Blackpool wins deal to Illuminate another North West town this festive season

Blackpool's Illuminations expertise has earned the town a deal to light up a Cheshire town this Christmas.
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Blackpool’s Illuminations team has been called in to deliver Lumen 2020, which this year will take the form of a spectacular trail through Crewe town centre in the run-up to Christmas.

In previous years, more than 10,000 people have crowded into the town centre to enjoy a night of entertainment and the countdown to a projected illumination lighting up the municipal buildings.

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This year, the team are working hard to provide something just as spectacular but Covid-safe, with installations far enough apart so that everyone can enjoy them safely.

Blackpool is going to light up Crewe this winterBlackpool is going to light up Crewe this winter
Blackpool is going to light up Crewe this winter

Coun Gillian Campbell, Cabinet Member for Tourism and Culture for Blackpool Council, said: “We are delighted to be working with Crewe Town Council to help deliver their Lumen Light Festival.

“We have an extremely skilled team here at Blackpool Illuminations, who work with a number of towns and cities across the UK to give expert advice on their own lighting requirements, as well as planning and delivering Christmas Lights Switch Ons.

“For Crewe, we are bringing some of our skills and expertise from our Lightpool Festival as well to create a truly illuminating spectacle for Crewe this year.”

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Coun Benn Minshall, Mayor of Crewe, said: “This year, more than ever, our mission is to give local people the best possible event to support our local businesses in the town centre, by providing something which is attractive to both residents and visitors but is staged in the most responsible way under changing conditions.

Blackpool's Illuminations team has won a contract to light Crewe town centreBlackpool's Illuminations team has won a contract to light Crewe town centre
Blackpool's Illuminations team has won a contract to light Crewe town centre

“Since the launch of Lumen in 2018, it’s got people talking about Crewe in a positive way and for 2020, we believe there is still the capacity and potential to create truly special moments for everyone to share.

“We are proud to be building our partnership with the Illuminations team at Blackpool Council, who are world-famous for their stunning displays and will bring their considerable skills to delivering a lights campaign for Crewe which will live on in our memories for years to come.”

In its first year the month-long Lumen lights campaign led to more than £100k being spent in local outlets, based on a specially commissioned survey of families attending.

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This year’s event will be launched on November 27. The Blackpool team have visited Crewe on several occasions to begin mapping out a creative plan which works within current Covid-19 restrictions.

The contract was awarded to Blackpool Council after a competitive tendering process which attracted applications from all over the country.

A spokesman said: "“This is a commercial arrangement and one of a number of external contracts for lighting projects that we have delivered for other local authorities. In the past, we have provided Christmas lighting schemes for a number of towns across the North West as well as sharing some of our illumination assets for festivals. These projects do generate a source of income that supports the staging of Blackpool Illuminations.”

Blackpool’s own Lightpool Festival will take place from October 16-31.The Illuminations will run from September 4 to January 3, 2021.