Glorious Blackpool Illuminations

The Blackpool Illuminations was one of the most iconic sights in British culture which I managed to see and experience up close.

And what a sight it was, too.

It was nothing quite like I’d ever seen in Malaysia. Perhaps the closest to what could be called an illumination display back home for me was the annual panjut displays in Kota Lama Kanan, Kuala Kangsar. Every year, during Ramadhan, to coincide with the malam tujuh likur, folks residing along the main road from Kuala Kangsar leading towards the Iskandar Bridge over Sungai Perak would decorate their housing compounds with lanterns. After buka puasa, hordes of locals would take slow drives to enjoy the spectacle on display on both sides of the road.

But this one in Blackpool was totally something else altogether. All bright and colourful, it was super extravagant and on much a bigger scale. It was that particular time of the year when as if Blackpool was having one big, two-months-long carnival along its sea front.

At ten kilometres long, and using over a million bulbs, the Blackpool Illuminations was said to be the biggest free light show in the world. The original illuminations started back in 1879. But the first event similar to the current, modern-day displays began over a hundred years ago in 1912.  It was to mark the opening of a new section of the Blackpool promenade by a member of the British Royal family. Thousands of lights were festooned and lighted up along the promenade. They created so much interest – and not to mention good business – that the local business community decided to stage the Illuminations again the following year. The rest, as they say, was history.

The event usually ran for sixty-six days from late August to early November each year. It is, in a way, Blackpool’s shrewd strategy of lengthening its holiday season. When other resorts have pulled down the shutters for the year, Blackpool continued to pulsate with activities attracting millions more well into autumn.

The illuminations run along along the entire length of the Blackpool seafront promenade from the Starr Gate in the south to Red Bank Road at Bispham. It is launched every year with a Switch On concert whereby top celebrities are invited and given the honour to flick on the Lights.True to its tag as the premiere seaside resort in Britain, the illuminations displayed the town's gaudy grandeur at its best. All along the main road and tram ways a variety of stunning colourful light displays could be seen from lasers, to neon, light bulbs, searchlights and floodlights, all attached to lamp posts or buildings and linked together with festoon lighting.

The lights were also presented in the form of scenic designs and features displaying all sorts of patterns, popular cartoons and famous TV characters. I remember some of the more popular displays being Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy from the Muppet Shows. Another firm favourite was Dr. Who, the main character from a hit British television adventure drama with a cult following. The trams which went up and down the Promenade would also be specially illuminated and designed almost like parade floats. Three hugely popular ones were the Rocket Tram, the Boat Tram and the Train Tram.

Most visitors drive through the Illuminations by car, coach or bus, making the main road on the promenade jam packed. Then of course there were the trams, some of which with open tops which would allow passengers to get a closer view of the lights. The trams would trundle along very slowly on their tracks to allow the passengers to soak in the sights on display. My friends and I used to just foot it. We tried once or twice to hop on one of the open top trams. But it would have been our lucky day if we could board the overcrowded trams. 

I remember the first time we went to see the Illuminations. The pedestrian walkways by the road sides would be full of people gawking at the lights. The busiest areas were the promenade near the Gynn Square, as well as in front of the three famous Blackpool piers namely the North Pier, Central Pier and South Pier. It was quite normal to have people accidentally bumping into you as most had their eyes transfixed on the lights rather than watching where they were going. As it was autumn, the nighttime weather could be quite unforgiving. Most people could be seen walking with their hands planted deep in their winter jacket pockets with collars folded up and shoulders hunched to protect from the cold draughts.

My friends and I would start our walk from Gynn Square as a few of our friends stayed nearby at Hodgson Road. From Gynn Square we would make our way southwards. We walked and walked, stopping occasionally to admire the more impressive and captivating sets of displays. The Blackpool Tower would be all lighted up, and at 350 meters tall it became a landmark point helping us with our bearing and indications in terms of distance already covered.

Often times though, we got carried away, literally. We would walk on for miles enchanted by the lights until we were so far away from Gynn Square and too cold to walk back.

In the end, we had no choice but to take the tram back to Gynn Square. But have you tried standing in a long queue, waiting for a tram on a cold and windy night? It was pure misery. The night breeze would get noticeably colder every minute that we stood still in the line.

We would reach home cold and hungry but still gabbing away, excited by the sights and sound of the Blackpool Illuminations. A quick meal of the now soggy fish and chips that we took away from the local chippy, and were contented and ready for bed.