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03
Oct
No Christmas lights switch-on in Harrogate again — but could town council bring it back?
There will be no Christmas lights switch-on event in Harrogate again this year.
Harrogate Business Improvement District, which is funded by town centre businesses, confirmed the news this morning. But the organisation floated the idea that it might be something the forthcoming Harrogate town council could bring back.
The issue boils down to cost. Ripon and Knaresborough organise switch-on events paid for by Ripon City Council and Knaresborough Town Council, which are funded by the parish precept paid by residents.
The two locations also have market squares that better lend themselves to such events.
Harrogate does not currently have a town council, which means the money must be found elsewhere.
Businesses have been unwilling to fund an event that they don’t feel recovers its costs. A BID press release today about the festive season confirmed this remained the case. It said "there is not support from BID levy paying businesses for a Christmas lights switch-on in Harrogate for 2024". The release added:
The BID team have carried out extensive research with local businesses, with 60% saying they feel switch-on events do not benefit them through increases in footfall within their business and spend.
Feedback suggests that business owners would rather see the money spent elsewhere, for example in additional festive animation such as the Candy Cane Express or Ferris wheel. It’s hoped, as in many other towns across the UK, a future Harrogate town council may pick up this community event.
Elections for a new town council are due to take place in May next year, which would enable it to organise Christmas lights.
But will Harrogate residents, who are already expected to have to pay another £40 to £60 a year on their annual council tax bills to pay for the town council, want to pay for them?
The Christmas stalls
The BID press release said the organisation “leads on funding every single Christmas light across the town centre”.
It added it “fully supported” the return of Harrogate Christmas Fayre from Friday, November 28 to Monday, December 14, which will see up to 50 town centre stalls, as well as the 33-foot Ferris wheel and the Candy Cane Express road train.
A Little Bird Market will also be held on three weekends leading up to Christmas.
BID manager Matthew Chapman said:
Christmas is an important time of year for so many people, so it’s a fantastic way to help drive footfall and spend into our town’s business community - all while offering entertainment through additional elements including the Ferris wheel and road train.
The North Pole Post Office, organised by Harrogate International Festivals and sponsored by Harrogate BID, will again offer children the chance to post Christmas wish lifts to Santa. The BID will also organise street entertainers and the Christmas Shop Window competition.
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