Harrogate Christmas Market 2020 will not go ahead after officials raised concerns about the potential spread of coronavirus.
The Stray Ferret reported last week that the market would likely be cancelled, dealing a blow to local businesses which benefit from the influx of up to 60,000 visitors.
The event’s vice-chairman, Steve Scarre, said:
“Harrogate Christmas Market would not have been possible without the Herculean efforts of organisers Brian and Beryl Dunsby and all the other volunteers. I know that Brian and Beryl are devastated to have had to cancel this year’s event, but to compromise the safety of visitors, stallholders, local businesses, contractors, volunteers, and residents would be unthinkable.
“I know that the local retail and hospitality businesses really look forward to the market, as it’s held during an otherwise quiet month. Our hearts go out to them, as the cancellation comes on top of a difficult and in some cases disastrous trading period over the last twelve months.”
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This week, Harrogate Borough Council officers met with the director of public health for North Yorkshire to set out precautions and questions for the event organisers.
Key elements included social distancing at two metres, controlling the number of people at the event, and contact tracing for all visitors. There were also concerns about visitors arriving from areas with higher infection rates.
With such an open event on the Stray near the Montpellier Quarter, where people are usually free to wander in and out through multiple entrances and aisles, the organisers said they cannot meet the requirements and have now cancelled.
It is the first time that the four-day event, which has been running annually since 2012, has been called off.
To try and mitigate for the loss of trade that the 180 local and regional businesses which had already signed up to the event, the organiser are preparing to set up a virtual market on a new website. It will also feature local businesses which have supported the market.
Knaresborough Christmas Market will still go ahead this December after organisers found ways to ensure visitor safety.
