What’s on in Fylde

Members of the Vanarama National League North, AFC Fylde – “The Coasters” take on visitors Chester at home at Mill Farm, Wesham. AFC Fylde are “the Football Team of the Fylde Coast”

Call into the Club shop for merchandise or visit www.afcfylde.co.uk or call 01772 682 593.

(Please note that fixtures may be subject to change)

Like all charities, the RNLI, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, has been hit hard by Covid-19 with all fundraising events cancelled for over a year. However, it continues to be called on to save lives at sea with its highly trained volunteer crew members being on call 24 hours a day, ready to risk their lives in all weathers to help others. The expenses to launch a lifeboat to rescue people have remained the same but income to cover this has fallen dramatically.

The popular annual challenge to raise these vital funds in Lytham St Annes, Leg it for the Lifeboats, can’t be held over one day as it used to be, but in 2020 it did go ahead, albeit in a very different and safe way. This is the plan for 2021!

During the whole of May, you can take up the challenge of the 5.65 km (or 3.5 miles) route from our Lytham boathouse (on Central Beach, FY8 5LG) to our St Annes boathouse on South Promenade, Eastbank Road, FY8 1SJ). Everyone is welcome runners, walkers, toddlers, pram pushers, dog walkers, wheel chair and mobility scooter users. Fancy dress is not necessary but if you wish to dress up to brighten the day please do so. The beauty of having a month to complete the challenge is that it up to you when you can fit it in to your time schedule and you can take part any time of day on any day of the week. The promenade coastal path from Lytham to the beach at St Annes which, providing the weather is good, gives great views over the Ribble Estuary and the Irish Sea to the Welsh mountains.

There’s no need to register. All they ask is that you take some photographs at the start and finish and share them with us at our Facebook page (@LythamStAnnesRnliPage) so they can spread the word and then please go on the Just Giving page

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/LegItfoLytham2021

To make a donation – a suggested £10 per adult and £5 per child as this is the usual cost but the amount is entirely up to you. You can also ask your supporters to sponsor you and donate too if you wish.

Members of the Vanarama National League North, AFC Fylde – “The Coasters” take on visitors AFC Telford United at home at Mill Farm, Wesham. AFC Fylde are “the Football Team of the Fylde Coast”

Call into the Club shop for merchandise or visit www.afcfylde.co.uk or call 01772 682 593.

(Please note that fixtures may be subject to change)

Members of the Vanarama National League North, AFC Fylde – “The Coasters” take on visitors Gloucester City at home at Mill Farm, Wesham. AFC Fylde are “the Football Team of the Fylde Coast”

Call into the Club shop for merchandise or visit www.afcfylde.co.uk or call 01772 682 593.

(Please note that fixtures may be subject to change)

Members of the Vanarama National League North, AFC Fylde – “The Coasters” take on visitors Kidderminster Harriers at home at Mill Farm, Wesham. AFC Fylde are “the Football Team of the Fylde Coast”

Call into the Club shop for merchandise or visit www.afcfylde.co.uk or call 01772 682 593.

(Please note that fixtures may be subject to change)

Paula Randell brings her No.1 tribute as Cher to our special picnic lawn concert!

​Please dress appropriately. Bring your picnic rugs, deck chairs, prosecco, and nibbles for a great early evening of entertainment. The picnic concert will start around 6pm and finish at 8pm (you can claim your spot on the lawn from 5pm onwards).

These fundraising events allow us to carry out more of the great list of projects here at Lytham Hall. With your continued support we are collectively achieving great things.

The concert will be limited in numbers. We will follow strict social distancing guidance rules. Terms and conditions are on the ticketing portal.

​Admission: Cost £12.50 Adults, £7.00 school age children.

Join us for a fabulous early evening of the songs of Frankie Valli, as performed by Stars in Their Eyes Winner Peter Sarsfield. Bring along your picnics, tables and chairs and enjoy a tribute to one of the great icons of show business! This is an outdoor event, on the main lawn of Lytham Hall.

Please dress appropriately. Bring your picnic rugs, deck chairs, prosecco, and nibbles for a great early evening of entertainment. The picnic concert will start around 6pm and finish at 8pm (you can claim your spot on the lawn from 5pm onwards).

These fundraising events allow us to carry out more of the great list of projects here at Lytham Hall. With your continued support we are collectively achieving great things.

​Admission: Cost £12.50 Adults, £7.00 school age children.

The 2021 event will be held on Tuesday 29th  June at St Annes Old Links Golf Course.

Spectators are welcome  and entry is free of charge, however, there will be no public parking available at the club. AA signs with be in place to direct you.

The Clubhouse will be open to the public and refreshments will be available.

Free Admission 11m – 4pm. All are welcome, wheelchair and dog friendly. For information please contact marissa@memorylanefairs.com.

Free Admission 11m – 4pm. All are welcome, wheelchair and dog friendly. For information please contact marissa@memorylanefairs.com.

Free Admission 11m – 4pm. All are welcome, wheelchair and dog friendly. For information please contact marissa@memorylanefairs.com.

SIX the international smash hit musical will head to the Opera House Blackpool from Wednesday 07 July – Saturday 10 July 2021 as part of a major UK Tour.

Multi award-winning, with a spectacularly successful sound-track storming charts across the globe, this sell-out Tudor take-off has ‘an incredibly strong and powerful message. Boundary-pushing, genre-redefining’ (The Australian) and is ‘pure entertainment’ (The New York Times).

Tickets from £20.00 go on general sale from 10am Friday 26 March 2021, with Winter Gardens Blackpool priority members able to access tickets from 10am Thursday 25 March 2021.

Michael Williams, Winter Gardens Blackpool Managing Director, said “We are delighted to announce that SIX, will head to Blackpool this July. The smash hit show has wowed audiences across the globe and gained a loyal and devoted fan base, it’s a fantastic addition to our reopening line-up which is fast becoming an exciting mix of events that will appeal to a wide range of audiences.”

From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st century girl power. These Queens may have green sleeves but their lipstick is rebellious red.

Think you know the rhyme, think again…

Divorced. Beheaded. LIVE!

Written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, SIX is co-directed by Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage, featuring choreography by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, set design by Emma Bailey, costume design by Gabriella Slade, sound design by Paul Gatehouse, lighting design by Tim Deiling, orchestrations by Tom Curran with music supervision and vocal arrangements by Joe Beighton. Associate Choreographer Freya Sands, Musical Director Katy Richardson, Associate Musical Director Arlene McNaught and casting by Pearson Casting. Produced by Kenny Wax, Wendy & Andy Barnes and George Stiles.

SIX at the Opera House Blackpool from Wednesday 07 July – Saturday 10 July 2021

A welcome return of this play written and directed by David Slattery Christy. Starring Steve Royle ( BBC / Britain’s Got Talent ) it charts the fascinating life of  one of the Victorian Music Hall’s biggest stars. Music and comedy abound.

​Adult £14, Seniors and Students £11, Child ( 5-18 yrs ) £7.

Gates open 2hrs prior to show start to set up your seats. Performance time 2hrs inc interval. Please bring seating / suitable clothing. Refreshments / licensed bar available. Tickets non refundable, except for cancellation by Lytham Hall. Booking fees may apply.

Friday 9th July 2021 at 2.00pm and 7.30pm. (2 shows)

Join us for a fantastic 1920’s Sparkling Afternoon Tea event in the marquee on the lawn at Lytham Hall. Complete with the fabulous Flapper Girls who will entertain you along with the music of the era. Why not dress to impress? Includes a glass of fizz on arrival. Licensed bar available. ( This event was scheduled for last year to celebrate the centenary of the advent of the swinging 20’s. We are pleased to have re-scheduled this to 2021) Event time – 4.30pm – 7.30pm  Tickets £29.50

Established for over thirty years this amateur golf tournament gives you the opportunity to play at four stunning golf courses in Fylde and experience the best the area has to offer.  The event encompasses four golf courses over a five day period and is a four ball better ball competition for couples. There is a trophy presentation event on the final night. Couples come from all over the UK and overseas and really enjoy what the area has to offer.

The 2021 tournament schedule is as follows:

• NEW FOR 2021 – The Fairhaven Adventure Golf cup! (Sunday 1st August evening at Fairhaven Lake) – optional
• Monday 2^nd August 2021 – Lytham Green Drive Golf Club
• Tuesday 3^rd August 2021 – Fairhaven Golf Club
• Wednesday 4th August 2021 – day at rest to explore the area
• Thursday 5^th August 2021 – Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club
• Friday 6^th August 2021 – St Annes Old Links Golf Club

 The 2021 event will be open for new entrants after December 1st 2020. Entrants must stay in accommodation in the Fylde Borough which benefits the local tourism economy. To add your name to the waiting list, please email your full contact details, home club, handicap details to chantelle.vickers@fylde.gov.uk

(N.B. This event was formerly the William Rainford Golf event)

Free Admission 11m – 4pm. All are welcome, wheelchair and dog friendly. For information please contact marissa@memorylanefairs.com.

Free Admission 11m – 4pm. All are welcome, wheelchair and dog friendly. For information please contact marissa@memorylanefairs.com.

Free Admission 11m – 4pm. All are welcome, wheelchair and dog friendly. For information please contact marissa@memorylanefairs.com.

Admission: Adult £29.50.  4.30pm till 7.30pm (No child reductions )

All proceeds to help further projects at Lytham Hall

​The amazing Bluebirds trio will take you on a journey down memory lane with the songs that kept your chin up! This fabulous harmony group will be accompanied by a sparkling Afternoon Tea all served in our Marquee.

Licensed Bar available.

Get ready for WonderHall – a brand new six-day live music festival coming to Lancashire’s stunning coast this summer.

Launched by the team behind the hugely popular and successful Lytham Festival, WonderHall will see six nights of live music taking place in the grounds of historic Lytham Hall from Wednesday August 25 to Bank Holiday Monday August 30.

The already announced Lytham Proms concert headlined by celebrated tenor Russell Watson on Sunday August 29 will form part of the WonderHall festival.

The full line-up will include a mix of major headliners and picnic-style concerts with full details and tickets on sale soon.

WonderHall director Peter Taylor said: “We are so incredibly excited to be able to bring live music back to the Lancashire coast for 2021.

“WonderHall is a completely new concept for us and one that we hope will be a great success. Final plans are currently being put in place to bring an exciting and eclectic mix of fantastic headline artists who will appeal across age groups and we can’t wait to announce who they are.”

The announcement comes as the decision was taken to postpone this summer’s Lytham Festival until 2022.

Peter added: “It was with a heavy heart that we had to postpone Lytham Festival but the dates were just too close to the lifting of restrictions. WonderHall will take place almost two months after Lytham Festival was due to be held and gives us the opportunity to host what will be an incredible series of gigs in the picturesque parkland of Lytham Hall.

“Live music brings people together to enjoy some of the best moments of their life and we look forward to welcoming audiences to our very special WonderHall.”

Free Admission 11m – 4pm. All are welcome, wheelchair and dog friendly. For information please contact marissa@memorylanefairs.com.

Free Admission 11m – 4pm. All are welcome, wheelchair and dog friendly. For information please contact marissa@memorylanefairs.com.

Free Admission 11m – 4pm. All are welcome, wheelchair and dog friendly. For information please contact marissa@memorylanefairs.com.

Free Admission 11m – 4pm. All are welcome, wheelchair and dog friendly. For information please contact marissa@memorylanefairs.com.

The British Country Music Festival (TBCMF) has announced the go ahead for 2021. The three day event will take place from the 3^rd-5^th September 2021 at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool and organisers have revealed the line-up. The three headliners will be Ireland based Nathan Carter, who takes the top spot on Friday’s opening night, Wildwood Kin headline on Saturday and Lisa McHugh will be leading the Sunday programme.

Nathan Carter, although born in Liverpool, now lives in Ireland, the birth place of his parents. He is one of the Emerald Isle’s most successful artists, outselling One Direction, Pharrell Williams and Michael Buble, becoming the first country act to reach number one in the Irish charts in 2013 after Garth Brooks six years earlier. With over 12.5m streams this year alone and almost 878k listeners in 89 countries, Blackpool is readying itself for a deluge of Irish fans to be in the resort for the festival weekend and the world famous illuminations.

Sisters Beth and Emillie Key and their cousin Meghann Loney, collectively known as Wildwood Kin, are from Exeter and they continue to be one of the most popular bands on the contemporary country and alternative folk scene. The girls completed a headline tour in the UK to support their self-titled album, before touring Europe. Their music continues to secure national radio play for their stunning harmonies and impressive song-writing and they are also building a reputation for electrifying, live performances.

The third headliner Lisa McHugh was born in Glasgow, Scotland to Irish parents, and she also chose to live in Ireland  ten years ago. She has won ‘Female Vocalist of the Year’ five times, as well as ‘Outstanding Achievement On The World Stage’ when she performed at the Grand Ole Opry. Lisa has released seven albums and 13 singles, an impressive 11 of which have risen to number one on the iTunes country chart.

Marina Blore from Fit The Bill, promoters and creators of the festival said: “Following a very tough year for live entertainment, we are thrilled to be back with The British Country Music Festival following its successful launch in 2019. It’s more important than ever that we support homegrown performers, many of whom have struggled for survival in 2020.

“She added: “In addition to the great line-up on our main stage in the iconic, candlelit Empress Ballroom, our support stages are packed with emerging and breaking talent and we cannot wait for our festival family to discover new artists at TBCMF in Blackpool. We are confident that by September next year, we will be able to operate to a viable capacity and we also promise a full ticket refund in the event that Covid prevents us from going ahead. ”

The British Country Music Festival will provide a platform for over 100 singers and musicians on five different stages throughout the weekend and every artist due to perform in 2020 has been moved to 2021, to ensure that no performer loses out on the chance to appear at the festival.

Supporting artists include Martin Harley, Holloway Road, Bailey Tomkinson, Kezia Gill, Blue Rose Code, Katy Hurt, Martin Harley, Cormac Neeson and Jess Thristan (for full list see poster). The festival will be hosted by radio presenter, singer-songwriter and TV judge Matt Spracklen.

The British Country Music Festival celebrates the best of UK country and Americana and is unique in concept because 99% of the artists are from the United Kingdom. The one exception next year will be a guest performance from American breakthrough, country artist Candi Carpenter, of whom Dolly Parton said: “Candi Carpenter is one of the greatest singer-songwriters I’ve ever heard, bar none. I became a fan when I heard some demos and said, “That girl’s a star. I think you’ll agree.” Candi will be taking to the stage on Sunday afternoon supporting Lisa McHugh.

The British Country Music Festival takes place in the spectacular Winter Gardens indoor complex in the centre of Blackpool, the UK’s best loved seaside resort, a town with a heritage steeped in entertainment. The Victorian, gilt Empress Ballroom celebrating its 125^th anniversary in 2021, is home to the festivals main stage. Artists at TBCMF will be following in the footsteps of Prime Ministers and Presidents from Winston Churchill to Bill Clinton and music legends including The Rolling Stones and Ed Sheeran, all of whom have presented key speeches and legendary concerts on the very same stage.

Blackpool’s annual Illuminations display is to be extended by two months for a second consecutive year.

VisitBlackpool announced today that the Illuminations season will start on Friday 3 September and run until Monday 3 January, 2022.

The two-month extension is intended to give the resort’s hard-hit tourism industry an added boost with the COVID-19 pandemic expected to cause further disruption over the first few months of the year.
It was also revealed today that the winter extension will be complemented by a significantly enhanced, resort-wide Christmas offer.

Cllr Gillian Campbell, Cabinet Member for Tourism & Culture for Blackpool Council, said: “Although last year’s extension was disrupted by tier restrictions and a second lockdown, all of the evidence showed that there was a huge appetite for the public to visit the Illuminations in a safe and enjoyable way.

“We know from the all of the positive feedback that we received that, amid so much gloom, the Illuminations provided a much-needed tonic to so many people.

“We are making this decision early so that our businesses can start to plan for the extended season. At the same time, we are planning a comprehensive package of themed shows, events and attractions to give visitors plenty of reasons to come to Blackpool over the festive season.”

More details about the Christmas offer will be revealed in the coming weeks. It has already been announced that Friends Festive Live will be coming to the Winter Gardens for two weeks in November and that Strictly judge Shirley Ballas will star in the Cinderella panto at the Opera House in December.

Plans for the annual Illuminations Switch-On ceremony on Friday 3 September will also be unveiled over the coming months. Last year, the event was presented as a virtual show in association with MTV with seven of the UK’s Corona Heroes pulling the famous switch.

For more information on Blackpool Illuminations, including 2021 Switch-On times

Click HERE for more information

Free Admission 11m – 4pm. All are welcome, wheelchair and dog friendly. For information please contact marissa@memorylanefairs.com.

A partnership between Fylde Council, St Annes Town Council, local businesses and kite fliers SmileFactor10. The fabulous international kite festival returns to St Anne’s on Sea and will feature single line kites of all shapes and sizes, including inflatable octopus, flying cows, stingrays, whales, dogs and even hippos. Plus 2-line and 4-line stunt kites. It is a superb spectacle and the sky fills with plenty of colour and you can marvel at the expertise of kite flyers from the UK and all over the world.

Based either side of St Annes Pier, there will be specially a designated arena – the David Lidstone Arena, with commentary from the kite fliers about their displays and encouraging you to watch the fabulous spectacle. There will also be a stage for family entertainment, music and more, plus stalls and additional refreshment stalls, additional toilets, first aid and much more.

Pack a picnic, gather together family and friends, and head down to St Annes beach adjacent to the pier from 11.00am to 5.00pm for All The Fun of The Air! There is also the planned popular lluminated kite flying display on the evening of Friday 3rd September at dusk, weather permitting. The start time will be dependant upon the light conditions on the night.

The event is entirely weather dependant of course and the planned  programme may change at short notice due to operational constraints or weather conditions. Please note a dog exclusion zone exists either side of St Annes pier and is clearly marked, but you can watch the display with your four legged friend from the Promenade. Additional parking provision and traffic management will be in place.

Once more information is available on the planned programme we will post it here and the event is of course entirely weather dependant and please note therefore that timings and the planned flying programme may be subject to change for reasons of safety.

Free Admission 11m – 4pm. All are welcome, wheelchair and dog friendly. For information please contact marissa@memorylanefairs.com.

Free Admission 11m – 4pm. All are welcome, wheelchair and dog friendly. For information please contact marissa@memorylanefairs.com.

Blackpool’s annual Illuminations display is to be extended by two months for a second consecutive year.

VisitBlackpool announced today that the Illuminations season will start on Friday 3 September and run until Monday 3 January, 2022.

The two-month extension is intended to give the resort’s hard-hit tourism industry an added boost with the COVID-19 pandemic expected to cause further disruption over the first few months of the year.
It was also revealed today that the winter extension will be complemented by a significantly enhanced, resort-wide Christmas offer.

Cllr Gillian Campbell, Cabinet Member for Tourism & Culture for Blackpool Council, said: “Although last year’s extension was disrupted by tier restrictions and a second lockdown, all of the evidence showed that there was a huge appetite for the public to visit the Illuminations in a safe and enjoyable way.

“We know from the all of the positive feedback that we received that, amid so much gloom, the Illuminations provided a much-needed tonic to so many people.

“We are making this decision early so that our businesses can start to plan for the extended season. At the same time, we are planning a comprehensive package of themed shows, events and attractions to give visitors plenty of reasons to come to Blackpool over the festive season.”

More details about the Christmas offer will be revealed in the coming weeks. It has already been announced that Friends Festive Live will be coming to the Winter Gardens for two weeks in November and that Strictly judge Shirley Ballas will star in the Cinderella panto at the Opera House in December.

Plans for the annual Illuminations Switch-On ceremony on Friday 3 September will also be unveiled over the coming months. Last year, the event was presented as a virtual show in association with MTV with seven of the UK’s Corona Heroes pulling the famous switch.

For more information on Blackpool Illuminations, including 2021 Switch-On times

Click HERE for more information

He’s finally back! This October, Derren Brown, the popular multi-award winning master of mind control and illusion, will bring SHOWMAN, his first new live show for six years to the Opera House Blackpool from Friday 01 – Saturday 02 October 2021.

Not suitable for under 12’s

Derren’s live shows have won him two prestigious Olivier Awards – for Something Wicked This Way Comes (2006) and Svengali (2012) and he has received more Olivier nominations and wins than any other one-man show in theatre history. He has played to sold-out houses across the country every year since 2003 to over 1.6M people. Previous shows, Infamous, (2013, 2014), Miracle (2015, 2016) and Underground (2017, 2018) have also enjoyed critically acclaimed seasons in London’s West End. In 2017 he made an award-winning US stage debut at the Atlantic Theater in New York with Derren Brown: Secret, which subsequently enjoyed a sell-out run at Broadway’s Cort Theatre.

DERREN BROWN: SHOWMAN is presented by Michael Vine, Andrew O’Connor, Derren Brown and Paul Sandler for Vaudeville Productions Ltd. It is directed by Andrew O’Connor & Andy Nyman and written by Andy Nyman, Andrew O’Connor & Derren Brown. General Manager is John Dalston and marketing is by Helen Snell Ltd.

Free Admission 11m – 4pm. All are welcome, wheelchair and dog friendly. For information please contact marissa@memorylanefairs.com.

Free Admission 11m – 4pm. All are welcome, wheelchair and dog friendly. For information please contact marissa@memorylanefairs.com.

Free Admission 11m – 4pm. All are welcome, wheelchair and dog friendly. For information please contact marissa@memorylanefairs.com.

Blackpool’s annual Illuminations display is to be extended by two months for a second consecutive year.

VisitBlackpool announced today that the Illuminations season will start on Friday 3 September and run until Monday 3 January, 2022.

The two-month extension is intended to give the resort’s hard-hit tourism industry an added boost with the COVID-19 pandemic expected to cause further disruption over the first few months of the year.
It was also revealed today that the winter extension will be complemented by a significantly enhanced, resort-wide Christmas offer.

Cllr Gillian Campbell, Cabinet Member for Tourism & Culture for Blackpool Council, said: “Although last year’s extension was disrupted by tier restrictions and a second lockdown, all of the evidence showed that there was a huge appetite for the public to visit the Illuminations in a safe and enjoyable way.

“We know from the all of the positive feedback that we received that, amid so much gloom, the Illuminations provided a much-needed tonic to so many people.

“We are making this decision early so that our businesses can start to plan for the extended season. At the same time, we are planning a comprehensive package of themed shows, events and attractions to give visitors plenty of reasons to come to Blackpool over the festive season.”

More details about the Christmas offer will be revealed in the coming weeks. It has already been announced that Friends Festive Live will be coming to the Winter Gardens for two weeks in November and that Strictly judge Shirley Ballas will star in the Cinderella panto at the Opera House in December.

Plans for the annual Illuminations Switch-On ceremony on Friday 3 September will also be unveiled over the coming months. Last year, the event was presented as a virtual show in association with MTV with seven of the UK’s Corona Heroes pulling the famous switch.

For more information on Blackpool Illuminations, including 2021 Switch-On times

Click HERE for more information

Comedy Central UK has announced that following the success of last year’s winter event,  FriendsFestive will be returning to The Truman Brewery in Brick Lane, Shoreditch next year, and will also bringing some Friends Christmas magic to brand new location, Blackpool Winter Gardens! The event, produced in partnership with The Luna Cinema, celebrates all the best seasonal moments from the world’s favourite TV show.

FriendsFestive will include all the best festive experiences from last year, including giving fans the chance to recreate the titles in the snow with a digital snow globe photo op, and, of course, no holiday season would be complete without a visit to The Holiday Armadillo’s Grotto. Could this BE any more exciting?!

More experiences include ringing Phoebe’s bell outside the mall and re-enacting the iconic Thanksgiving floating heads scene. Fans can also channel their inner Monica and Ross as they grab a picture at the New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Disco.

FriendsFestive will also give visitors the chance to check out Monica’s apartment, Joey and Chandlers’ and Central Perk, all dressed for the holiday season.

And get your Thanksgiving pants at the ready as there will be themed food stalls and Christmas cocktails as well as brand new and exclusive FriendsFestive merchandise.

Guests will also be able to kick back and relax while watching some of the best seasonal moments from the greatest TV show of all time.

FriendsFestive will park up its sleigh in Blackpool Winter Gardens from 5^th – 19^th Nov 2021, before bringing the snowy celebration to Truman Brewery in East London from 25^th Nov – 19^th Dec 2021.

Fans will also be given the chance to pre-order some brand-new 2021 merch when they buy their ticket, to make sure they bag their favourite FriendsFestive goodies before they sell out!

Michael Williams, Managing Director of the Winter Gardens said: “We are delighted to be bringing a taste of one of the best-loved TV series of all time to Blackpool next year.

“FriendsFestive promises to be the perfect start to the Christmas season and we can’t wait for it to open in the home of entertainment.”

Last year, tickets sold out quickly, so fans are urged to book fast to avoid disappointment.

Free Admission 11m – 4pm. All are welcome, wheelchair and dog friendly. For information please contact marissa@memorylanefairs.com.

Free Admission 11m – 4pm. All are welcome, wheelchair and dog friendly. For information please contact marissa@memorylanefairs.com.

Free Admission 11m – 4pm. All are welcome, wheelchair and dog friendly. For information please contact marissa@memorylanefairs.com.

The Bobby Ball Foundation was launched last month to support the organizations Bobby was so passionate about across the Fylde coast.

And a weekend of spectacular events in memory of the comedy legend is to be held at Blackpool’s historic Winter Gardens to raise money for the Foundation.

Major stars of stage and screen will entertain with “Rock On – The Variety Show” in the splendid Opera House on Friday November 12, while a second night will see a spectacular “Bobby Ball” take place in the stunning Empress Ballroom on Saturday November 13.

MORE DETAILS SOON…

The Bobby Ball Foundation was launched last month to support the organisations Bobby was so passionate about across the Fylde coast.

And a weekend of spectacular events in memory of the comedy legend is to be held at Blackpool’s historic Winter Gardens to raise money for the Foundation.

Major stars of stage and screen will entertain with “Rock On – The Variety Show” in the splendid Opera House on Friday November 12, while a second night will see a spectacular “Bobby Ball” take place in the stunning Empress Ballroom on Saturday November 13.

Money raised from both events will be given to Lytham’s Lowther Pavilion and Blue Skies Hospitals Fund – two organisations Bobby was an active patron and supporter of, as well as supporting the cost of a Bobby Ball statue to be erected in Lytham’s Lowther Gardens.

Bobby sadly died in October at the age of 76 after contracting Coronavirus. His widow Yvonne said her beloved Bobby would be honoured to know a charitable Foundation had been set up in his name.

Yvonne said: “Bob lived to entertain so I cannot tell you just how much these two massive events at Blackpool Winter Gardens would mean to him. He was so passionate about entertainment but he was also dedicated to helping charities close to home, so I know he would be absolutely thrilled the Foundation is going to help the causes he cared so much about.

“The reaction to the launch of The Bobby Ball Foundation and the events we are planning has been fantastic so we wanted to get tickets on sale as soon as possible. Plans are in place to announce some brilliant names for both events and we can’t wait to reveal them very soon.”

NOW SOLD OUT – WAITING LIST IN OPERATION – CLICK HERE

TIM MINCHIN, award-winning comedian, actor and composer, has confirmed new UK dates of his BACK tour this autumn heading to the Opera House Blackpool on Saturday 20 November 2021.

BACK is billed as “Old Songs, New Songs, F*** You Songs”, with a set list of material from all corners of Minchin’s eclectic – and often iconoclastic – repertoire. First performed in the UK in 2019, BACK was Tim’s first UK tour in 8 years and the 80,000 tickets sold out over a year in advance. The long-awaited return to the stage received rave reviews and saw Tim pick up a prestigious Helpmann Award for Best Australian Contemporary Concert.

Minchin has been celebrated globally for writing the music and lyrics for Matilda the Musical, which has gone on to become one of the most acclaimed musicals of the last 20 years, winning a record 7 Olivier Awards, 13 Helpmann Awards and 5 Tony Awards. He also wrote music and lyrics for the musical adaption of Groundhog Day, which after an acclaimed limited run at The Old Vic in London in 2016, debuted on Broadway in April 2017 and won the Olivier Award for Best Musical in 2017.

Since his return to stage Tim starred in the ABC comedy series Squinters and appeared as Friar Tuck in the Hollywood release of Robin Hood. He also starred in UPRIGHT, the award winning eight-part drama series which he co-wrote with The Chaser’s Chris Taylor, actor-writers Leon Ford and Kate Mulvaney, and co-produced with Lingo Pictures for Foxtel and Sky UK.

In November 2020, Tim released his first studio solo album Apart Together. Described as “crisply observed and tenderly considered” in The Independent, the album reached #3 in the ARIA charts. On the eve of the release Tim and his band streamed a live performance of the full album to a worldwide audience and critical acclaim.

Photo credit – Damian Bennett

2019 UK PRESS REVIEWS FOR BACK:

“Even when you think you know what’s coming, Minchin retains a remarkable knack for staying ahead, with verbal shimmies and tonal feints” ***** The i paper

“A triumphant comeback, a three-hour spectacular” The Guardian

“Spectacular […] A rare example of a long-awaited return that has been worth the long-await” **** The Times

“More music gig than stand-up set. Except that rock lyrics are never, ever this funny” **** Evening Standard “Roof raising return” **** The Sunday Telegraph

Blackpool’s annual Illuminations display is to be extended by two months for a second consecutive year.

VisitBlackpool announced today that the Illuminations season will start on Friday 3 September and run until Monday 3 January, 2022.

The two-month extension is intended to give the resort’s hard-hit tourism industry an added boost with the COVID-19 pandemic expected to cause further disruption over the first few months of the year.
It was also revealed today that the winter extension will be complemented by a significantly enhanced, resort-wide Christmas offer.

Cllr Gillian Campbell, Cabinet Member for Tourism & Culture for Blackpool Council, said: “Although last year’s extension was disrupted by tier restrictions and a second lockdown, all of the evidence showed that there was a huge appetite for the public to visit the Illuminations in a safe and enjoyable way.

“We know from the all of the positive feedback that we received that, amid so much gloom, the Illuminations provided a much-needed tonic to so many people.

“We are making this decision early so that our businesses can start to plan for the extended season. At the same time, we are planning a comprehensive package of themed shows, events and attractions to give visitors plenty of reasons to come to Blackpool over the festive season.”

More details about the Christmas offer will be revealed in the coming weeks. It has already been announced that Friends Festive Live will be coming to the Winter Gardens for two weeks in November and that Strictly judge Shirley Ballas will star in the Cinderella panto at the Opera House in December.

Plans for the annual Illuminations Switch-On ceremony on Friday 3 September will also be unveiled over the coming months. Last year, the event was presented as a virtual show in association with MTV with seven of the UK’s Corona Heroes pulling the famous switch.

For more information on Blackpool Illuminations, including 2021 Switch-On times

Click HERE for more information

Free Admission 11m – 4pm. All are welcome, wheelchair and dog friendly. For information please contact marissa@memorylanefairs.com.

Free Admission 11m – 4pm. All are welcome, wheelchair and dog friendly. For information please contact marissa@memorylanefairs.com.

Free Admission 11m – 4pm. All are welcome, wheelchair and dog friendly. For information please contact marissa@memorylanefairs.com.

When the beautiful Princess awakes on her 16th Birthday she has the whole world at her feet; her loving father the King, her best friend Muddles, a handsome Prince she’s madly in love with and a life full of adventure ahead of her… but the wicked and jealous Carabosse has other ideas and curses her to sleep for 100 years!

Can the Kingdom be saved? Will true love win the day? And can the Princess be woken in time for an epic Birthday celebration?? To find out join us deep in the tangled forest for this fantastical tale full of fairies, dragons, bravery and enchantment.

  Featuring all of the best-loved panto shenanigans with an abundance of laughter, dance and music along with dazzling scenery and costumes, spectacular special effects and plenty of audience interaction, this is the perfect Christmas treat for all the family to enjoy!

Schools Shows – 1 Free ticket with every 10 purchased

Group Bookings – £13.00 Per person for parties over 10

Blackpool’s annual Illuminations display is to be extended by two months for a second consecutive year.

VisitBlackpool announced today that the Illuminations season will start on Friday 3 September and run until Monday 3 January, 2022.

The two-month extension is intended to give the resort’s hard-hit tourism industry an added boost with the COVID-19 pandemic expected to cause further disruption over the first few months of the year.
It was also revealed today that the winter extension will be complemented by a significantly enhanced, resort-wide Christmas offer.

Cllr Gillian Campbell, Cabinet Member for Tourism & Culture for Blackpool Council, said: “Although last year’s extension was disrupted by tier restrictions and a second lockdown, all of the evidence showed that there was a huge appetite for the public to visit the Illuminations in a safe and enjoyable way.

“We know from the all of the positive feedback that we received that, amid so much gloom, the Illuminations provided a much-needed tonic to so many people.

“We are making this decision early so that our businesses can start to plan for the extended season. At the same time, we are planning a comprehensive package of themed shows, events and attractions to give visitors plenty of reasons to come to Blackpool over the festive season.”

More details about the Christmas offer will be revealed in the coming weeks. It has already been announced that Friends Festive Live will be coming to the Winter Gardens for two weeks in November and that Strictly judge Shirley Ballas will star in the Cinderella panto at the Opera House in December.

Plans for the annual Illuminations Switch-On ceremony on Friday 3 September will also be unveiled over the coming months. Last year, the event was presented as a virtual show in association with MTV with seven of the UK’s Corona Heroes pulling the famous switch.

For more information on Blackpool Illuminations, including 2021 Switch-On times

Click HERE for more information

RESCHEDULED FROM 2021

Lionel Richie, Lewis Capaldi, Duran Duran and Snow Patrol will headline Lytham Festival 2022.

Lytham Festival will take place in the Main Proms Arena on Lytham Green from Wednesday 29 June to Sunday 03 July.

Wednesday 29 June will see rapidly rising international star Lewis Capaldi headline the Main Proms Arena. It’s been a meteoric rise for the Scottish singer-songwriter. This year alone has seen his number one single Someone You Loved nominated at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and it then won the 2020 Brit Award of the same title. Earlier this year his single Hold Me While You Wait was nominated for an Ivor Novello Award and Capaldi also won the 2020 Brit Award for Best New Artist.

Indie rockers Snow Patrol are the Thursday night headliners. With a 25-year career they have racked up an impressive number of accolades including more than 17 million global album sales and an Ivor Novello award. Their 2006 monster hit single Chasing Cars went on to become UK radio’s most played song of the 21^st Century.

Friday 1 July will see a headlining set from British music icons Duran Duran. Since first storming onto the pop scene in 1981 Duran Duran have sold more than 100 million records, had 18 American hit singles, 21 UK Top 20 tunes and have continued to perform to huge concert audiences around the world.

Consistently fusing art, technology, fashion and a signature sense of style with their unique and infectious brand of music, singer Simon Le Bon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, bassist John Taylor and drummer Roger Taylor have proven themselves timeless.

Saturday 2 July is to be confirmed

Lytham Festival will close on Sunday 3 July night and will see international superstar Lionel Richie headline as he will perform hits from his extensive and much-loved repertoire spanning decades, all the way from the Commodores to the present day. His music is part of the fabric of pop music and Richie has sold more than 125 million albums worldwide and is an Oscar, Golden Globe, and four-time Grammy Awards winner.

For more information go to www.lythamfestival.com

LYTHAM FESTIVAL 29 June – 03 July 2021

Weds – Lewis Capaldi 

Thurs – Snow Patrol

Fri – Duran Duran

Sat – tbc

Sun – Lionel Richie

RESCHEDULED FROM 2021

Lionel Richie, Lewis Capaldi, Duran Duran and Snow Patrol will headline Lytham Festival 2022.

Lytham Festival will take place in the Main Proms Arena on Lytham Green from Wednesday 29 June to Sunday 03 July.

Wednesday 29 June will see rapidly rising international star Lewis Capaldi headline the Main Proms Arena. It’s been a meteoric rise for the Scottish singer-songwriter. This year alone has seen his number one single Someone You Loved nominated at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and it then won the 2020 Brit Award of the same title. Earlier this year his single Hold Me While You Wait was nominated for an Ivor Novello Award and Capaldi also won the 2020 Brit Award for Best New Artist.

Indie rockers Snow Patrol are the Thursday night headliners. With a 25-year career they have racked up an impressive number of accolades including more than 17 million global album sales and an Ivor Novello award. Their 2006 monster hit single Chasing Cars went on to become UK radio’s most played song of the 21^st Century.

Friday 1 July will see a headlining set from British music icons Duran Duran. Since first storming onto the pop scene in 1981 Duran Duran have sold more than 100 million records, had 18 American hit singles, 21 UK Top 20 tunes and have continued to perform to huge concert audiences around the world.

Consistently fusing art, technology, fashion and a signature sense of style with their unique and infectious brand of music, singer Simon Le Bon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, bassist John Taylor and drummer Roger Taylor have proven themselves timeless.

Saturday 2 July is to be confirmed

Lytham Festival will close on Sunday 3 July night and will see international superstar Lionel Richie headline as he will perform hits from his extensive and much-loved repertoire spanning decades, all the way from the Commodores to the present day. His music is part of the fabric of pop music and Richie has sold more than 125 million albums worldwide and is an Oscar, Golden Globe, and four-time Grammy Awards winner.

For more information go to www.lythamfestival.com

LYTHAM FESTIVAL 29 June – 03 July 2021

Weds – Lewis Capaldi 

Thurs – Snow Patrol

Fri – Duran Duran

Sat – tbc

Sun – Lionel Richie

Join us for the eleventh Lytham 1940s Wartime Weekend, taking place on Lytham Green and within the town. Please note the event didn’t take place in 2020 or 2021. There’s wartime singing, dancing, military vehicles and static aircraft, battle re enactments, weapons displays, historic wartime re enactment groups representing the allies, vintage fairground, military charities, life on the home front and much, much more. Details to be announced in due course. Making their Lytham debut in 2022 (TO BE CONFIRMED) will be the Bluebirds. We hope to confirm more names in due course – many familiar names and some new!

For your reassurance there will be a security team, first aid team, event volunteers, additional toilets, additional parking, traffic management and so much more. Please talk to any member of the team if you require help in any way.

We ask that visitors, should you choose to dress in period costume, do so in an appropriate and responsible way and do not dress in anything that is likely to offend others, especially anything associated with the extreme elements of the Nazi regime and we may ask you to leave should you be causing distress to other visitors.

The event is free to attend with just a small car parking charge for adjacent parking on Lytham Green. There is also a disabled parking area closer to the event and assistance can be given if required. All funds from this event go back in to support the event.

To kick off the event, there will also be some entertainment in the main marquee on the evening of Friday 19th August – details to be confirmed and this will be by paid ticket only.

There is no public camping available at this event. Please contact the Tourism team on 01253 658 443 for details of local camp sites. There will only be a small area for pre booked re enactors who are part of the those registered groups participating in the event.