Breaking News in Blackburn
Stay informed with the most pressing and breaking stories from Blackburn. From major events to urgent updates, find it here.
Snow White Panto Launched at Historic Hoghton Tower
The magic of Christmas came early this year as the cast of the Blackburn Empire Theatre’s 2025 pantomime, Snow White, gathered at the historic Hoghton Tower for the official launch of the show.
What’s On in Blackburn: Monday 15 to Sunday 21 September 2025
Looking for things to do in Blackburn & Darwen this week? 🎉 Blackburn’s biggest and busiest What’s On Guide is back — with events for every taste and age! From gothic exhibitions and live music to comedy gigs, drama, Pokémon tournaments and wellbeing workshops, it’s all happening right here.
Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery is preparing to launch what’s being described as its most ambitious exhibition to date — a breathtaking showcase of rare books, manuscripts, artworks, and ceramics that explores how nature has inspired creative expression across centuries, cultures, and religions. The Nature of Gothic opens this weekend and runs through to December.
Plans are underway that could bring the biggest shake-up to Blackburn with Darwen’s local government in over 50 years — potentially ending its status as an independent council and merging it into a much larger East Lancashire authority. Residents, businesses and community groups are now being urged to have their say before final proposals are submitted in November.
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Older Blackburn News
Did you miss out? Here are some of the older stories and news about Blackburn and Darwen
What’s On in Blackburn: Monday 8 to Sunday 14 September 2025
Looking for things to do in Blackburn & Darwen this week? 🎉 Blackburn’s biggest and most exciting What’s On Guide is back — featuring comedy clubs, music legends, soul tours, and a huge 3-day community festival! Plus, new events are added every day. It’s also free to add your own events to the guide!
Songs From The Rat Pack – A Swinging Big Band Spectacular
Yorkshire’s premier Big Band brings the golden age of swing to Blackburn with a spectacular Rat Pack celebration this September.
This Week in Blackburn (Mon 01 – Sun 07 Sept 2025)
Looking for things to do in Blackburn & Darwen this week? 🎉 Blackburn’s biggest and busiest What’s On Guide is back — with over 40 new events added in the last 7 days! From legendary live music and comedy nights to community festivals, bingo, gaming and family fun, it’s all right here. Don’t forget — it’s completely free to add your own events too.
Blackburn News Archive
All the archived stories from Blackburn Life – News about Blackburn and Darwen
Morrisons Blackburn are recruiting. Anyone interested in a role will need to be over 18 and bring the following into the store, go to the Customer Service Desk and ask
Blackburn Market’s food traders received hundreds of orders in less than 24 hours, when a new online ordering system was launched in record time.
Our latest update about the latest cancelled and postponed events in Blackburn & Darwen.
Our latest update of all closures and changes for venues, locations and businesses.
Based on the book by Raymond Briggs and adapted for the stage by Pins and Needles Productions, The Bear, brings dazzling puppetry, delicious music, dreamy storytelling, and dozens of laughs to Darwen Library Theatre for two performances on Sunday 29th & Monday 30th March.
Inspired by the most creative decade in music, The Counterfeit Sixties bring the whole decade to life with a show featuring music from over thirty bands and performers including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Dave Clark Five, The Kinks and The Monkees.
Packed with big gags, hilarious stories and poignant reflections about an ordinary man who lived through extraordinary times; Arthur, accompanied by the mellifluous Kirsty Newton tells the story of his own father.
Manchester’s The Slow Readers Club have announced their fourth album, The Joy Of The Return, out on March 20th via Modern Sky UK. The band have also shared their new single, ‘All I Hear’, the first track to be taken from the album.
2020 sees Ribble Valley International Piano Week further broadening its reach as a treasured piano festival in rural North West England.
An unmissable chance to see a world class vocalist up close and personal performing classic hits from across the decades, when Kevin Simm performs at Darwen Library Theatre on Wednesday 22nd April.
The Hallé return to Blackburn this Friday as part of the 2019/2020 Classics Series to celebrate the 250th birthday of Beethoven.
ACT TWO will follow on from Waite and Simone’s first offering as a dancing duo, with more old-fashioned variety – dance, comedy and song! It arrives at Blackburn’s Empire Theatre for a matinee performance on Sunday 22nd March 2020 at 2:30pm.
The Arches is the first winner of a Blackburn Life Award, the new initiative support businesses in the borough. The popular Sandwich and Breakfast Bar topped the public votes in the Best Café or Coffee Shop category!
Starting out as the band behind Ian Dury, the Blockheads are a legendary outfit that has grown in stature from the early days of the Stiff tour in 1977, right up to the present day.
Blackburn Market hosts two new events this week. Flashback & Holme Street Markets.
A new events and themed pop-up markets area at the heart of Blackburn Market has been named Holme Street. The name comes from a long-lost road that used to connect Ainsworth Street to Railway Road in the town.
The Scouse maverick, Pete Wylie, who, along with Ian McCulloch and Julian Cope, pioneered the Eighties art-indie scene brings his show to Darwen Library Theatre on Friday 6th March 2020.
Tickets are selling fast for Lipstick on Your Collar as it heads to Blackburn on Saturday 14th March 2020.
Take That’s Greatest Hits Sing-Along with Re-Take That at Blackburn Empire Theatre
Stephen brings his inappropriate anecdotes to Darwen Library Theatre on Wednesday 11th March 2020.
Starring John Campbell, widely regarded as the world’s best tribute artist and featuring his all-star band at Blackburn Empire Theatre on Saturday 7th March 2020 at 7:30pm
The Hallé return to Blackburn this March as part of the 2019/2020 Classics Series to celebrate the 250th birthday of Beethoven.
Lot’s of choice this week. Dance fans are in for a treat with Spirit of the Dance at King George’s Hall, comedy fans could head to Darwen to see Mark Thomas and those wanting a touch of pop Nostalgia can enjoy BoyzLife in Blackburn.
Jason Manford, who was recently unmasked from behind his singing persona of the Hedgehog, is getting back to his roots with a comedy tour.
Paul Weller is set to return to Blackburn on 7th November 2020 as part of his latest tour.
Blackburn Cathedral Flower Festival has announced a unique opportunity for UK flower fans, as Tom De Houwer confirms a demonstration and installation at the June 2020 event.
The annual Sing Together concert series returns for a record breaking run this March at King George’s Hall.
A Lancashire Beekeeper will be bringing their products and fascinating stories about beekeeping to Blackburn Market this Saturday (22nd February 2020).
The Finest Honey, now based in Darwen, got hooked on the magical world of the honey bee and the incredible product that comes from it…”Liquid Gold”!
Stand-up mischief and storytelling at its best from Mark Thomas at Darwen Library Theatre
Two of the biggest boy bands join forces in theatre production of their biggest hits on Friday 28th February 2020 at Blackburn’s King George’s Hall.
Behind the blue curtain – Daniel, a refugee from Eritrea, now training to be a nurse; Rahmiya, a second-generation Muslim doctor; and David, elderly white cancer patient and discredited academic, fretting about his cat, Roger.
Blackburn Market features free kids crafts and activities on Monday, Wednesday and Friday this week. Some of the biggest boy bands of the 90s arrive at King George’s Hall and The Chase’s Paul Sinha brings his stand-up comedy show to Darwen.
BBC TV came to Blackburn Cathedral way back in 2018, and now the show will finally be broadcast – tonight!
Paul Sinha brings his latest tour show, Hazy Little Thing Called Love, to Darwen Library Theatre on Saturday 22nd February.
Everything Bublé is a tribute to the Canadian megastar Michael Bublé featuring all the big hits from the early days right through to his latest hits.