Blackpool is preparing for one of the most magical nights in its calendar when, for one night only, the six miles of Promenade will be closed to give cyclists a sneak preview of this year’s Illuminations.
Ride The Lights will take place on the night of Tuesday 27 August – three days before the Illuminations are officially switched on by Spice Girl Mel B.
Bikes of all shapes and sizes can take advantage of the seafront route in a free family event that is suitable for all ages. The Promenade will be closed to traffic from 6.30pm until 10.30pm with the Ride The Lights event starting at 7pm and finishing at 10pm.
Cyclists can participate in Ride The Lights at any time during that period and are recommended to join the event at either the Starr Gate or Red Bank Road gateways to the promenade. Overspill car parking will be available at a pop-up car park at Blackpool Airport.
Participants will be able to get a first look at some of the new Illuminations in this year’s display, including designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen’s extraordinary new installation on the Tower Festival Headland.
Entitled Disco Donkey Cavalcade, it is a celebration of one of Blackpool’s iconic beach attractions, with 12 donkeys dressed in 70s-inspired swimwear, parading on a 16ft high platform, beneath a giant ice cream topped with a disco ball!
The preview event will also showcase a new overhead roadway section that pays homage to the hugely popular Aliens feature that graced the Illuminations display several years ago. The new section has been designed by students at Blackpool Sixth and includes 10 individual illustrations of Alien life.
Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “Ride The Lights is a fabulous event that is unique to Blackpool. Where else can you ride a bike in a traffic-free environment under a million shimmering lights!
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for our own residents and for visitors to come on to Blackpool seafront with their families and enjoy a magical experience.”
Full details and safety information can be found here: www.visitblackpool.com/ridethelights
Ride The Lights marks the start of the build-up to the Illuminations season, which has again been extended by two months, ending on Monday 5 January, 2025.
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