Festivals
Lightpool Festival
Location
- Blackpool, UK
Date
-
20-28 October 2023
18:00 - 22:00
About
Lightpool Festival began in 2016, to celebrate the Illuminations by bringing contemporary light and fire artists to Blackpool to be inspired by the town’s unique relationship with light. The festival won the Large Tourism Event at the Lancashire Tourism awards in 2017.
Lightpool Festival 2023 is a festival of light, projection and performance that will take place between October 20 and 28 in Blackpool as the climax to the world-famous Blackpool Illuminations.
The world-famous Illuminations need little introduction. There are six miles of traditional festoons and tableaux along Blackpool Promenade – no wonder it’s commonly known as the greatest free light show on Earth!
2023 Programme
Medusae
Are you ready for a fun aquatic adventure? Our amazing interactive installation awaits you, featuring the most vibrant and mesmerizing jellyfish you've ever seen! Immersed in a sea of colours and light shows, this experience is sure to uplift your spirits and dazzle your senses.
I Caught a..
As night falls, you will discover the curiosities exhibited in a cage erected in the street so as to enchant passers-by. Since it left the workshop, this weird and wonderful zoo has evolved and is ready to come to life before our eyes.
Supercube
A laughing baby, a pink elephant, a dancing man, a giraffe. 241 glass jars stacked neatly in a row. Behind each illuminated jar is a different miniature tableau, populated by unique characters: a laughing baby, a pink elephant, a dancing man, a giraffe. Every now and then, images of the public are even conjured up out of nowhere to appear in the Supercube.
Polyrhythms
A percussive soundtrack interacts with mesmerising glowing patterns of light chasing round large concentric polygon structures representing various polyrhythmic beats. 'Polyrhythms' fuses the visual language of light art with music theory to create a captivating sculptural piece.
The Garden of Baroque Delights
The Room of Baroque delights is LLB’S first ever Art installation piece and uses four of his Fantastical and Romantic Arcadian landscape paintings as a creative jumping off point. Using photo reels of the paintings that captured each day’s painting from first sketch to final glazing the Installation welcomes viewers into the LLB’s Creative process which is very much in the Grand Classical manner.
Micro
The microscopic world is full of fascinating and beautiful images that captivate the minds of scientists and laypeople alike. Whether viewed through a microscope or captured by advanced imaging technology, the shapes, and patterns found at the microscopic level are truly breath-taking.
Lightquake
The façade of the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom will come alive with a projection installation that will be visually arresting and transformative while creating a surreal and immersive experience for the audience. Our theme of imagination and amazement will serve as the cornerstone of our visual narrative.
Spin Me A Yarn
Spin me a Yarn takes the form of an oversized ball of wool with a 50-metre trail of neon yarn that will wrap around The Blackpool Church in St Johns square.
Firefly Field
Firefly Field is a mesmerizing light installation of numerous flying light points that simulate the movements of these nocturnal Lampyridae. Glowing. Darting. Hovering above the ground. The ever-changing bioluminescence of each one is reflected in the grassy slope. On mass, they create a dynamic light scene that triggers visitors’ curiosity and awe.
Seraphic
The intricate architecture of the Sacred Heart Church will act as the canvas for a new installation from the Guildhall School. Visuals will be geometrical and particle-based animations that are designed to complement and enhance the church's detailed structures.
Invasion
The Blackpool Tower has been invaded! Giant tentacles have appeared, breaking through the ballroom roof. These mysterious creatures have arrived, but what are they and where are they from? An underwater world or an alien planet? Look up to see if you can spot evidence of them at the tower.
Parabolic Lightcloud
‘Parabolic LightCloud’ is a light sculpture inspired by the marine environment and sea corals. This cloud of light is constructed from 800 meters of woven rope recycled from discarded plastic bottles ,and features over 1000 LED lights, with 20 unique light animations.
A daily Performance of Home
A living room. A window. A daily performance of home. Experience the magic and poetry of everyday rituals in this immersive and captivating light and film installation.
Tower Projections
The Blackpool Tower Projections transform The Blackpool Tower into a sea of light, colour and sound, as a stunning, digitally mapped multi-media show is projected onto this iconic building. There are five individual projection shows, including the three headline shows.
Aqualux
An 8m by 3m creative lighting installation composed of 48 unfilled water containers, which typically hold 1,000 litres of water each, specially adapted to create a stunning, transportable and eco-friendly light feature to raise the importance of water.
Sideshow and Curios
The Old Electric Explore a new interactive, walkabout experience that sheds light on The Victorian’s fascination with all things curious and, through live storytelling, finds links to modern society.
Open 7-9pm Friday 20, Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 October
(PG)
Carnival Magic
An exhilarating menagerie of illuminated Carnival will hit the Tower Ballroom for an electrifying static showcase of music, puppetry and dance. Internationally recognised Carnival performers will present a showstopper over 30 minutes, bringing a diverse melting pot of Carnival magic.
Monday 23 October
Butterfly Ball
The Butterfly Ball takes flight on Saturday, 28 October from 7pm. Join us for a magical mix of music, entertainment and fun and games to entertain all ages. Dress to impress in your colourful butterfly outfit or join one of our craft workshops to make your own custom butterfly accessories.
Saturday 28 October
