COUNCIL CANCELS CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
THE Hobart Christmas pageant is the latest event to fall victim to the pandemic, with the popular children’s event no longer going ahead “as a result of stringent Covid-19 event restrictions”.
The event was also cancelled last year because of the pandemic.
Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the news was disappointing.
“But we need to put safety first and adhere to the advice we’ve been given,’’ Ms Reynolds said.
“Based on the requirements needed to run a safe event of this type, it would be impossible for us to hold a Christmas pageant that complies with the Covid-19 events framework.”
Ms Reynolds said restrictions would have meant a maximum of 5000 people would have been able to “apply to the entire parade route” and it would be logistically and economically unviable.
“We had all been looking forward to celebrating the 40th pageant, after it was cancelled last year,’’ she said.
“The ongoing situation on the mainland and increased level of risk associated with the Delta strain have heightened the safety concerns in Tasmania and that has impacted on our ability to hold the event.”
In lieu of the Christmas Pageant, other festive activities will be held by the council, including live entertainment at shopping centres and an event at Mawson’s place to celebrate Santa’s arrival.
“We’re also supporting community Christmas carols events through our grants program, as well as providing a quick-response grant to help organisations deliver programs that support vulnerable people in our community during the festive season,” Ms Reynolds said.
Owner and director of the Hobart Dance Academy Ali Richardson-Hickey said the pageant was an event many looked forward to every year.
“It’s a really enjoyable weekend for the kids to start preparing for Christmas,” she said.
“I think it brings so many people together to celebrate and it’s a very happy occasion.”
The academy had been involved in the pageant for the six years.
“We’ve told the children, they were disappointed,” Ms Richardson-Hickey said.
“It’s hard, we’re in the same position trying to organise a concert, the rules are always changing.”
She said they had already started to prepare for the annual Christmas event.
“We usually just do a little dance sequence as they’re walking through, they love the excitement of walking through the crowd.” Ms Richardson-Hickey said.
“We were going to do the night before Christmas this year, we had organised for the kids to all wear Christmas pyjamas.
“Last year they dressed up as the elf on the shelf.
“We’ll focus on our end of year Christmas concert and making that extra special, given we’re performing to a full audience.”
A spokeswoman for the City of Launceston Lions Club, which organises the city’s Christmas parade, said a decision on whether it would run had not yet been made.