Anguish as Anglesey's 'best Christmas event' cancelled with six reasons given
A popular Christmas festival on Anglesey has been cancelled this year. Organisers said the two-day Beaumaris Victorian Christmas (BVC) event has been hit by rising costs, falling revenue and capacity issues.
Regular visitors were left bereft by the news, describing it as a festive highlight on Anglesey and among the island's best annual events. Some enthusiasts come from as far away as Manchester and a few had already booked accommodation for this year's festival.
Previous outings have attracted up 4,000 people, some donning historical costumes, in the hope of getting a dose of traditional Christmas spirit. Sights and sounds include Victorian carriage rides and Queen Victoria parades, with hot chestnuts, mulled wine and toffee apples adding extra festive cheer.
This year's event was scheduled for November 29-30. In an online statement, its organising committee announced 'with sadness' this year's festival would not now be taking place.
Six reasons were given for the cancellation. These included Beaumaris' new one-way system, which will prevent the use of Rating Row for stallholders. This street was used for the event in the last two years and practical alternatives could not be found.
Interior space was also harder to come by. A new community café in the David Hughes Centre has reduced the venue's capacity, while the town's Canolfan is already booked for the event weekend by The Druids Society.
Road closures have become most expensive too. Anglesey Council is now stipulating the use of a professional signage company, adding up to £2,000 to cost, said BVC. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
(Image: Richard Birch/North Wales Live)
More controversially, organisers have blamed revenue falls on parking charges and access restrictions on The Green, a grassed area on the seafront. Although Beaumaris Victorian Christmas is a free event, donations on arrival are 'greatly appreciated' to help with running costs.
At last year's event, bucket collections totalled just £312.67 over the two days. On social media, a BVC spokesperson said: 'This was as a result of our not being able to obtain free use of The Green – and the Beaumaris Town Council charging full rates for parking during the event weekend.
'At the 2023 event we were able to ask for a donation at the entrance to the car park which helped tremendously, with nearly everyone who entered making a donation.'
To some extent, the organisers - all volunteers - have also become fed up with all the hassle. "The 2023 and 2024 events were besieged by issues and objections which added unnecessary stress and difficulties - which affected the planning and running of the event," they said.
Alternative options are being discussed for the November 29-30 weekend but these are not yet confirmed. It's not yet known if the event will return next year.
Apologising to the 'thousands of people' who support the much-loved festival, the BVC said that, in view of the various contributing factors, cancelling the event was a 'sensible decision'.
The spokesperson added: 'Combining the above with the fact that the committee is run by a small group of volunteers, all of whom have businesses of their own, and who have limited free time to devote to the planning, let alone the physical running of the weekend, we feel that the sensible decision is to cancel the event rather than lose money and/or put on a sub-standard event.'
A Holyhead man was devastated by the news. 'Terrible!' he said online. 'It's such a wonderful event and of all I've attended it's the best the island has to offer – it truly shows great community spirit at its heart."
Echoing many, a woman said it was 'such a shame'. She added: 'I've come to see that weekend as the start of Christmas celebrations.' Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
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