Blackpool Illuminations is an annual lights festival that started on 18 September 1879, held each autumn in the British seaside resort of Blackpool on the Fylde Coast in Lancashire. Also known locally as The Lights or The Illuminations, they ran each year for 66 days from late August until early November, extended to over 100 days to run until after the Christmas and New Year holidays from 2020, at a time when most other English seaside resorts' seasons had come to an end; for example, Friday 30 August 2024 to Sunday 5 January 2025, and Friday 29 August 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026.
The Blackpool Illuminations (example pictured) in the English seaside town of Blackpool were switched on for the first time.
On September 18, in the year 1879, The Blackpool Illuminations (example pictured) in the English seaside town of Blackpool were switched on for the first time. This event is recorded as a Selected Events event in the history of September 18, one of 466 recorded events on this date across all of history.
Key Facts
- This event took place on September 18, 1879 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Selected Events event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 2 Wikipedia articles.
- The event is associated with a specific geographical location (see map below).
- Wikipedia source last updated on 23 March 2026.
On This Date in History 466
This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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