More festive events pulled due to virus
A NUMBER of muchanticipated events due to take place in Carmarthen between now and Christmas have been cancelled due to Covid-19.
Despite the lifting of national lockdown guidelines throughout the summer, which had given hope that many annual highlights in the town would be able to go ahead, decisions have been taken to scrap a host of them.
Those decisions have been made in the same week that a second national lockdown was recommended by experts, as parts of Wales continue to be placed under local restrictions. One of the events cancelled is the fireworks display at Carmarthen Park, due to be held on November 5.
Organised by Carmarthen Round Table, it has become one of the key dates in the calendar since it started in 1971, and 2020 represents the first cancellation of the event since its inception.
“The decision to cancel it was inevitable, sadly,” confirmed Mark Jones, chairman of Carmarthen Round Table.
“Fireworks night at the park is a great fundraising opportunity for us every year – we raise a lot of money which is all put back into the community and goes towards local people and local projects that need support.
“It’s a big shame for the town to call it off but it’s the only responsible thing to do. All being well, we very much look forward to holding the event in 2021.”
Meanwhile, two Christmas lights switch-on ceremonies scheduled for later in November have also been called off.
The main town centre ‘switch-on’ was scheduled to take place on the evening of Friday, November 20, but town councillors have decided that this will no longer go ahead due to Covid-19 restrictions, a decision that also applies to the Reindeer Parade that was planned for the following day – Saturday, November 21.
Despite the lack of a formal event, the Christmas lights will still be switched on, and earlier in the year than usual.
Carmarthen Mayor Gareth John admitted that Christmas in Carmarthen will be very different this year, but that the correct decisions had been made in order to safeguard the community at large.
“To continue its support for all businesses in town during these challenging times, the traditional Christmas lights will be switched on earlier this year although, regrettably, the official switch-on and other highly popular events during the Christmas period have had to be cancelled,” said the Mayor.
“Public health must come first and I’m sure that, given the circumstances, people will understand that large public gatherings for community events, even outdoors, would pose an unacceptably high risk to the safety of the community.
“There will of course be a Christmas this year but it will be very different to
Christmases past. The lights will be illuminated on October 30 but will be switched off for Remembrance Day.”
Elsewhere, St Catherine’s Walk shopping centre normally holds its own Christmas lights event in November.
While the shopping centre will also be putting up decorations from October 30, and will be home to a pop-up Christmas Market containing six huts throughout November and December, it too will not hold any events which would attract mass gatherings.
“The decorations will be going up but to follow public health guidance on social distancing we won’t be marking the moment with a switching-on,” said the shopping centre’s manager, John Nash.