Iconic Blackpool Tower Celebrates 125th Birthday
25 April 2019
by Visit Blackpool
On 14th May, The Blackpool Tower will be abuzz with excitement as the Lancashire landmark celebrates its 125th birthday.
Since 1894, The Blackpool Tower has been an iconic feature on the Fylde Coast and, staff, local well-wishers and friends of The Blackpool Tower will gather to mark this important anniversary.
The doors will open at 10am, when all visitors will be welcomed by tower staff in traditional Victorian outfits, commonplace when The Blackpool Tower first opened to the public. Members of the public will be able to buy a limited number of tickets ahead of the 14th.
Tickets for the special afternoon tea can be purchased for £29.95 per person here. Local residents may also attend for a fee of just £1.25. Buy your tickets here, and just bring along proof of living in a FY or PR postcode on the day of the event!
Staff from yesteryear will return to the attraction to look at how it has changed across the decades.
At 12pm, The Blackpool Tower Ballroom will hold an event for VIPs and honoured invitees. Each person in attendance will receive a ‘125 birthday’ themed afternoon tea and a slice of birthday cake, created especially for the occasion.
There will also be performances from Blackpool legends, including Phil Kelsall, MBE, The Blackpool Tower Ballroom’s resident organist for more than 40 years, who will lead the congregation in a rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’. Stars from The Blackpool Tower Circus will also give people a sneak peek of this year’s show-stopping performance.
In the evening, the celebrations will continue in The Blackpool Tower Eye with BBC Radio 1 DJ, Danny Howard.
The Blackpool-born DJ will get the party going until late with a special DJ set at the VIP Sky High Celebrations.
Kenny Mew, general manager at The Blackpool Tower, said: “It is an incredible honour to manage The Blackpool Tower in such a landmark year. The Blackpool Tower resonates with the hearts and minds of all of its guests since it opened all those years ago.
“From spotting it on your way into the resort, The Blackpool Tower is a staple of the town’s history and celebrates the very best of British. We hope that people continue to show the same love for the Tower that they have over the decades and still visit in the years to come.”
The celebrations for Blackpool’s big birthday go far beyond just The Blackpool Tower.
Lifetime admission to The Blackpool Tower will be given to anyone born at Blackpool Victoria Hospital on May 14th 2019.
In addition, The Blackpool Tower team has made it their goal for every child up to the age of 11 living in the local area to visit the top of the landmark in its 125th birthday year.
The Blackpool Tower plans a year-long celebration for its 125th anniversary with activities throughout 2019 and into 2020.
For more information about the event, click here.