'Too commercial' Christmas festival cancelled

The annual Wynterfest celebration will not take place in Wymondham, Norfolk this year

A Christmas event that was described as "too commercial" will not go ahead this year.

Wynterfest was launched in 2016 in Wymondham, Norfolk, but the team of volunteers behind it, Clear Company, dropped out of the project due to stretched resources.

This year, Wymondham Town Council has decided to hold "more low-key" festivities instead.

Town councillors have pledged £1,000 in funds towards a festive lights switch-on event, but agreed that Wynterfest should not return as it had strayed too far from the "true meaning of Christmas".

Wymondham town council chairwoman and mayor, Suzanne Nuri-Nixon, said Christmas "shouldn’t just be about commercialism and buying things"

More than 1,000 people usually enjoy about 60 market stalls and attractions such as a Santa’s grotto, a lantern parade and fairground rides, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Clear Company director Julie Briggs said this year’s plans "looked like they may have involved consultations, reshaping, and fundraising that we just don’t have capacity for".

"It’s a huge undertaking for our team of volunteers," she added.

Town council chairwoman and mayor Suzanne Nuri-Nixon said: "Wynterfest has been successful for many years and has grown quite large, but we also know that a lot of volunteer energy was needed for the amount of planning it requires.

"I’m passionate that we do mark Christmas but perhaps not on the scale that it has been done before. I want to bring it back to the core values of community as it shouldn’t just be about commercialism and buying things."

'Set a precedent'

Mrs Nuri-Nixon added she did not want to "set a precedent" and suggested the town council may not offer financial support for festivities in future.

The authority has already called off a long-running Boxing Day parade through the town centre and some local people have suggested it should be doing more to bring the festive spirit to Wymondham.

Resident Tony Vale proposed more funds could be offered or community spaces provided for groups.

"Where Wynterfest scored was that there was an overarching element and potential participants were identified and actually encouraged to take part," he said.

"Perhaps the council could consider covering the cost of hireable venues."

Councillor Alex Perry said the authority would be supporting these organisations with publicity, rather than financial help.

He stressed that Christmas in Wymondham would be "about more than one event" this year.