Pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor performed on the Tower Festival Headland before pulling the switch to trigger four months of Illuminations.
Sophie shot to fame as a vocalist on Spiller’s huge number one single, ‘Groovejet’ and her worldwide hit, ‘Murder On The Dancefloor’.
The stars of Nickelodeon, the world’s favourite children’s TV channel,, also took over the Golden Mile for a float parade.
There was also specially-commissioned sound and light show on The Blackpool Tower that will be synchronised with LED wristbands to be given out to spectators, and then topped off with a fireworks finale over the seafront.
These were the scenes at the launch event.
The stars of Nickelodeon, the world’s favourite children’s TV channel,, also took over the Golden Mile for a float parade.