Blackpool is gearing up for its biggest ever programme of FREE entertainment over the October half-term holiday.

The award-winning Lightpool Festival, which will take place between October 11 and 26, will provide an amazing mix of live performance and light-based art installations, including a replica planet Earth in The Blackpool Tower Ballroom; the world premiere of a large-scale Sun in the Winter Gardens and a display of giant illuminated see-saws in the town centre. The programme also includes the return of the Carnival of the Lights; Carnival Magic, featuring a menagerie of illuminated characters; a glow-in-the-dark children’s football tournament; fire and light-based shows; 3D projections on to the front of The Blackpool Tower building; and a town centre art trail.

This year’s festival is being staged in a collaboration between VisitBlackpool, LeftCoast, Blackpool Town Centre BID, Northern Rail, Access Fylde Coast, Primary Futures and The Blackpool Tower. Cllr Gillian Campbell, Deputy Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “The Lightpool Festival is a fantastic addition to the Blackpool Illuminations season and it gets bigger and better with every passing year. This year, we are delighted to bring some incredible live performances and light installations to the resort, some of which have never been seen before. It’s hard to imagine a more compelling programme of free entertainment for families to enjoy over the school holidays.”

For full details go to visitblackpool.com/lightpoolfestival