WORCESTER’S annual Victorian Christmas Fayre has been axed for 2020 due to the ongoing Coronavirus restrictions, city council chiefs have revealed.
The iconic event, which was scheduled to take place from December 3 to December 6, normally attracts an estimated 150,000 visitors to the city over the four-day period and contributes an additional £7.3million to the Worcester economy.
Instead a range of festive attractions to entice people to the city centre across the four December weekends will be arranged.
They will include small scale arts and food markets; a Christmas trail for families to follow; acoustic musicians, costumed characters and entertainers. These will fully adhere to the latest COVID guidance from central government.
“This is not a decision that we’ve taken lightly; we don’t take any pleasure in announcing the cancellation of this popular event,” said Coun Adrian Gregson, deputy leader of Worcester City Council.
“However with the COVID pandemic still at large, the risks incurred in allowing this winter event to go ahead were simply too high.
“We are developing a smaller scale programme of Christmas events which will help to attract visitors to the city centre across December, without focusing everything on one weekend as is the case with the Victorian Fayre.”
200 market stalls were present at the 2019 Fayre, attracting 185 coach loads of people to Worcester. The event requires a high level of support from all emergency services due to the numbers attending.
The Christmas markets in Gloucester, Lincoln and Bath have also been cancelled and Birmingham is still reviewing the status of its market.
