Less than two weeks to go until Stanley Park’s 100th birthday celebration

There’s less than two weeks to go until Stanley Park marks its 100th anniversary, with a spectacular day of family fun, entertainment and a dazzling drone show.

The Grade II-listed park officially turns 100 on Friday 2 October, marking a century since the much-loved green space opened its gates.

The big public birthday celebration will take place on Saturday 3 October, when residents and visitors are invited to come along and enjoy a full day of activities and entertainment across the park.

There will be plenty of opportunities to get involved, with sports, skateboarding, BMX and hip-hop workshops, alongside family-friendly fairground rides, special walks, talks, pop-up performances and more taking place across the park.

The Makers Market will also be heading to Stanley Park between 11.00am and 5.00pm, bringing together a range of local makers, bakers, artists, creators and independent businesses.

The centenary celebrations will continue into the evening, when a spectacular drone show will light up the skies, providing a fitting finale to the park’s 100th birthday party.

The drone display will be created by Celestial, the company behind the acclaimed drone show filmed at Stanley Park for Britain’s Got Talent in 2025, which was later seen by millions of viewers across the UK.

The centenary celebration is the culmination of a year of activity marking 100 years of one of Blackpool’s most treasured green spaces.

Throughout 2026, residents and visitors have been invited to take part in family activity sessions, heritage walks, a special edition of Love Parks Week, sporting events, bandstand performances and other community activities.

This week saw a very special visitor to Stanley Park last week, when His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh visited the Grade II-listed park on Tuesday 15 September.

The Duke met local schoolchildren, community groups and organisations during a visit which also included the unveiling of a plaque commemorating Dr William Henry Cocker, Blackpool’s first Mayor.

Stretching across around 390 acres, Stanley Park opened in 1926 and is one of the UK’s most significant historic parks.

Its formal gardens, woodland, lake, sporting facilities and heritage features, including the Italian Gardens, Art Deco Café, Bandstand and Cocker Clock Tower, continue to attract more than two million visitors each year.

The centenary year is also providing an opportunity to invest in the park’s future, with Blackpool Council investing £500,000 in additional maintenance and restoration work, including £50,000 raised by the Friends of Stanley Park.

Works include repairs and renovations to the Cocker Clock Tower, main gates and Italian Gardens to name a few, helping to preserve the park’s heritage features for future generations.

Councillor Jane Hugo, Deputy Leader of Blackpool Council (Place) and Cabinet Member for Climate Change, said: “For a century, Stanley Park has been a place where memories are made.

“We’re now just two weeks away from the main centenary celebrations, and there will be plenty for people to enjoy when they come along on Saturday 3 October.

“Come along and join us as we celebrate 100 years of Stanley Park and mark this special milestone together.

Blackpool Council is working with the Friends of Stanley Park, Enveco NW Limited and other partner organisations to deliver the centenary programme, celebrating the park’s heritage, its role in the community and its future.

Further details about the programme timing will be shared in the near future and further, exciting centenary news will be revealed very soon.

For the latest centenary information and updates, visit: www.blackpool.gov.uk/Centenary