Showtown | Heritage Open Days - a festival of heritage and culture Skip to content

A festival of heritage and culture is heading to Blackpool this September

Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of heritage and culture. Across the country, thousands of heritage venues take part, opening their doors and providing a variety of heritage events free of charge.

This year, Showtown will be exploring and showcasing Blackpool and the Fylde’s extraordinary and eclectic history, uncovering unique local stories and hidden treasures as well as providing FREE activities for the whole family to enjoy.

New for this year...

Showtown will offer a new talk to the programme, discovering more about Blackpool Tower and its rich history during the Blackpool Tower talk. From those behind the design and build, to the variety of acts and performers that have entertained visitors over the last century. Showtown’s fascinating collections will help bring this presentation to life.

Returning this year...

We are also thrilled this year to announce the return of the Lightworks depot tour. The public have an opportunity to explore the history of Blackpool Illuminations during a guided walk around the workshop, including an exclusive look at original designs dating back to the 1920s.

The historic guided walks will feature a War Memorial tour, a promenade history walk and a cinema heritage tour; visiting the sites of some of Blackpool’s most iconic cinemas of the past. Places of worship and religious organisations will also be open, along with many other venues across Lytham St Annes and Cleveleys.

Heritage Open Days takes place Thursday 14th to Sunday 17th September 2023.