Breaking News in Blackburn
Stay informed with the most pressing and breaking stories from Blackburn. From major events to urgent updates, find it here.

Festive Fun at East Lancashire Hospice Christmas Fayre
East Lancashire Hospice invites you to its Christmas Fayre on Sunday 16th November — a festive family event filled with gifts, crafts, treats, and Santa’s Grotto, supporting local hospice care.

Blackburn’s Outdoor Action Nominated for National Award
Blackburn-based Outdoor Action Ltd has been nominated for Best Online Retailer in the Great Outdoors Reader Awards 2025 — celebrating local passion for adventure and community spirit.

Festive Fun at East Lancashire Hospice Christmas Fayre
East Lancashire Hospice invites you to its Christmas Fayre on Sunday 16th November — a festive family event filled with gifts, crafts, treats, and Santa’s Grotto, supporting local hospice care.

Blackburn’s Outdoor Action Nominated for National Award
Blackburn-based Outdoor Action Ltd has been nominated for Best Online Retailer in the Great Outdoors Reader Awards 2025 — celebrating local passion for adventure and community spirit.

Over 30 events this week across Blackburn & Darwen – from Remembrance Day tributes to art, music, theatre, and festive celebrations. Discover everything happening 10–16 November 2025.

Blackburn Empire Theatre’s volunteers have been named Group of the Year at the 2025 Community Volunteer Awards, honouring more than two decades of dedication to local arts and culture.
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Older Blackburn News
Did you miss out? Here are some of the older stories and news about Blackburn and Darwen

Spies, Secrets and Lies – Cold War Drama Comes to Blackburn Empire
This November, Blackburn Drama Club brings suspense and intrigue to the Blackburn Empire Theatre with their latest production, Pack of Lies.

£20m Pride in Place plan sets out vision for future investment in Darwen
A £20 million Pride in Place plan has been unveiled for Darwen, setting out priorities for investment in the town centre, parks, skills, and community projects over the next decade.

What’s On in Blackburn: Monday 3 – Sunday 9 November 2025
What’s happening in Blackburn & Darwen this week? From Remembrance services and 1940s variety shows to community choir performances, spiritual experiences under Gaia, and candlelit concerts — it’s a week full of reflection, remembrance and inspiration.
Blackburn News Archive
All the archived stories from Blackburn Life – News about Blackburn and Darwen
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!
Still lots of time to catch a Panto for some Family Festive Fun – with our What’s On Guide for the week beginning 23rd December 2019
It’s been an amazing 12 months for this local band – come and see what all the fuss is about at King George’s Hall this December!
Buster Bloodvessel has been fronting Bad Manners for over 40 years and shows no sign of stopping. Start your Christmas celebrations early at King George’s Hall this December!
Performing songs from the album, Steeltown as well as the classic hits and live favourites, Big Country will be live at King George’s Hall this week.

Blackburn Market begins its Twilight Market this week. The weekly event runs every Thursday from 5th December

The Godfather of modern stand-up returns! Ben Elton is back on the road with an all new stand-up show. His new show promises to try and make sense of a world
As we head towards the festive season again, Blackburn Life and What’s On Blackburn bring you the definitive guide to opening times for Christmas 2019 and the New Year.
Darwen Library Theatre will host Olivier Award-winning British producer and actor, Guy Masterson, for his brilliant solo performance of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on Thursday 28th November.

More than 30 years ago, Ben Elton exploded into the national consciousness hosting Channel 4’s groundbreaking Saturday Live.
This November, Darwen Library Theatre hosts ‘Cash and Carter, Together’, a touring tribute to Johnny Cash and June Carter.
Pop icon, Adam Ant performs his landmark, solo album Friend Or Foe LIVE in its entirety, this November at King George’s Hall.
Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of The Jam’s 4th studio album ‘Setting Sons’, From the Jam bring The Jam’s greatest hits to King George’s Hall this November.
This November, Blackburn Empire Theatre are proud to welcome Coldplace: a tribute formed by Coldplay fans, for Coldplay fans.
Special commemorations are set to take place across the borough to mark Remembrance Day. Residents are invited to join the Royal British Legion and Blackburn with Darwen Council at services
The HEADLINE sponsor for the Blackburn Cathedral Flower Festival, which returns in 2020, has been announced.
Family company and nationally respected home furnishing specialists, Plumbs, will be the lead sponsor for the Festival which takes place from 17th to 21st June 2020.
This November, star of Comedy Central at the Comedy Store, Josh (BBC3) and co-writer and star of Radio 4’s Small Scenes, Henry Paker bring his latest show, a unique mixture

With Guy Fawkes night just around the corner, we have lined up our guide to bonfires that are open to the public to help you have a safe night.

This November, Blackburn Empire Theatre welcomes Pete McCall as Rod Stewart, plus his five piece band with The Rod Stewart Songbook.
Blackburn Life are grateful to Blackburn Town Centre businesses who are supporting our campaign to raise the profile of the Poppy Appeal in the town. The silhouette images of a
This November, The Alarm lead singer and songwriter, Mike Peters, will present The Alarm – Hurricane of Change 30th Anniversary Acoustic Tour at Darwen Library Theatre.
This November head to Blackburn Empire Theatre for the only Bon Jovi tribute show you need to see!
Iron Bell – The Music of Pink Floyd return to Darwen Library Theatre this November after another fantastic performance last year.
Gordon Buchanan will be bringing his show, Animal Families and Me to King George’s Hall on Tuesday 5th November.
Stripped back with an acoustic guitar in his hands, Cast frontman, John Power, will perform live at Darwen Library Theatre this November. Having first made his mark on the UK

Click your heels and join Dorothy and her friends as they take a stroll down the yellow brick road in search of The Emerald City this November.
BEATLEMANIA head to Darwen Library Theatre this November for what promises to be a non-stop Beatles party with over forty songs from ‘Love Me Do’ to ‘Let It Be’.

You can dance, you can jive, and have the time of your life with ABBAMANIA this November at King George’s Hall.
This week, Let’s Make at Blackburn Market, Halloween Fun and Half Term Treats.
The Mall Blackburn is promising an unforgettable experience for children this Christmas and the elves are already busy behind the scenes.