Blackpool's Christmas by the Sea is back for 2023 - bigger and better than ever!

Blackpool’s spectacular Christmas village is returning this winter – and it promises to be a cracker!

VisitBlackpool has confirmed that the hugely-popular outdoor village will open on Friday 17 November with an exciting range of new festive family attractions - plus extended opening hours for the free skating rink which will open every day until January 1 (barring Christmas Day).

Last year, Christmas By The Sea, which is staged on the headland opposite The Blackpool Tower, delivered the highest visitor numbers ever recorded on the seafront during the winter months.

In addition to the free-to-use skating rink, this year’s village will include festive light installations and projection shows, themed log cabins with food, drink and gifts, artificial snowfalls, Christmas trees and festive tram rides.

It will also see a variety of themed children’s attractions, the return of the Star Flyer which, at 196ft tall, is one of Europe’s tallest swing rides, and exciting new thrill rides including a 100ft-long snow slide.

Christmas By The Sea will be complemented by a full Illuminations display along the seafront after VisitBlackpool announced earlier this year that the Illuminations would once again be extended by two months to run from September 1 through to January 1.

The staging of the village is in association with the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID), Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Triangle Attractions.

Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, added: “Christmas By The Sea has established itself as one of the most popular events in our calendar, attracting visitors from far and wide who come to enjoy a unique Christmas experience.

“Many of the attractions including the rink, projection shows, snowfalls and light installations will again be free to access, giving families the opportunity to enjoy a magical and memorable Christmas.

“This year, we will be extending the opening hours for the rink giving even more residents and visitors a chance to skate in what is a wonderful seafront setting.”

For full details, including opening times of the rink and other attractions go to: visitblackpool.com/christmas

Don’t forget, there is still plenty more free entertainment to look forward to in Blackpool over the coming weeks and months:

Blackpool Illuminations

Blackpool Illuminations are running nightly from September 1, 2023 to January 1, 2024.

This year’s display includes three new installations, one by internationally-renowned artist Dr Chila Kumari Singh Burman, MBE, another by Canadian-born Bruce Alfred, who specialises in Native American art, and a new version of Spitfire Island which has been reimagined by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. All have been built by the Illuminations’ in-house team based at the Lightworks manufacturing facility in Blackpool with the support of the Government’s Towns Fund.

World Fireworks Championship Blackpool

Watch the Blackpool night skies light up with brilliant firework displays synced to music as teams from across the world battle it out. India set the bar with a magnificent display on Saturday 16 September. Week Two on Saturday 30 September, will see the Swiss pyrotechnics company, SUGYP, take centre-stage. The third and final performance, by Italian fireworks company Pirotecnica Soldi, will take place on the evening of Friday 20 October, to coincide with the launch of this year’s annual Lightpool Festival in Blackpool.

Lightpool Festival

The award-winning Lightpool Festival returns for October half-term with an amazing free-to-see programme of light installations, 3D projection shows, art trails, and stunning live performances from October 20-28. It will include world premieres and installations never before seen in the UK, including artworks from Australia, France, the Netherlands and Spain. The festival is delivered in collaboration with various sponsors and partners including Arts Council England.