Blackpool Illuminations
29 August - 2 November 2008
Blackpool Illuminations 2008 Details
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen - 2008 Tableau
Laurence has once again come up trumps, he has designed a 30m x 5m x 5m tableau experiance. This special design will not be just 2 dimensional lighting it will also have movement! This movement will come in the form of a fountain, reflecting pool and a 15 minute show to captivate audiences. The whole design is inspired by Botticelli's Birth of Venus.
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen announces Illuminations Design Winner
Andy McKeown's Local Heads was revealed as the winning design and work is already under way to make sure his concept becomes reality.
Hundreds of friendly faces will welcome visitors to Blackpool's world famous Illuminations this autumn.
Blackpool Council's Illuminations team, including design guru Laurence Llewelyn- Bowen, has chosen this stunning scheme from hundreds of entries in a competition to design part of the lights.
Illuminations staff will choose 500 local people to feature in the brightly coloured artwork, based on 1960s pop art.
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen to announce Illuminations Design Winner
On the 3rd March Laurence Lewelyn-Bowen will announce the winner of the competition to design a section of the 2008 Blackpool Illuminations. The three shortlisted are Cocktail by Elliot Harrison, from Chester , Local Heads by Andy McKeown, of Shrewsbury, and Lunar Moth by Gaslight by Pip Dickens, of Leeds. This is the first time in the history of the Illuminations that the public have been able to design a section of the Illuminations.
Laurence who designed 2007's Decodance Illuminations has in 2008 designed an additional section. He will unveil his new Illuminations on the 3rd March and has said that the new Illumination will be 'dead classy, very elegant but with a nightclubby feel'. The lavishly styled Laurance went on to say 'I want it to look like something you migh see in a festive film.'
Who will switch on the 2008 Illuminations?
Blackpool and BBC Radio 2 hopefully in March will announced the name of the mystery celebrity who will be flicking the famous switch to mark the start of the 2008 Blackpool Illuminations.
In 2007 BBC TV Time Lord David Tennant swapped the powerful controls of the TARDIS for the controls of the most famous free light show in the world during a free concert and special live broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on Friday 31 August 2007.
Tennant, who returned to television screens on BBC One on Saturday 31 March 2007 as Doctor Who makes a welcome return to the resort after starring in the internationally acclaimed BBC Drama ‘Blackpool’, and will be guest of honour at the biggest and brightest night in Blackpool’s calendar.
The free concert during which the guest will throw the switch marks the start of Blackpool’s Big Switch On Weekend. We hope that thousands of fans of the celebrity, and of Blackpool, will join us in the celebrations and that they stay to enjoy all the free events Blackpool will be hosting throughout the weekend and indeed during the Illuminations Season.
The 2008 Illuminations will also be a delight for Doctor Who fans, as Illuminations bosses are soon to unveil plans for a new display featuring characters and creatures from episodes.
Last year David Tennant joined an illustrious list of stars to have launched the lights including the fourth Doctor, Tom Baker, who illuminated the town as Doctor Who back in 1975.
Promenade wind turbines installed
Although the turbines cost £147,000, councillors hope they will cut £13,250 off the town's annual energy bill.
Julian Kearsley, Blackpool Council's executive director, said people would be able to comment on the designs. The resort is testing two types of turbine to harness the seafront wind.
The first ones to arrive will be three-blade turbines mounted on 15m (49ft) poles. They have 9m (29ft) blades - making them 19.5m (64ft) high in total. They will be joined in early May by a smaller 14m (46ft) "helical" turbine which has "S" shaped blades. The council expects them to last for 25 years.
There are already two wind turbines at the Solaris Centre in the resort and this pilot will extend the project.
"Our initial experience of the two wind turbines at the Solaris Centre has been good," said Mr Kearsley. "Geographically, Blackpool is in a tremendous position to harness the power of the wind and turn it to our advantage. "This pilot will enable us to confirm wind speeds, turbine output and the number of turbines required." The council said the illuminations, although a "key element" of the town, means it uses more power than other councils. Powering street lighting, traffic signs, municipal buildings and the resort's light show costs about £1m a year, it has said.
Interior design guru, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is to create a section of next year's world famous Blackpool Illuminations.
Laurence's involvement is a real creative landmark because this the first time ever that Blackpool has invited an internationally acclaimed designer to contribute to the much loved annual spectacle.
I'm totally seduced by Blackpool's high-kicking glamour and historical reputation for giddy glitz. I'm delighted to have been asked to provide designs for the illuminations and am more than aware of what an accolade it is. And I intend not to disappoint. For me, as a designer, this is, I suppose, the ultimate in seeing my name, or at least my design, up in lights. I can't wait to get started.
Whilst Laurence is considering a number of ideas and themes he has yet to settle on the actual design of his Illumination's but it has already been decided that his designer lights will be positioned alongside the Blackpool Tower right in the heart of the resort.
TOP STARS LINE UP FOR BLACKPOOL'S BIG "LIGHTS" NIGHT
Blackpool Tourism and BBC Radio 2 will revealed the name of the mystery celebrity who will be flicking the switch in the glittering Illuminations Switch On Ceremony on Friday 29th August 2008 at a special Press Preview.
The Switch On Arena located at the rear of Coral Island, just off the Promenade will open to the public from 4.00pm with entry strictly on a First Come, First Served basis. A special raised area for wheelchair users in located in the centre of the arena and this again is entry on a first come, first served basis.
Broadcast live from Blackpool, thousands of visitors will be welcomed to the Radio 2 Arena by top BBC DJ Mark Goodier, as he presents a one-off Switch On special show live on air between 8.30pm and 9.30pm
World Fireworks Championships Blackpool
Tourism bosses in Blackpool have announced a line up of International Master Blasters in the return of World Fireworks Championships to the UK’s Number One Resort.
Firework companies from around the globe have been invited to stage pyrotechnical displays, bringing an International flavour to Central Promenade during the opening weeks of Blackpool’s Illuminations season.
Top firework manufacturers will represent their homeland by staging stunning pyrotechnical displays in the skies above Blackpool’s Central Beach during September in a show which should be evocative of the style or tradition of their country.
The first of the free displays is on Sunday 2nd September, with further displays every Friday in September. Each display is free to view, and the fireworks companies will be launching from North Pier, ensuring plenty of space to view each spectacle from Blackpool’s Central Promenade.
Each competing company will have to design and launch a display to impress the public, and the judging panel by combining cutting edge pyro-musical design with a style or tradition from their country. Entrants must launch fireworks particular to their homeland and showcase their own pyrotechnical expertise, to win the title.
