Showtown Wins Exhibition of the Year

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Wartime Blackpool

A Showtown Exhibition. Open now.

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Laughter Unlocked

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Showtown

Blackpool's museum of fun and entertainment.

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Mooky the Clown juggling three clubs in the Tower Circus ring

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Seaside themed colourful posters, black and white photo's and pages from books

Things to Discover

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Alan Carr in coat and scarf pulling the illuminations switch on switch

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What's on!

Here's some events to tickle your fancy

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Welcome to Showtown

Immersive displays, interactive exhibits & fun for all the family!

We're Blackpool's all-singing, all-dancing museum, proudly located just off the prom – next door to Coral Island!

Winner of Exhibition of the Year 2025 and shortlisted for both the Children in Museums and Family Friendly Museum award, Showtown celebrates the people and performances that made Blackpool the home of show business.

Our six galleries bring to life the best of the seaside, magic, circus, Illuminations, shows, and dance.

Discover the stories of the comedians, dancers, acrobats and characters who turned our resort into the home of show business.

Head to our 'Plan Your Visit' page for opening times, directions, and to book your tickets today!

Plan your visit >

What's on

Play Days at Showtown This May Half-Term

Sat 24 May - Sun 01 June 2025

Showtown brings the magic, madness and mayhem of Blackpool’s showbiz past to life… through immersive galleries, hands-on exhibits, and endless fun for every generation.This May half term, don’t miss Play Days at Showtown – packed with puppets, circus skills, magic tricks and… yes, even a make-your-own fake poo workshop!FREE with your Showtown ticket.

Wartime Blackpool

Wed 02 April - Tue 30 September 2025

As the world commemorates 80 years since the end of the Second World War, Blackpool’s untold wartime story takes centre stage in a compelling new exhibition at Showtown!

SHOWTOTS: Baby and toddler session

Thu 05 June 2025

Have fun playing, creating and exploring together at our baby and toddler session.

Open Up the Mic

Thu 29 May 2025, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Roll up, roll up... all under 18 year olds and tell us your favourite jokes! Become a comedian on Showtown’s pop-up stage during the Blackpool Comedy Festival.

Character Comedy Masterclass with Gareth Joyner

Sat 31 May 2025, 11:00am - 12:00pm

A masterclass in realising your very own character comedy creations with comedian and art-school dropout Gareth Joyner.

The First Rule of Comedy with Jeffrey Holland

Sun 01 June 2025, 11:00am - 12:00pm

SitCom legend Jeffrey Holland, best-loved as holiday camp comic Spike Dixon in Hi-De-Hi!, will be in conversation with Britain’s Comedy Historian Robert Ross.

Houdini Through The Keyhole

Thu 12 June 2025, 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Michael Diamond, a professional magician and escapologist, presents an engaging talk on the life and career of Harry Houdini. <br> Learn some of Houdini’s techniques and secrets, as well as the truth behind some popular Houdini myths, including his death and dealings with fraudulent spirit mediums.

Wartime Typography Masterclass

Sat 21 June 2025, 1:00pm - 4:30pm

Join artist Lisa Wigham to discover the town's unique signage and typography.

Untold Histories: Blackpool Regiment

Thu 26 June 2025, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

The Blackpool Regiment was short-lived. During this talk, discover more about the formation of the Regiment and some of its untold stories.

Escaping the Blitz: Blackpool’s Air Raid Experiences in WWII

Thu 03 July 2025, 6:00pm - 7:00pm

In this talk Dr. Tom Carter will discuss Blackpool’s experiences of air raids in the Second World War.

Exploring Wartime Art

Thu 10 July 2025, 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Join Imperial War Museum curator, Sarah Holdaway, for an exploration of Charles Ernst Cundall's work.

Jitterbug and Jive: Family Dance Workshop

Sat 12 July 2025, 11:00am - 3:30pm

Get into the swing of 1940s Blackpool with our Jitterbug and Jive workshop. Perfect for the whole family!

Create your own Wellington Aircraft Model

Sat 09 August 2025, 11:00am - 2:30pm

Join us for this family fun craft session, as we celebrate the amazing aircraft that helped us to win the Second World War.

Theatreland in Blackpool

Thu 04 September 2025, 6:00pm - 7:00pm

During the Second World War, West End’s theatrical stars, producers and agents had relocated to Blackpool, making it the headquarters of Theatreland. This talk looks into some of the history surrounding this aspect of Wartime Blackpool.

Wartime Exhibition Tour

Sat 13 September 2025

Join Showtown curators as they give you a unique insight into the objects and collections on display in the Wartime Blackpool Exhibition.

Latest News

Showtown Wins Exhibition of the Year

16 May 2025

Blackpool is set to light up with laughter this May!

30 April 2025

Showtown History Centre is opening!

23 April 2025

Comedy Carpet Quest

28 March 2025

Bright Lights in Dark Times

27 March 2025

Unleashing creativity from the page

29 January 2025

Showtown is on a Mission this Christmas!

06 December 2024

Showtown celebrates the National Lottery's 30th Birthday.

18 November 2024

What a beautiful day! What a beautiful day for Showtown!

07 November 2024

More news

Want to be a part of our journey?

There are lots of ways to get involved.
Learn more about how to donate or volunteer below.

A photograph of dance objects with a tower ballroom poster, a photo of dancers and a medal

Donate

As a charity we rely on donations to keep this amazing show on the road.

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Volunteer holding sheet music with the words "It must be love"

Volunteering

Learn more about how to become a volunteer and what sort of roles you can get involved in.

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