Storm Bert: Changes to Blackburn Christmas lights switch-on event

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for much of the country throughout the day tomorrow with Storm Bert expected to bring high-speed winds of up to 60mph plus rain and the chance of snow.

On the advice of experts and for the safety of all those performing and attending the Blackburn Christmas lights switch-on, the planned outdoor activities on stage have been moved indoors, where possible.

This year’s Circus of the Moon event is inspired by the spectacular Museum of the Moon which you can see for free at Blackburn Cathedral right throughout the day and up until 8pm.

Plus, you can also still enjoy:

• The chance to meet Groot and Star Lord from Guardians of The Galaxy in The Mall Blackburn – perfect for any Marvel fans
• Free circus workshops also in The Mall – these are guaranteed to put a clown-sized smile on your face!
• Impressive circus performers at The Cathedral with The Moon and in The Mall – always a hit with the kids (…big and little!)
• Live DJ playing your festive favourites – again, this will now be in Victoria Court in The Mall
• Silly Space Stories and Moon Tales in Blackburn Market, Blackburn Library and The Mall with the fantastic team from Culturapedia
• A performed reading of the H.G. Wells classic ‘The First Men in the Moon’ at Blackburn Museum – celebrating its 150^th year in 2024
• The brand-new monthly pop-up street market at The Bureau with quirky gift ideas and delicious festive food and drink
• Live music throughout the evening with Blackburn Gigs at both The Firepit and The Bureau too

There’ll also be the chance to grab Christmas shopping in The Mall, Blackburn Market and at the town’s wonderful independent shops. And lots of places to eat and drink.

You can check out a full guide and more info over at the new Discover Blackburn website by clicking here.

Catherine Price, Blackburn BID Manager, said:

We’ve been working hard for months on this event to make it the very best it can be with a packed programme to mark the start of the countdown to Christmas here in Blackburn.

As always, the safety of all our performers and our visitors is our absolute top priority and we are listening to the advice of experts who tell us the outdoor entertainment just can’t go ahead.

That doesn’t mean we’ve given up though. While we can’t have the official countdown, we’ve been busy moving as much as we can indoors with lots to enjoy right across the town centre, including the spectacular Museum of the Moon at the Cathedral.

The Christmas lights will be on too so there’s lots to help you all get in the festive spirit while keeping warm and dry.

The Christmas lights switch-on is the first of a whole programme of events planned as part of a new Festival of the Moon running right throughout the festive period.

This includes:

• Blackburn Festival of Light – Sat, 14th Dec

Blackburn’s cherished annual light parade is set to return! In the lead-up, visitors can participate in lantern-making workshops, as well as drumming and stilt-walking classes – adding to the town’s creative buzz. The grand parade, inspired by lunar themes, will light up the town with a fantastic finale at Town Hall Square featuring light projections and mesmerising fire dancing.

• Moon-themed Arts & Crafts by Culturapedia

Throughout the festive period, Culturapedia will host a variety of family-friendly workshops, storytelling sessions, and interactive performances inspired by the moon. Events will be held across Blackburn’s popular cultural venues, including Blackburn Market, Blackburn Central Library, and Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery. Check out Discover Blackburn on Facebook and Insta for all the latest updates.

• Moon Light Trail

New for 2024, take a lunar journey around Blackburn with the Moon Light Trail. This captivating trail of light installations – designed by Blackburn Festival of Light, light sculpture artists, and Blackburn College students – will illuminate the town centre, creating a winter wonderland of glowing sculptures and displays.

Throughout the festive period, visitors can also look forward to everything from ice skating to movie premieres and the ever-popular panto at King George’s Hall.

There’s also live music from the new Blackburn Gigs initiative every weekend at venues right across the town centre.

Councillor Phil Riley, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said:

Of course, we’re hardy to the rain and cold here in Blackburn with Darwen and we don’t take decisions like this lightly.

But, as Catherine has said, safety really is the priority, and the advice is that there can’t be a stage at tomorrow’s event due to the expected high wind speeds.

As ever, we’ve rolled up our sleeves though and worked hard to do all we can to move things indoors, with lots to enjoy right across the town centre.

And it’s just the start too with so much planned between now and Christmas and into the New Year.

More than £70K of new funding has been successfully secured as part of a collaboration between Blackburn Business Improvement District (BID), Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Blackburn Festival of Light, Culturapedia, and Blackburn Cathedral to help fund the festival.

The generous support is from Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Funding.

There’s a full guide to what’s on as part of the Festival of the Moon at: www.discoverblackburn.co.uk