The story behind the famous Blackpool illuminations and when they start for 2023

The Blackpool illuminations are one of the world's most famous light shows.

Every year, thousands flock to the seaside town to witness the beautiful spectacle that has become a staple in the Lancashire calendar. But many don't know the story of how the illuminations came to be the show we all know and love.

First introduced in 1879, the original illuminations were an experiment by Blackpool Council to try and lift the gloom on the promenade. They installed eight electric arc lamps on 60ft poles, preceeding Thomas Edison's invention of the lightbulb by a year, reports LancsLive.

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The lamps were dubbed 'artificial sunshine' - and they were the start of a 30-year-long evolution to the Blackpool illuminations of today.

In 1912, a royal visit saw princess Louise open a new section of the Promenade, inviting more lights to be installed along the walkway. Thousands flocked to the resort to see the promenade decorated with around 10,000 lights.

It was such a success that the Council decided to display the lights again that following September, and the tradition was born.

The famous animated tableaux starting at the North Sea Shore were erected in 1932 and the illuminations now stretch from Starr Gate to red bank Road in Bispham, which is around six miles.

The lights were switched off for a decade between 1939 and 1949 because of the Second World War. They were also temporally left in the dark for a month during the coronavirus lockdown in 2020. You can find out about the full history of Blackpool Illuminations, here.

The lights will be switched on on Friday, September 1 and will shine until January 1, 2024. Once again, the