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
The International smash hit “Spirit of the Dance” celebrates 21 fabulous years as one of the most successful dance shows ever
Tom brings his new show to Blackburn’s King George’s Hall on Thursday 20th February 2020.
The highly acclaimed Russian State Opera returns with the perfect tragic Aida, an opera with breath-taking melodies.
Blackburn Life have this week launched the Blackburn Life Awards, aimed to promote the public’s favourite shops, restaurants, pubs, cafes and more.
Poundbakery have announced the launch of their NEW Jumbo Vegan Steak Pasty and the best part is that it’s only £1.
The new cafe at Blackburn Cathedral has revealed its new name, Checks and Greys.
An evening of late 90’s boyband nostalgia, four of the era’s biggest pop bands, take to the stage on a multi-bill extravaganza at King George’s Hall Blackburn on Tuesday 18th February 2020.
For 15 years Middi and the legendary “Wild Murphys” have been playing Irish music to the masses and now they are bringing Murphy’s Pub to Blackburn.
Blackburn Life has today launched the Blackburn Life Awards, as part of our support for businesses in the borough.
The awards will be open to all businesses and the winners will be chosen by the public in a web-based vote.
King George’s Hall have added an extra date for comedy sensation Paul Smith on Wednesday 29th July 2020. Tickets go on sale at 10am today (Friday 31st January)
Witton Park in Blackburn looks set to have double the Festival Fun this year when Restricted Rocks returns for two packed days of live music.
Kiefer Sutherland is returning to the UK next month for a string of UK dates and the tour arrives in Blackburn on Saturday 22nd February 2020.
Would you marry a stranger?
We’re looking for brave singles for a new series of Married at First Sight.
Turtle Bay are injecting a big helping of light-hearted fun into Valentine’s Day this year, as they invite everyone to celebrate ‘One Love’ on the 14th February.
The Diocesan Bishop for The Church of England in Lancashire is set to become the newest member of the House of Lords.
This is not your standard Family Panto and the title probably gives it away, when The Market Theatre Company return to Blackburn with “Peter Panties! Ooo-err!
David Baddiel returns to the stage with a brand new one-man show, Trolls: Not The Dolls. The tour comes to Blackburn’s King George’s Hall on Thursday 13th February 2020.
Top tribute Thank ABBA for the Music are heading back to the Blackburn Empire on Friday 31st January and it is guaranteed to be a great night. Dust of those flares and become the ultimate Dancing Queen.
Critically acclaimed as one of the greatest tribute shows anywhere in the world. Simon & Garfunkel Through The Years, appearing at Darwen Library Theatre on Friday 7th February, has toured the globe extensively receiving standing ovations and selling out theatres night after night.
You’ve probably seen a Paul Smith video on Facebook or YouTube, as his videos have now been viewed millions of times, but try to see Paul Smith live seems almost impossible…until now!
This February, Barry Steele & Friends return to the Blackburn Empire Theatre with The Roy Orbison Story.
Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner has praised the Our Lancashire team whilst visiting an East Lancashire curry club bringing people from across its community together over a shared love of good food.
For these four ladies the menopause was not the beginning of the end, but the beginning of a beautiful friendship where love conquers, and friendships never fail.
Grab your platforms and flares this January at Blackburn Empire Theatre for a journey back to when ABBA dominated the charts and ruled the airwaves.
The Blackburn branch of Nationwide has begun its transformation into a new style fit for the future.
A driver training course which allows 10-year olds to get behind the wheel in a bid to create a safer next generation of drivers, is to launch at Ewood Park.
Head to the Blackburn Empire Theatre this January for ‘One Wild Night At The Opera’ as two of the UK’s leading tribute bands go head to head in a battle between the best of British and the best of the USA.
Celine Dion’s Vegas Years, the smash hit theatre production that is widely accepted as the foremost tribute show to Celine Dion arrives at the Blackburn Empire Theatre this January.
Blackburn College’s Training Restaurant is the number one restaurant in Blackburn according to TripAdvisor review site.
Age UK are asking people to hold a soup social fundraiser this winter time to benefit their local charity.
om the big bands and beyond – Paul J Rigby and the Northern Jazz Orchestra celebrating its 30th year on home ‘turf’ at Blackburn Empire Theatre on Friday 17th January.
For 15 years Middi and the legendary “Wild Murphys” have been playing Irish music to the masses and now they are bringing Murphy’s Pub to Blackburn.
Come and join in the craic at King George’s Hall on Saturday 8th February, when the award-winning seven-piece band covers songs from The Pogues, The Dubliners, The Fureys and The Saw Doctors to name just a few. All performed in their unique upbeat style.
The audience is encouraged to sing along to classics including Galway Girl, Tell Me Ma, Dirty Old Town, The Irish Rover, Brown Eyed Girl, Seven Drunken Nights, Sally MacLennane, When You Were Sweet Sixteen, Whiskey In The Jar, Wild Rover, Molly Malone and many more.
Widely regarded as one of the best Irish bands in the UK, in 2018 The Wild Murphys scooped the title of Best Irish Act (UK) in the LUX Global Entertainment Awards.
This high energy night will have you toe-tapping, clapping and singing along…..just like you are right there in Murphy’s Pub with the thrilling mix of traditional and contemporary tunes.
Get ready to enjoy the craic.
EVENT DETAILS
VENUE: King George’s Hall, Northgate, Blackburn. BB2 1AA
DATE: Saturday 8th February 2020
TICKET PRICE: from £23.50
BOOKING INFORMATION
Tickets are available:
Online here
By Phone: 01254 582579
In Person: King George’s Hall Box Office, Northgate, Blackburn.
Darwen Library Theatre welcome back Mark Thomas this February as he brings his new show ’50 Things About Us’.
Taking well-crafted songs from the 30s to the 50s, from American Songbook classics to Western Swing, overlaid with lush vocal harmonies and hot solos, The Swing Commanders return to the Blackburn Empire Theatre this January!
After five sell out UK tours, Dirty Dusting comes to Blackburn Empire Theatre this January. Treat yourself to an evening of pure theatrical Viagra!