Lockdown restrictions are easing, but these events won’t be held until 2022
LOCKDOWN restrictions are easing at last, giving us all something to look forward to - whether that’s a pint in our favourite pub, or a trip to the zoo with the family.
However, many large events won’t be taking place this year, due to the pandemic.
A huge number of popular events were cancelled last year because of coronavirus, and already this year, it has been announced that many big events will not be happening.
For some, it is because they were set to take place before the restrictions on large gatherings are due to be eased, while others are erring on the side of caution, and a few were cancelled before the government’s roadmap was announced.
Here are some of the Leicestershire and Rutland events that will not be taking place in 2021:
■ Download. The annual festival, which attracts up to 100,000 people from across the world, has been called off because of the coronavirus pandemic for the second year in a row.
The 2021 festival was due to take place at Donington Park from June 4 to 6, and was set to feature headliners Kiss, Biffy Clyro and System Of A Down.
A statement from organisers earlier this month said: “We never gave up hope of bringing the festival back to Donington this June and have been working so hard behind the scenes to make that happen - but we now know it’s not possible.”
■ Heather Scarecrow Festival. Organisers announced earlier this month that they had decided to postpone the event for the second year in a row, citing the ongoing pandemic.
The festival usually runs for a week at the end of July into August, and features scores of brilliantly decorated scarecrows throughout the village, near Coalville. A statement said: “While we appreciate the Government’s road map for lifting most restrictions is June 21, there are so many variables which could extend this. Our priority remains to keep our community safe and we feel July will be too soon to confidently do this. It also costs to hold the event which could be wasted Scarecrow money should we be forced to cancel.”
■ Hallaton Bottle Kicking. The historic event - which is believed to be more than 2,000 years old - has been cancelledfor the second year in a row that the event has been shelved due to Covid-19. Organisers announced earlier this month that the traditional Easter
Monday event would not be going ahead.
Phil Allan, chairman of the organising committee, said: “We do this with a heavy heart but we have no choice. We were hanging in there with hope but with large gatherings still banned there is no way we can go ahead this year.”
■ Rutland Birdfair. Jointly organised by the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust and the RSPB, it was due to take place at Rutland Water Nature Reserve from August 20-22.
However, organisers made an announcement earlier this month, saying that “due to the continuation of Covid restrictions deeply impacting UK and International travel, public health and the safety of our visitors and exhibitors, we have decided not to host Birdfair at Rutland Water Nature Reserve this year.”
■ Moira Canal Festival. The 20th anniversary festival was due to run on Saturday and Sunday, May 22-23.
However, the festival committee revealed at the start of February that it had decided to cancel the event for the second year in a row, citing the ongoing pandemic. The event was cancelled last year for the first time in its 20-year history, but is set to return on May 21-22, 2022.
■ Loughborough Bike and Trike Show. Love Loughborough BID announced in January that, due to coronavirus, it had decided to cancel this year’s bike and trike show, which had been provisionally scheduled to take place in May.
■ Loughborough Car Show. Organisers Love Loughborough BID and Charnwood Cruisers announced in January that they had taken the joint decision to cancel the car show, which was planned to take place on Sunday, June 20, based on the Government’s guidelines.
■ Rutland Beer Festival. Rutland CAMRA announced earlier this week that its 2021 beer festival - due to take place in Oakham from June 24-27 - would not be going ahead.
The organisation said that even if restrictions were to be lifted in June, there is not enough time to get a safe event organised.
A huge number of popular events were cancelled last year and already this year, it has been announced that many will not be happening