Covid has caused Christmas celebrations across the nation to be cancelled despite no pandemic rule being in effect.
Many areas saw festive markets, Dickensian fairs and Christmas light switch on celebrations being cancelled by officials who were ‘over-cautious.
Daily Mail Research has identified at least thirty localities in which events were cancelled, although the actual number could be significantly higher.
Some areas have decided months in advance not to hold events due to ‘Covid19 uncertainties’, even though there are many outdoors.
Organisers in other countries have had to stop planning celebrations for weeks.
This is despite workplaces, pubs, café, restaurants and shops all running as normal.
Parent group UsForThem criticized the cancellations last night.
Paultons Park, Hampshire has shut down its Santa’s Grotto (pictured), to make way for Santa to appear in an outside covered area. This will allow children to have access to Santa “in a comfortable and fresh air setting”.
North Yorkshire’s Grassington Dickensian Festival has been abandoned. (pictured in 2019.
In Bath, the Christmas Market (pictured in 2018) – which usually attracts 400,000 visitors and brings millions of pounds to business – has been cancelled
On November 30, 2017, Christmas shoppers perused stalls in the Bath traditional Christmas market.
Molly Kingsley was co-founder. She said, “These events often are rites of passage to children. For them to be cancelled twice in a row at a point when adults are generally enjoying a fun, normal run up until the holiday period, isn’t just unfair. It’s cruel.”
In Bath, the Christmas Market – which usually attracts 400,000 visitors and brings millions of pounds to business – has been cancelled.
According to the council’s assessment, Brexit and Covid have caused recruitment difficulties that make it unable to manage the market in a safe manner.
Nottingham City Council stated that it turned on Christmas lights without publicizing it in order to deter crowds.
Southend and Cambridge were the only places where light ceremony was stopped. Ely, Ely, York, and York are also affected.
North Yorkshire’s Grassington Dickensian Festival was abandoned to make way for two’safer, more prudent’ markets.
Covid also caused Fleet’s Lions Club charity concert to sing carols.
Paultons Park, Hampshire has decided to close its Santa’s Grotto. Instead of having Santa appear in an enclosed area outside to allow children to see Santa “in a pleasant fresh air setting”.
Slough, Faversham (Kent) and Ambleside the Lake District are some other areas that have had to cancel or reduce their events.