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Aug 2020

Last Updated: 27/08/2020

Harrogate

Harrogate's Christmas lantern parade cancelled for 2020

by Vicky Carr

| 27 Aug, 2020

The parade, featuring up to 200 participants from local schools, has been cancelled because organisers say they cannot make it covid secure this year.

The Christmas Lantern Parade draws hundreds of people into Harrogate town centre

A Christmas lantern parade held annually to draw shoppers into Harrogate town centre has been called off this year.

The Harrogate at Christmas group said it is unable to bring together the parade of local school children safely under the continuing covid-19 restrictions.

Since 2017, the lantern parade has seen local schools create brightly-coloured displays to walk through the town centre, watched by friends and family. The organisers aim to bring more people into town in order to use local shops, restaurants and cafes in the run-up to Christmas.

Group chairman John Fox said:

"It is disappointing that we have had to cancel this year’s event. With more schools wanting to participate, together with more local musicians we just cannot make it covid compliant.”

The lantern parade was first held as part of the Big Switch-On of the Christmas lights in 2017, when the event was filmed as part of a programme about Harrogate's festive preparations. Harrogate: A Great Yorkshire Christmas was shown on Channel 5.

The parade was later moved to be held separately from the lights switch-on, aiming to spread the crowds coming into Harrogate over a number of nights. This year's event would have taken place on Thursday, December 3.

Last year, nearly 200 children, parents, friends, musicians and staff from St Peter's and Western primary schools took part in the parade, led by Reincantation Choir. The event is managed by Red Cape, whose managing director Martin Ballard said:

“We are disappointed that the event is cancelled, but we have agreed with the Harrogate at Christmas Group that we will make the Christmas Lantern Parade bigger and better in 2021.”