blackpool illuminations kermit and gonzo

The Illuminations returned in 1925 bigger and better than ever before, with lights stretching several miles along the Promenade from Manchester Square to Cocker Square. However, the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 meant the light display was put on hold for a total of 11 years. It was such a success that the Council decided to display the lights again that following September. The Illuminations became immensely popular, with thousands of people visiting the resort to see the promenade decorated with around 10,000 lights. The closest to the modern day Illumination displays first appeared in May 1912 to commemorate Blackpool’s very first royal visit as Princess Louise opened the new section of promenade named after her – Princess Parade. However, unlike today’s modern day technology with the Illuminations, the lamps used to go out as the tide came in due to water leaking into the cast iron wiring pipes. This installation brought visitors from all over the country to the seaside resort to see this new electricity at work. In a time when residents were lighting their homes with candles or oil lamps, this installation left the public in wonderment, calling them ‘artificial sunshine’.

The first set of Illuminations were introduced when Blackpool Council devoted the sum of £5000 to experiment with the concept of electric street lighting, starting off with eight arc lamps on 60ft poles along the seafront.

The Illuminations stretch over six miles along the Promenade. The Blackpool Illuminations is an annual lights festival held each autumn in the British seaside resort of Blackpool on in Lancashire.

Blackpool illuminations kermit and gonzo