The big switch on of the Christmas Lights is always an eagerly anticipated event in Blackpool – it marks the start of the festivities and is like the green light for excitement to begin. These pictures go back to the 1990s and 2000s and are mainly crowd scenes of people packed into the town centre waiting for the glow of lights to appear. You might be in them…
In case you missed them: Nostalgia: 15 scenes showing the great Christmas lights switch-on in Garstang, Morecambe, Fleetwood and Lytham
1. Festive Lights, Christmas Past
Crowds eagerly anticipating Blackpool Christmas lights switch on with Chico in 2007 Photo: National World
2. Festive Lights, Christmas Past
Blackpool Christmas lights switch on with Chico in 2006 Photo: National World
3. Festive Lights, Christmas Past
Crowds gather in 2004 for the event which was led by late entertainer Jeremy Beadle Photo: Bill Johnson
4. Festive Lights, Christmas Past
Wayne sleep switched on the lights watched by hundreds of people back in 1998 Photo: Martin Bostock
5. Festive Lights, Christmas Past
Crowds wait for Atomic Kitten in 2008 Photo: Jeff Walker
6. Festive Lights, Christmas Past
The crowd waits for the big moment in 2003... Photo: Rob Lock