Thousands enjoy park's 100th birthday party

5 hours ago

Stewart WhittinghamNorth West

News image — The Grade II listed park officially reached its centenary on Friday

Visit Blackpool A Stanley Park sign lighting up in the sky in red, green, purple and yellow lights above crowds of people in the park. There is a bandstand with white pillars in the middle with a dark coloured dome roof. Above it and below the sign, the bandstand has been created in purple lights. Some children in the crowd are sitting on people's shoulders. — The Grade II listed park officially reached its centenary on Friday

Thousands of people enjoyed a two-day party to mark the 100th birthday of Blackpool's Stanley Park.

The Grade II listed park officially reached its centenary on Friday, 100 years after it first opened its gates in 1926.

Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire, Sir Bill Beaumont, re-enacted the official opening of the park's gates, just as it happened originally.

Local schoolchildren performed a poem, dance and a version of I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside song before afternoon tea.

On Saturday there was a range of sporting activities with BMX and archery as well as fairground rides.

There was also a makers market in the Italian Gardens, food stalls, heritage talks and tours.

Other festivities included skateboarding, a mini festival, art and performances from Waterloo Women's Choir, a jazz band and a DJ.

Visit Blackpool An artist dressed as a blue and green butterfly smiles as she poses next to a man in sunglasses carrying a baby on his shoulders. — The celebrations went on for two days with all ages enjoying the party

Dave Nelson A digital Blackpool Tower is lit up in lights in the sky with red and purple special effects at the bottom with the lights of Blackpool in the background at night — Thousands also enjoyed a special drone show at night

At night, there was a switch-on of new lighting around the park including tree lights on key routes.

The centenary celebrations culminated in a drone show over the lake alongside seaside music and Blackpool themes.

Visit Blackpool A fluffy brown dog looks over their owner's show as it is being carried in the park. — Furry visitors also enjoyed the park during the two-day party

Visit Blackpool A performer, dressed in black and white striped trousers and a red jacket, swings a rope around her head. Water can be seen in the background with white statues. Out of focus crowds of people are gathered. — Artists as well as local schoolchildren performed during the celebrations

Council deputy leader said Jane Hugo said: "It has been fantastic to see so many people enjoying Stanley Park throughout the celebrations, and I would like to thank everyone who has helped make the centenary such a memorable occasion.

"I hope this weekend has created many more memories for people to treasure for years to come."

Visit Blackpool An white-haired man, wearing a striped brown and blue jacket and straw hat, blows into a trumpet — The celebrations including music as well as fairground rides and food stalls

Stanley Park has formal gardens, woodland, sporting facilities and a boating lake as well as an Art Deco Cafe and Cocker Clock Tower.

The park welcomes more than two million visitors each year and has twice been voted the UK's Favourite Park.

Visit Blackpool Black and white image of a boating lake with lots of wooden rowing boats. — Stanley Park has drawn countless thousand visitors over the years

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