Switch off for lights attraction

Illuminasia, which opened in 2014 in the Winter Gardens, will be dismantled to enable the space to accommodate other events while work to build a new conference centre is underway.

Bosses say the indoor lights spectacle within the Olympia area of the venue had come to the end of its fixed term contract.

Winter Gardens managing director Michael Williams said the attraction had been a success, drawing in around 100,000 visitors a year.

He added: “When we initially introduced Illuminasia, Olympia was only used about 20 days a year and this provided a year-round attraction complementing other offers at the Winter Gardens.

“It was an attraction which needed to be refreshed every year, as we did this year with the addition of 3D and dinosaur features.

“But it had come to the end of the contract and the time has come to close it.

“It has been very well received but we have to move on and look for the next thing.”

Olympia will be used to accommodate activities for larger events held at the Winter Gardens such as Rebellion and the dance festivals, while work is carried out on the conference centre and the Spanish suite.

Mr Williams added: “We are looking at options for the longer term use of Olympia once the conference centre is fully operational.”

Illuminasia was assembled by Chinese artisans and was designed to combine the shared illumination history of Blackpool and China.

Illuminasia will close on Sunday October 29. All tickets are now £5 on the door.