Christmas Wonderland cancelled

THE much-loved Christmas Wonderland event, which lights up the Queens Park Botanic Gardens every December, has been cancelled for 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Event chairman Marshall Cox yesterday confirmed the event had been cancelled for 2020 said the decision was not an easy one.

“This is the saddest decision that the club has had to make in the 13-year history of Toowoomba’s Christmas Wonderland in Queens Park Botanical Gardens,” Mr Cox said.

“The event usually attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the gardens each year and has returned in excess of $1.25 million back to the community through our major beneficiaries.”

Mr Cox said the club’s decision was guided by the need to keep the community safe.

“The safety of our members, many of whom are in the vulnerable age group, our hundreds of volunteers and entertainers and the community must always come first,” he said.

“We acknowledge that the cancellation of Toowoomba’s Christmas Wonderland for 2020 will come as a great disappointment for many but, our decision is to eliminate the event as a potential source of infection in Toowoomba.”

Mr Cox said he also acknowledged the cancellation would have a major impact on major beneficiaries the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation, Toowoomba Hospice and Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland.

“If you’re able we ask that you donate to these organisations,” he said.

Christmas Wonderland is expected to return for the festive season in 2021.