What’s on in Blackpool Diary May – Dec 2012 With compliments from the Rio Rita Hotel in Blackpool www.riorita.co.uk Tel: 01253 345203 May 4- 6 May “Spring Saver” Northern Soul Weekender The Blackpool Tower Ballroom 12 – 13 May Thundersports Netball Weekend Blackpool Sports Centre West Park Drive 13 May Beaverbrooks Blackpool 10k Fun Run Start Hilton Hotel , Promenade Course 24 May- 1 June Blackpool Dance Festival Empress Ballroom Winter Gardens 27 May Blackpool Beach 10k Run Start from the beach opposite the Solaris June 2 – 5 June Queens Diamond Jubilee Weekend TBC 3 June Stanley Park 5 Mile Trail Race Stanley Park 4 International Cycling “North West Youth Tour” Promenade, Lower Walk Bispham 9-10 George Formby Convention Imperial Convention 9-10 June Blackpool Pride TBC 10 June Blackpool Triathlon TBC TBC Blackpool Beach Grand National TBC 10 June Manchester to Blackpool Car Run TBC 16th June Elton John Concert Tower festival Headland 15- 17 June Sand Sea and Spray (Urban Arts) Venues to be confirmed 21 June-2 Aug. Miss Blackpool Heats Uncle Tom’s Cabin 22 June Olympic Torch Relay Evening Celebration Tower Festival Headlland 22 June Tower Festival Headland Concert Tower Festival Headland Promenade 24 June McFly/The Wanted Concert Tower Festival Headland 22 June – 4 July World Pool Championships Imperial Hotel 23 June – 1 July Blackpool Armed Forces’ and Veterans’ Week Various locations Mid June – end of The Pollinations Winter Gardens August 1 23 June Civic Trust Fun Day St John’s Square Town Centre June Marton Institute Welcomes the Armed Forces Oxford Square 24 June Totally Transport New South Promenade & Ocean Boulevard 25 June Blackpool Armed Forces’ Flag Raising Ceremony Flown from Blackpool Tower. View from the Tower Festival Headland June Music for Heroes Opera House Winter Gardens 25 – 29 June Blackpool Armed Forces’ – Going to the Flicks Odeon Cinema Children’s wartime cinema experience (by invitation only) Rigby road 27 June Armed Forces’ Afternoon Tea Dance Blackpool Tower Ballroom Tower Buildings June Layton Institute Welcomes the Armed Forces Layton Institute Westcliffe Drive Thursdays to Miss Blackpool 2011 TBC August 29 June Armed Forces’ Week Fylde Memorial Arboretum Service Millennium Grove Moor Park Avenue 29 June Armed Forces’ Week Gala Dinner Norbreck Castle Hotel Queens Promenade 30 June National Armed Forces’ Day Town centre & various locations 30 June Armed Forces’ Day Big Band Dance Tower Ballroom, Blackpool Tower June Big Blackpool Bike Bash Stanley Park 29 – 30 June Scarecrow Festival Salisbury Woodland East Park Drive July Mid June – end of The Pollinations Winter Gardens August 1 July Armed Forces’ & Veterans’ Sunday Service and Parade Blackpool Cenotaph North Promenade 4 July Race for Life Promenade TBC 8 July Manchester to Blackpool Bike Ride Finish New South Promenade (opposite Mirrorball/Solaris Centre) 9 – 14 July The World Championships of Magic “FISM Blackpool 2012” Winter Gardens and Grand Theatre 14 July Blackpool Town Criers Championships St Johns Square, Town Centre 14 July Tour of Blackpool Cycle Race Palatine Leisure Centre 15 July Fleetwood Festival of Transport Fleetwood Town Centre 2 15- 22 July The 141st British Open Golf Championship 2012 Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club 21- 29 July PDC World Matchplay Darts Empress Ballroom Winter Gardens 21 July 117th Bispham with Norbreck Children’s Gala Whiteholme Playing Fields Whiteholme Youth Centre Bispham July TBC Northern Rail Cup 2012 Bloomfield Road Stadium Bloomfield Road August Mid June – end of The Pollinations Floral Hall, Winter Gardens August 2- 5 Aug Rebellion Festival Winter Gardens Church Street 12 Aug Blackpool Air Show Promenade 17 Aug 24 – 26 Aug Prov UDO World Street Dance Winter Gardens 28 Aug Ride The Lights Promenade between Starr Gate and Red Bank Road 31 Aug Blackpool Illuminations Celebrity Switch-On Ceremony Tower Festival Headland 31 Aug- 4 Nov Centenary Blackpool Illuminations Promenade September 1 Sept Illumathon Promenade 1- Sept Blackpool Hilton Illuminations 10K Run Start from Hilton Hotel North Promenade 2 Sept Blackpool Hilton Half Marathon Start Hilton Hotel, Promenade course Fridays 7, 14, 21 World Fireworks Championships Central Promenade and 28 Sept 7 – 8 Sept 90th Anniversary of the formation of the Swallow Sidecar Details To be confirmed Company and later Jaguar Cars Ltd 7, 8, 9 Sept PROV Blackpool Soul Festival Winter Gardens 12 Sept Tour of Britain Cycle Race Tbc Stage 4 Finish 15 – 16 Sept George Formby Convention Imperial Hotel 29- 30 Sept Manchester to Blackpool Night Time Bike Ride Finish Tower Festival Headland Details to be announced 3 16 Sept Ford Owners Club Event Middle Walk 23 Sept Ford Capri Club Gathering Middle Walk October Nightly to Nov Blackpool Illuminations Promenade 7 Oct Blackpool to Fleetwood 10 mile Run Promenade Run 13- 14 Oct. British Freestyle Championships Empress Ballroom Winter Gardens 14 Oct Autumn Breaker 10K Run Stanley Park Running Track 20 – 23 Oct Blackpool Sequence Dance Festival Empress Ballroom Winter Gardens 27 Oct The UK Same-Sex Open (gay and lesbian ballroom & latin dance Spanish Hall, Winter Gardens competition) November Nightly to Nov Blackpool Illuminations Promenade 9 – 11 Nov Blackpool Soul Weekender The Blackpool Tower Ballroom 11 Nov Remembrance Sunday Service Blackpool Cenotaph, nr North Pier 15 – 17 Nov British National Dance Championships Empress Ballroom Winter Gardens 17 Nov Blackpool Town Centre Christmas Lights Switch-On St. John’s Square 30 Nov – 2 Dec Jingle Bells Rock and Roll Weekend Imperial Hotel December 2 Dec Blackpool Santa Dash Promenade 4 Venue Contact Details Layton Institute The Blackpool Tower Westcliffe Road, Blackpool Central Promenade, Blackpool www.layton-institute.co.uk www.theblackpooltower.co.uk Tel. 01253 391774 Tel. 01253 299277 Bloomfield Road Stadium Pleasure Beach Bloomfield Road, Blackpool Ocean Boulevard, Blackpool www.blackpoolfc.co.uk www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com 01253 405331 Tel. 0871 222 1234 Blackpool North Pier Grundy Art Gallery Tel. 0844 847 2551 Queen Street, Blackpool www.blackpool.gov.uk Tel. 01253 478170 Blackpool Central Pier The Grand Theatre Tel: 0844 847 2452 Church Street, Blackpool www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk Tel. 01253 290190 Winter Gardens and Opera House Tourist Information Centre Church Street, Blackpool 1 Clifton Street, Blackpool www.blackpoollive.com www.visitblackpool.com Tel. 0844 856 1111 Tel. 01253 478222 Solaris Centre New South Promenade, Blackpool www.blackpool.gov.uk Tel. 01253 418020 With compliments from the Rio Rita Hotel in Blackpool www.riorita.co.uk Tel: 01253 345203 5.