Truro's City of Lights parade is cancelled this Christmas

Other festive events have been pulled because of the coronavirus pandemic too

Truro's famous City of Lights parade has been cancelled this Christmas
Author: Richard Whitehouse, Local Democracy ReporterPublished 3rd Sep 2020

Truro’s popular City of Lights parade will not be going ahead this year along with a number of other Christmas events in the city.

Details of the festive events which have been postponed due to coronavirus were presented in a report to Truro City Council.

Thousands of people usually pack the streets in the city to watch the parade which sees community groups, schools, businesses and other organisations carry illuminated sculptures through the streets.

However the event in November has been put on hold due to the restrictions around COVID-19.

Other festive events such as the Father Christmas parade and Boscawen Street markets have been pulled too

In his report city council clerk Roger Gazzard explained: “During August one question has been whether we are able to operate our normal Christmas schedule of events.

“Unfortunately, based on current national advice we have had to cancel the following – Father Christmas parade; Winter Gift Fayre; The City of Lights parade and Boscawen Street markets.”

It also adds that with the Winter Gift Fayre cancelled that “no marquee will be erected on Lemon Quay with the Primestock and Made in Cornwall working with the Farmers Market during the run up to Christmas”.

Mr Gazzard added: “These cancellations will result in a significant loss to us which we are mitigating by not producing the usual winter guide and reducing marketing.”

But there will still be a project to light up the city centre and late night shopping will still go ahead

He also states that the New Year’s Eve fireworks displays will continue as usual.

While the City of Lights parade has been postponed for 2020 there are plans for a project which will light up the city during the festive period.

The report explains: “The Towns Fund is proposing an investment in a lighting project which will provide a significant attraction to the City Centre during the Christmas season. There are five late night shopping days planned, 25th November; 2,9,16,23 December.”