Blackpool's Lightpool Festival

Blackpool's award-winning Lightpool Festival is returning this October half-term with two weeks of extraordinary free entertainment.

Be Dazzled By The Lightpool Festival 2022

You might have been living way below decks on Captain Jack’s pirate galleon if you didn’t know that Blackpool’s world-famous Illuminations, the greatest free light show on the planet, is currently wowing the crowds on the Promenade, but did you know there is another incredible festival of lights in the Lancashire seaside town?

The Lightpool Festival, sponsored by the Fox Brothers Group, biscuit makers extraordinaire, based right here in Blackpool, returned to the town on 14 October, with 16 nights of ‘pure exhilarating spectacle’, including a stunning mix of light-base art installations, lasers, stunning live performances, family-friendly activities, and 3D projection shows.

Let’s have a look at some of the mesmerising events taking place during the 2022 Lightpool Festival!

Lightpool Art Trail

The festival, which runs until 29 October, includes a brilliant art trail throughout the town centre, which sees a variety of Blackpool’s iconic outdoor spaces and buildings awash with light displays, projections, and spectacular exhibits.

There are illuminated artworks from the Netherlands and France and some new displays that have never been seen before in the UK, promising to be the most spectacular light festival ever seen!

Start at the Tower Festival headland to witness the famous Blackpool Tower brought to life with a number of incredible 3D projections, before exploring Odyssey, the largest 3D installation ever seen at Blackpool Illuminations.

From there, head over to Victoria Street and the Blackpool Grand Theatre for more projections against the beautiful Victorian building, which will also be presenting the Sleeping Beauty panto from 2 December, and take a gander at Aqualux, an impressive light installation that features 48 water containers filled with colourful lights.

You can find an array of large-scale light installations at the Winter Gardens Conference Exhibition Centre, including Flux and Crystallized, while you can find more amazing installations at Olympia and Derham Lounge, such as Norman, ‘an old-school ‘smart’ screen but with attitude’.

There is more to see on St John’s Square and Birley Street with The Nature Takeover, 100 Stories High, and the magic of the Brilliance light show installation. Finish off your art trail by visiting Big Bird at Grundy Art Gallery, a three-and-a-half-metre-high pigeon constructed from parts of London Black Cabs!

You can find more details about the Lightpool Art Trail on the Visit Blackpool website.

Live Performances

Blackpool is synonymous with live entertainment, and you will not be disappointed by the live performances found at Lightpool this year. Experience an explosion of dance, music, and colour in the carnival magic of Global Grooves, or have a blast at the annual World Fireworks Championships, sponsored by all of us here at Coral Island!

You can find out more about Lightpool’s live performances on the Visit Blackpool website!

Tower Projections

As part of Lightpool, and running alongside Blackpool Illuminations until 2 January 2023, you can watch a series of incredible digitally-mapped multi-media shows projected onto the iconic Blackpool Tower buildings, just find a spot on the Comedy Carpet directly opposite, and enjoy the free-to-watch high-tech light show.

There is an exclusive light and sound show on the Tower during Lightpool, produced by lighting design impresario Greg McLenahan, so make sure you don’t miss it! There are more details on the  Visit Blackpool website.

Don’t miss out!

The amazing celebration of art, light, projection and performance is free, thanks to the generosity of the sponsors and the festival’s partners, except for a few events, such as the Illuminated Trams and Global Grooves, so make sure you book any necessary tickets as soon as you can.

It’s also worth noting that Blackpool can become very busy during the Illuminations, Lightpool, and the World Fireworks Championships, so plan ahead and make sure you have given yourself plenty of time to get there!

Of course, there is still much more to see and do in Blackpool at this time of year. You can find some amazing live shows, musicals, and live music, and some gruesome Halloween events during October.

From Will Young to Elkie Brooks, the Dreamgirls to Oh! What A Nite starring The Jersey Beats, there’s comedy, drama, and family entertainment to please everyone. Blackpool certainly doesn’t close down in winter, and most of the famous attractions are open all year round.

Of course, no trip to Blackpool is complete without a visit to Coral Island, the largest free-admission attraction. Right in the heart of the town, you’ll find all your favourite seaside arcades and games such as the Camel Derby and penny-pushers, ticket games to exchange for amazing prizes, and even a pirate ship monorail high above the crowds and a ghost train!

You’ll certainly work up an appetite exploring Lightpool and all that Blackpool has to offer, so why come and dine at Coral Island? We have a range of restaurants, from traditional fish and chips to eat-in or takeaway, The Buccaneer family restaurant, and more!

What’s even better is that at many of our restaurants, kids eat for free! Just keep an eye open for the yellow Kids Eat Free stickers, no vouchers or pre-booking is necessary, and every child under 10 can get a free kid's meal with every paid adult meal.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your friends and family and plan your trip to Blackpool today for spectacular light shows, fantastic fireworks, and stupendous shows, as well as all your seaside favourite entertainment!