鈥淭hey Shoot Horses, Don鈥檛 They?鈥� (Mirror Ball Artwork), Blackpool

Set against the sweeping views of Blackpool鈥檚 South Promenade, They Shoot Horses, Don鈥檛 They? is a dazzling monument to glamour, endurance, and seaside spectacle. Created in 2002 by artist Michael Trainor as part of The Great Promenade Show, this monumental mirror ball is thought to be the largest of its kind in the world. Weighing in at six tonnes and measuring six meters in diameter, it's clad in more than 47,000 mirror tiles, each one reflecting Blackpool鈥檚 shifting skies and ocean light in an ever-changing play of sparkle.

The title is borrowed from the 1969 Hollywood film They Shoot Horses, Don鈥檛 They?, a drama centered on Depression-era dance marathons. The mirror ball in the film made a lasting impression on Trainor, who translated that symbol of endurance and showbiz glitz into a permanent feature on the promenade.

Designed to rotate slowly, the artwork transforms sunlight by day and artificial light by night into a kinetic, kaleidoscopic experience鈥攍ike a dance floor that never ends. It stands as a playful yet poignant nod to Blackpool鈥檚 long-standing relationship with entertainment, performance, and spectacle.

As part of the two-kilometer-long Great Promenade Show, the mirror ball is one of several large-scale artworks by both emerging and established artists, turning the seafront into a vibrant open-air gallery. It鈥檚 not just an art installation鈥攊t鈥檚 a celebration of Blackpool鈥檚 legacy and love for theatrical flair.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Blackpool. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: 鈥淭hey Shoot Horses, Don鈥檛 They?鈥� (Mirror Ball Artwork)
Sight Location: Blackpool, England (See walking tours in Blackpool)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Blackpool's Great Promenade

Walking Tours in Blackpool, England

Create Your Own Walk in Blackpool

Creating your own self-guided walk in Blackpool is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Blackpool's Great Promenade

Blackpool's Great Promenade, a vibrant stretch of coastal pathway, is an interesting area to explore. Here you will find a plethora of attractions and sights to behold complete with several amusement parks.

One of the iconic landmarks along this promenade is the Blackpool South Pier, emphasizing adrenaline-producing entertainment, a tradition maintained since 1893. Nearby, Pleasure Beach... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles

Blackpool Introduction Walking Tour

Between the Ribble and Wyre rivers on the west coast of England was a strip of sandy beach seven miles long. It was a pleasant place, where streams would run through peat bogs before emptying into the sea, turning the water dark. People called the place "Black Pool." Since early days, folks sought the benefits of fresh sea air and water.

Blackpool became a tourist magnet in the 1840s.... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles

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