I wrote this a while back about the Illuminations Switch On, since the details haven’t been finalized I’m using this article for updates about Skegness Illumination event, in the comment section at the bottom of this page. Since things haven’t been confirmed yet and Skegness Illumination Switch On hasn’t taken place for some time a […]
Continue Reading Skegness Illuminations 2011 Switch On
Whoa is me, alas it turned out my fear that the Skegness Illuminations Switch On 2011 was to go back to the dark ages has been confirmed :(
This saddens me a great deal, going back to the traditional Skegness Illumination Switch On for 2011 is totally depressing :(
In my article above I wrote ‘I hope I’m wrong’, but it looks like the dinosaurs are back in Skegness, so with great personal ‘regret’ here is the run down for the Illuminations Switch On in Skegness on the 6th August 2011.
The Skegness illuminations will be switched on by Stavros Flatley, there has been mention of them riding down the Skegness Waterway, but not confirmed or have any details.
Details are a bit sketchy about exactly what’s happening during the Illumination Switch On at this point, but I assume it will be the same as it used to be before the Illuminations was a part of the SO Festival, which was tractors with adverts on it moving slowly down Grand Parade, irritating red coats from Butlins dancing and singing because they give some money (they usually did) to the Illumination Switch on, watch the Z list Celeb do their thing for 10 mins then have a disappointing 5 minute fireworks display :(
I find it dis-heartening that after the success and popularity of the SO Festival, finally giving Skegness some prestige, that they would go back to an old event that never worked in the first place to bring in visitors.
I find it totally confusing on how exactly Stavros Flatley is entertainment for little kids, they are not going to know who they are.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yrHBFMJSbg
They should have just had a great DJ (could be local) playing some good music to rally the crowds, a local hero to switch on the lights like the Skegness RNLI crew and a decent fireworks display, people travel miles to see a good Fireworks display and pay good money, the spitfire proms fireworks display for example costs £25 a ticket with 7,000 visitors attending every year and Belvoir Castle again around 7 – 10,000 people attending their Fireworks companionship’s and they charge £15 a ticket for 4 ten minute displays.
It wouldn’t surprise me if the main reason the crowds in previous years viewing the Skegness Illumination where there was just to see the fire works display.
I’ll update on the full Skegness Illuminations Switch On event when the information is available on what’s happening on the 6th August 2011.
Still can’t believe this :(
Marie
So far I have this list of what is happening on the day of the Skegness illuminations,
A full day of events.
Fireworks and Family Entertainment
Switch on by Stavros Flately 9.30pm
Skegness Brass Festival
Busking Music Festival
Hosted by Lincs FM celebrity DJ / Radio Presenter
Busking Music Festival seems interesting, don’t Know where it will be in Skegness on the 6th of August. There’s no information on what it is, but I’ll take an educated guess and say buskers will be in Skegness for the Skegness Illuminations.
Nice to see their listening at last, I’ve mentioned this several times on various posts about one possible option of bringing buskers in to give people an alternative to brass bands.
Looks like my hubby voicing his opinions on facebook is getting some attention at last.
No real detail though on the Skegness Illuminations event as usual, it’s so frustrating it’s like they don’t want you to know anything about what’s happening during the Skegness illumination event.
One day they will learn information is the key to successfully bringing people to Skeggy for an event.
People will not venture out if they don’t know what they are getting.
Marie
A full programme of events has now been agreed
Here are some of the events on in the Inn on the park.
Skegness Silver band, Alford Silver band, From 11am till 145pm
Tower Esplanade stage from 1pm Silver sounds brass, 215pm Swineshead Silver
6pm Cheer on the parade as it makes its way along the foreshore
630pm Butlins famous Redcoats will entertain with their toe tapping dances – great for the kids to burn off some energy
Also Lindy Hop Dancing, Market Rasen RPC Band, Janicee sutton Dancers, on stage from 730pm
840pm waterways parade
9pm Stavros Flatley will be on stage
945pm Fireworks
We are visiting Skegness for our holiday from Sheffield from 30 July to 13 August and had no idea the lights were due to be switched on while we are there. It is only thanks to Trevor’s comment that I have any idea of what is happening. Not sure I fancy brass bands or toe tapping Redcoats but we might let the kids stay up for the fireworks (age 10, 8 and almost 5). Thank you Trevor for telling us what we want to know….unlike all the other sites I’ve visited!
The full list of events has been released of what will be happening during the Skegness Illuminations.
It all kicks off at 6pm with the Land Parade that will be going down Grand Parade towards the clock tower
6.15pm official opening
6.25pm Butlins red coats entertain the crowd
6.45winning buskers perform
7pm music from mango moon
7.30pm louth lindy hop group dancing
8.10pm Market Raisin RPC Band
8.40pm Janic Sutton Dancers
8.50pm Staveros Flately will be heading up the waterway towards the clock tower
9.10pm Taiko Drummers
9.25pm Staveros Flatley Perform
9.40pm count down light are switched on
9.45pm Fireworks
10pm Taiko Drummers close the Skegness Illuminations Switch On.
I might have to eat my word a little (lets hope so :)), it looks like we could be getting some music and real talent on stage with the bands and the Taiko Drummers above which will be great.
Unlike the Skegness Illumination in the past it looks like they are trying to modernise it a little, still not sure about following mostly the old format of the Skegness Illuminations, but it looks like they are at last thinking a little outside the box, by bringing entertainment a bit more adventurous than what their used to providing.
Now all we need is for them to go all the way outside the box and we could have an event to rival the SO Festival and maybe even Blackpool :)
Marie
Well, how was it ? and what is planned for this year ?
You need a good mix of entertainment for all ages at an event like that. middle of the road music, no extremes. A busking & folk music festival is good as it includes some mellow as well as music with a beat and guitars. Something up beat. You can’t charge for fireworks as people will just stand and watch in the free areas I’m afraid. I’d get rid of the brass bands, its not a Christmas light switch on. Butlins Red Coats are good as they can do all sorts of entertainment, they could do a variety show on their own and entertain the kids. Sounded quite good to me for a free event. Its a shame that you have to switch them on from the clock tower, it isn’t the best location for it. Do they have a stage these days or do they still use the balcony ?