Ride the Lights: Blackpool’s Free Promenade Bike Night Returns
Blackpool’s annual Ride the Lights cycling event returns to Blackpool Promenade on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, from 19:00 to 22:00. The free, non-competitive ride is open to everyone, with families and groups of friends invited to see a preview of the Blackpool Illuminations from their bikes before the display officially opens to the public.
No booking is required. Riders can enter the promenade route at any point between Starr Gate at South Shore and Red Bank Road in Bispham, then cover as much or as little of it as they are able. The event details have been published by Visit Lancashire Events on behalf of VisitBlackpool.
Where and when to join Ride the Lights
The ride runs along Blackpool Promenade between Starr Gate and Red Bank Road. Because participants do not have to complete the entire route or begin at a designated starting line, they can choose a section that suits them rather than treating the evening as an end-to-end challenge.
Ride the Lights takes place from 19:00 until 22:00. The promenade road will reopen to regular traffic at 22:00, so cyclists should plan their distance and turning point with enough time to reach their destination before then. Anyone remaining in the area after the reopening should be aware that traffic will have returned.
The tramway will continue operating throughout the event. Organisers have specifically asked riders to take extra care around North Pier and the Metropole Hotel while passing through that part of the route.
Lights, helmets and supervision
Every participating bicycle must have at least one white light at the front and one red light at the rear. Organisers also strongly recommend that every cyclist wears a helmet, while all children must remain accompanied by a responsible adult throughout the ride.
Marshals and first aiders will be positioned along the route. Bike Doctors and support vehicles will also be available to assist riders who experience mechanical trouble or a breakdown. This support does not change the event’s informal format: it is a community ride rather than a race, and participants can select a manageable portion of the promenade.
Turning a bicycle into an Illuminations display
The practical bike lights required for visibility can also become part of the evening’s creative theme. Participants are encouraged to decorate their bicycles with colourful lights, lamps and lanterns, creating their own small Illuminations display for the promenade ride.
Charities may also use Ride the Lights as a fundraising opportunity by encouraging supporters to take part and seek sponsorship. Participation itself remains free and does not require advance registration.
Filming and final planning details
Live filming and photography will take place during Ride the Lights, and images may subsequently be used by VisitBlackpool for promotional purposes. Anyone who does not want to be included should contact the VisitBlackpool Web Team.
Before setting out, riders should check that the required front and rear lights are working, confirm that children will be accompanied, choose how much of the Starr Gate-to-Red Bank Road route they intend to cover, and allow sufficient time to finish before the road reopens at 22:00.
Source: Visit Lancashire Events
Context & actions About this article
Source check Event verification
Details confirmed via official VisitBlackpool event documentation for 2026.
- Confirmed date: 2026-09-01
- Confirmed free entry status
- Confirmed route: Starr Gate to Red Bank Road
- Source
- Visit Lancashire Events
- Scope
- Blackpool
- Updated
- 2026-08-10 17:24
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