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Blackpool Illuminations light festival began in 1879 with less than a dozen lights. 130 years on Blackpool Illuminations is one of Blackpool's largest attractions attracting millions of tourists each year.

As the summer season draws to a close, 'The Lights' that is Blackpool Illuminations commences. Blackpool promenade is adorned with hundreds of spectacular light displays every autumn for over two months (66 consecutive nights) from late August to the beginning of November. Also known as 'The Greatest Free Light Show on Earth', Blackpool Illuminations costs over ££2 million to display but remains a free event thanks to sponsorship deals.

Blackpool Illuminations run the entire length of Blackpool Promenade from Starr Gate at the south end of Blackpool Promenade to Bispham at the north end of Blackpool Promenade. The stretch is 6 miles (9.65 kilometres) long and consists of over 1 million light bulbs in hundreds of spectacular light displays that grow and evolve with each year. These spectacular light displays use a variety of lights from regular light bulbs to floodlights, searchlights, fibre optics, neon and laser lights. Modern technology has allowed for continuing improvements in the energy efficiency of the show and the energy consumption of Blackpool Illuminations has been successfully reduced. Two wind turbines have contributed to the running of Blackpool Illuminations since 2007.

Well known displays include Doctor Who, The Windmill, The Fairy Wedding, The Palace of Fountains and The Juggling Seals. Blackpool tower is known as the 'Queen of the lights'. It is illuminated with strings of up to 10,000 lights detailing its structure and, from 1949, a searchlight at the top which can be seen from up to thirty miles away.

Well known displays include Doctor Who, The Windmill, The Fairy Wedding, The Palace of Fountains and The Juggling Seals. Blackpool tower is known as the 'Queen of the lights'. It is illuminated with strings of up to 10,000 lights detailing its structure and from 1949 a searchlight at the top, which can be seen from up to thirty miles away.

Blackpool Illuminations now attracts up to 3.5 million tourists each year that spend hundreds of millions of pounds in the Lancashire seaside town. Most visitors choose to walk along Blackpool Promenade on the pedestrian walkway or take in the lights by car or by bus. Perhaps the best way to experience Blackpool Illuminations is on one of the open top trams that run the length of Blackpool Promenade. The open top trams not only offer a clear view of Blackpool Illuminations but also become part of the display, being decorated with themed lights. Open top tram themes have included the 'Wild West' and the 'Space Rocket'. A romantic alternative to the trams is to take a horse drawn landau carriage along Blackpool Promenade.

The Switching On Ceremony marks the end of the five months it takes to prepare the displays. It takes place on the Friday after the August Bank Holiday weekend and is broadcast live on BBC radio. The Switching On Ceremony includes a concert and a famous celebrity is invited switch on the lights. Recent famous celebrities switching on Blackpool Illuminations include Ronan Keating, Gary Barlow, Geri Halliwell and Chris Evans. Past performers at the launch include Boyzone, Natasha Bedingfield, Status Quo, Gareth Gates and Natalie Imbruglia.

In 2009 Blackpool Illuminations will commence on the 4th of September and run to the 8th of November.