale Hospital, Manchester
Simon Mitchell	Volunteer	Blackpool
Kirsty Jones	Nurse	Trinity Hospice, Blackpool
Karen Knock	Nursing home senior carer	Braintree, Essex
Katherine Truelock	District nurse	North East England
Jeanette Richards	Children’s services leadership team	Blackpool Council
Derek Wright	Catering services manager	Blackpool Council
Abby Johnson	Ward sister	Royal Blackburn Hospital
Joy Redwood	Care team manager	Royal Bolton Hospital
Laura Crawford	Critical care nurse	Leighton Hospital, Crewe
Norbert Mate	Adult social care team	Blackpool Council
Justine Whittaker	Nurse consultant	Airedale Hospital, West Yorks
Debra Ramsdale-Walsh	Ward sister	Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
Leanne Ratcliffe	Intensive care nurse	Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital
Mark Carrington	Support worker	Ashley Foundation, Blackpool
Rachael Bailey	Occupational therapist	Preston NHS Trust
Janette Mills	Nurse	Southport Hospital
Rachel Carr	Community midwife	Birmingham
Dr Helga Brown	Geriatrician	Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
Hola Healy	Healthcare assistant	Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
Jordan Field	X-ray assistant	Glan Clwyd Hospital, Wales
Phil Helm	Cardiology matron	Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
Rose Lord	Radiographer	Chorley Hospital
Charlotte Wells	Cleaner	Royal Derby Hospital
Laura Ivinson	Team leader	Corona Kindness hub, Blackpool Council
Tanya Elliot	Store assistant	B&M, Cumbria
Christine-Anne King	Private carer	Blackpool
Kelly Richards	Intensive care nurse	Wrexham Maelor Hospital
Dr Robert Downes	Intensive care doctor	Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
Terri Starkey	Newly-qualified nurse	Leighton Hospital, Crewe
Stella Noonan	Practice nurse	Sheffield NHS Trust
Emily Sykes	Phlebotomist	Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
Holly Chapman	District nursing sister	Lancashire NHS Trust
Leona Harris	Nurse/Fund-raiser	Fairfield Hospital, Bury
Jackie Bailey	Intensive care nurse	East Lancashire Hospital Trust
Lee Andrew Jones	Patient Services Assistant	East Lancashire Hospital Trust
Samuel Johnston	Mental health social worker	Blackpool
Cath Powell	Community team leader	The Grange, Blackpool Council
Ellis Porter	Physiotherapist	Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
Ruby Aziz	Complex case manager	Royal Blackburn Hospital
Nina McCallion	Support worker	Renaissance Lancashire
Brett Hogarth	Factory manager (supplier of sterile gowns to NHS)	Survitec, The Wirral

Pirate Tableau

Ahoy me hearties! This year is a particularly special year for one of the largest tableaux in the display.

Thanks to sponsorship from Coral Island, the Pirate Tableau has undergone a major refurbishment. Or should we say had its timbers shivered?

It’s a firm family favourite in the Blackpool Illuminations! The main structural pieces have been re-built. Now refurbished, the moving parts have got an extra spring of life. As part of the collaboration, look out for Coral Island’s recognisable skull and crossbones. Plus an illuminated Buccaneer Bar and Captain Jack’s Bar and Grill.

Lancashire Federation of Women’s Institute at the Cliffs, North Shore

Lancashire Federation of Women’s Institute was set up in September 1920 – to be the force of good in society. 100 years later, the organisation is still inspiring generations with their continued efforts.

In this present day, they are contributing to the community by sewing masks and making scrubs for NHS staff. They’re raising funds to buy food to
support local food banks. They’ve seen a dramatic increase in families needing food throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

To mark their centenary year, the Women’s Institute have commissioned a wooden bench. It includes glittering illumination and LED signage. Find it in the Enchanted Garden area of the Cliffs. After the Illumination season draws to a close, they’ll donate the bench to a chosen charity.

Colour Choreography: Displays of light, colour and rhythm

A new “colour choreography” section featuring the latest LED and neon lighting technology is on display along the Promenade.

• Heart to Harps (Burlington Road West). New for 2020, this section showcases LED neon hearts and harps.
• Scrolls (Pleasure Beach to Watson Road). Dazzling road features, updated for 2020.
• Neon Way (Watson Road to Balmoral Road).

Lighting up the Tower

The replacement of lighting on The Blackpool Tower will be ready in time for Switch-On. So the iconic centrepiece of the Blackpool Illuminations will be fully lit for the first time in more than two years.

Other New Sponsors

Affinity Lancashire Shopping Outlet

This is Affinity’s first year with Blackpool Illuminations to raise awareness of the Fleetwood-based retail park.

Barclaycard

Please make cashless donations this year to support one of the UK’s biggest free attractions. In collaboration with Barclaycard, fast contactless systems are available at kiosk collections points at the north and south gateways to the display.

Barclaycard’s support in agreeing a greatly reduced merchant charge will enable us to receive the maximum amount of donations to help maintain our fantastic light show.

Fox Brothers

One of Blackpool’s oldest and most established haulage companies is taking
a roadside presence in this year’s display. Fox Brothers will also be the 2020 headline sponsor for Lightpool Festival during October half-term.

Hikvision UK

Hikvision is one of the largest suppliers of surveillance equipment. They’ve kindly donated CCTV security equipment to be used at donation kiosks and projection units. It’s the first year Hikvision has partnered with Blackpool Illuminations.

Switch On for Everyone

This year’s Switch-On event will be very different because of the ongoing pandemic restrictions.

There’ll be no live concert in front of 20,000 people on an outdoor arena in front of The Blackpool Tower. A virtual, streamed event will Switch On the 2020 display. Produced by MTV it’s FREE to watch online at 8.30pm on Friday 4 September.

• More about the online Switch On here

It’s also the first time in resort history that the Blackpool Illuminations Switch-On event has been accessible to everyone, everywhere!

Sprinkle that Magic!

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is Creative Curator. He said: “It’s been the most extraordinary year. But we’re delighted that Blackpool Illuminations will shine through the months of autumn and winter.

“The Illuminations have long given the British public a sprinkling of magic and a sense of escapism, and never have those qualities been more relevant than today.

“I’ve been particularly privileged to be able to see for myself the hundreds of nominations put forward as Corona Heroes from across the country. The only shame is that we couldn’t feature every single one of them.”

The theme of ‘Bring On The Light’ marks our emergence from a period of darkness. It’s truly tested the strength and resilience of a nation.

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