Dates set for German market despite Covid
ORGANISERS of Birmingham’s famous German market have pencilled in a return to the city, coronavirus restrictions permitting.
The market would provisionally go ahead between Thursday, November 5 and Monday, December 23.
But with ever-changing coronavirus guidelines and the threat of local restrictions in Birmingham, the plan is not set in stone.
The Frankfurt-based organisers of the market said: “The event information may change due to coronavirus.”
The city council has indicated that the massive visitor numbers for the German market mean it cannot be treated like the other outdoor retail markets that were allowed to start trading again in June.
The festive extravaganza attracts up to 5.5 million people over the six weeks or so that it is present in Victoria Square and New Street each year.
A Birmingham City Council spokesman said: “Planning for this year’s Frankfurt Christmas Market began in January. This is the case every year, given the complex logistics involved. “We are monitoring the situation and any updates to the Government’s advice as part of this process – and therefore details of this year’s event will not be announced until later this year.”
The market is the largest authentic German market outside of Germany or Austria.
Several seasonal attractions in other parts of the UK have already been cancelled because councils are diverting resources to dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.