BLACKPOOLS WORLD FIREWORKS CHAMPIONSHIPS

WHAT: BLACKPOOL FIREWORKS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2015
WHY: INTERNATIONAL FIREWORKS COMPETITION
WHEN: 11th, 18th, 25th SEPTEMBER & 2nd OCTOBER 2015
WHERE: NORTH PIER, BLACKPOOL PROMENADE

This annual International Fireworks competition was first held in 1999 and has continued to thrill and amaze young and old alike for many years since. The Town of Blackpool invites three of the World’s finest pyro teams to compete for supremacy and the title of Blackpool World Champion 2015 in this battle of the skies.

Each team is tasked with creating a show which uses the ancient art of pyrotechnics to show the style, tradition and passion of the country they are representing to best effect.

The skies over Blackpool’s iconic North Pier will be filled with spectacular sights, sounds and the smell of pyro as the 2015 International Competition kicks off on Friday 11th September.

The teams and firing dates are as follows:

FRIDAY 11th SEPTEMBER 2015 - TANGHUA FIREWORKS - CHINA

FRIDAY 18th SEPTEMBER 2015 - FEERIE FIREWORKS - FRANCE

FRIDAY 25th SEPTEMBER 2015 - ORION FIREWORKS - CANADA

FRIDAY 2nd OCTOBER 2015 - CELEBRATION DISPLAY BY TITANIUM FIREWORKS AND WINNER ANNOUNCED

Blackpool is also known for the incredibly beautiful illuminations which have been a feature of this lovely seaside town since 1879! They were described back then as ‘artificial sunshine’ and originally featured just 8 massive arc lamps which lit the promenade. Today, the event lasts for 66 days and has run uninterrupted since World War II and features over a million bulbs. Over the years, developments in technology and low voltage bulbs has reduced the cost and today, the illuminations are fully ‘green’ using the electricity generated from wind power, hydropower and biogas.

In the resort, there are a MASSIVE number of things to do. As with any coastal town in the UK you have your fair share of amusement arcades (in fact here, they are a mile long!) and eateries of all types from fine dining to chip shops.

There is the Pleasure Beach for the thrill seekers, the Blackpool Eye for those with a head for heights, the Zoo featuring lions, tigers and bears and for those with a taste for horrible histories there are Madame Tussaud’s and the Tower Dungeon.

Late into the evening, the area is alive with music as there are a number of bars, clubs and pubs, shows and musicals. My best advice would be to check out the local tourist website for more details.

If you do wish to take in the fireworks and make a weekend of it, you can stay in any of the thousands of guest houses and hotels dotted across the town. Prices vary hugely depending on how close to the sea-front you wish to stay. Details of accommodation is available

Over the years, positioned on the West Coast of the UK, there have been some issues with the weather conditions (you must have heard the saying ‘like a wet week in Blackpool!’ which says it all really!) which have been described as ‘changeable at best’ supported by the fact that the 2012 event was almost a complete wash out with incredibly high winds and driving rain ….. oh, don’t you just love the British weather!