Reindeer festival put on hold for another year

A POPULAR reindeer festival has been cancelled for the second year due to concerns regarding Covid passes.

Organisers of the annual Cowbridge Reindeer Festival announced the second year of cancellations earlier this week.

The Christmas festival involves a variety of festivities, including a parade of Santa and his reindeer through Cowbridge town centre, and attracts thousands of tourists from across Wales.

The group said in a statement that the cancellation was necessary due to the “impossibility of being able to police attendees’ vaccine passports” as the festival typically attracts more than 4,000 people.

Current Welsh Government legislation states that vaccine passports are compulsory for outdoor no-seating events with more than 4,000 people.

They believe there is “no way” the event can go ahead this year.

The group also aired their concerns regarding a possible second firebreak lockdown, though the Welsh Government has said it is not currently being discussed.

A spokesperson for the event said: “Unfortunately due to lack of clarity from [Welsh Government] over the introduction of vaccine passports for all events over 4,000 people, along with the impossibility of being able to police attendees vaccine passports once introduced, plus rumours of a firebreak lockdown in November, we have taken the decision to cancel this year’s event.

“This is a decision we are disappointed to have to make but under the circumstances there is no way we can go ahead this year.

“We hope to be back next year bigger and better.”