Elmer's Big Parade art trail bringing 30 elephant sculptures to Blackpool

We've had the Manchester bees and the snowmen at Salford Quays, now it's Blackpool's turn to play host to its own art trail.

The seaside resort will be welcoming 30 Elmer the Patchwork Elephant sculptures as part of the event from Wild in Art.

Inspired by David McKee’s beloved children’s book character, each large sculpture will be uniquely decorated by established and up and coming artists, creating a parade through the town that will be enjoyed by visitors and locals for eight weeks.

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A herd of smaller Elmers will accompany the trail, decorated by local children and young people through schools and youth organisations. They will be displayed inside some of the town’s tourist, cultural and leisure locations.

Brian House, the Fylde coast’s only children’s hospice, has announced Blackpool’s first major public art trail in partnership with Wild in Art and Andersen Press.

They'll be sponsored by businesses and organisations and be placed around key landmarks, streets, and open spaces in across Blackpool, with visitors encouraged to visit as many as possible.

Once the trail has finished, the sculptures will go up for auction to raise vital funds for the hospice's specialist care to their patients and their families.

After the trail, the sculptures will go up for auction to raise vital funds to support Brian House’s specialist care to patients and their families.

It won't be happening just yet, the trail arrives for spring 2024, but there's already a lot of excitement about the event.

Linzi Warburton, head of fundraising at Brian House, said: “We have kept this a secret for a long time and now we are so