We'll still celebrate Christmas - Square celebrations planned for Garstang

Christmas is coming and the Lancashire market town of Garstang is determined to celebrate - despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Flashback to last year's Victorian Christmas Festival in Garstang. The Covid-19 pandemic means the Festival is cancelled this year.Flashback to last year's Victorian Christmas Festival in Garstang. The Covid-19 pandemic means the Festival is cancelled this year.
Flashback to last year's Victorian Christmas Festival in Garstang. The Covid-19 pandemic means the Festival is cancelled this year.

There was disappointment at the cancellation of the town's popular Victorian Christmas Festival, but new town councillor Richard Dyer wants the show to go on ... in a reduced form.

Councillors gave the go-ahead for work to proceed to set up a socially distanced Covid secure mini celebration event each Saturday in December in the run up to Christmas in the town's Cherestanc Square.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In a report to this week's town council Coun Dyer said: " Although the Victorian Fayre is cancelled and Covid19 is ever present, the market town working group is eager that Christmas is not cancelled in Garstang."

Cherestanc Square in Garstang - where it's hoped to hold scaled down celebrations to put Garstang shoppers in the Christmas moodCherestanc Square in Garstang - where it's hoped to hold scaled down celebrations to put Garstang shoppers in the Christmas mood
Cherestanc Square in Garstang - where it's hoped to hold scaled down celebrations to put Garstang shoppers in the Christmas mood

He outlined how the event in the square would "allow us to spread some joy and good tidings when we all need it most".

He continued: " The idea is a simple affair, where we provide a Covid secure environment that offers Christmas music, parched peas, chestnuts, and a few stalls alongside lashings of mulled wine and Christmas cheer."

Coun Dyer, co-founder of UK ticket, clubs listings, events and what's on guide agency Skiddle, wrote: "The event would run from 10am until 4pm each Saturday in December and I am confident that I have enough equipment in my own stores to run the event successfully as a donation to the town. Any income from the event will be payable to the town council and would ideally be used for further market town projects as we are currently operating without budget."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Speaking at the council meeting he stressed it would be an opportunity to also signpost the public to the town's many businesses and goods on offer locally.

After being quizzed by fellow councillors about the arrangements, crowd control and how the location of the stalls would impact on the high street, the go-ahead was given for a budget of £1,000 to be made available to meet costs including hire of railings.