Manchester Christmas Markets 2020 could be cancelled

Manchester Christmas Markets are currently ‘under review’, as similar events in other parts of the country have already announced they will be cancelled. 

The news comes after Bath announced today that they will be cancelling this year’s Christmas Markets in the city. Lincoln has already called off their markets this year too.

Manchester City Council is currently ‘reviewing’ if Manchester Christmas Markets can go forward as normal this year. 

This year would mark the 21st year of Manchester Christmas Markets.

Outdoor markets have been permitted to operate since the beginning of June but anyone who has been to Manchester Christmas Markets before knows exactly how busy the place gets, making any sort of social distancing measures difficult to abide by. 

Boris Johnson announced his government’s plans for a roadmap to recovery and ‘normality’ as early as November. 

Manchester’s Christmas spokesman, Councillor Pat Karney said: “It’s common knowledge that Christmas is my absolute favourite time of year and the markets filling our city centre squares is a highlight of the city’s event calendar.

“Of course, the global pandemic has put most major events on hold and as determined as we are to celebrate the festive season in Manchester, our focus must be on the safety of visitors to our celebrations.

“We will need to keep a close eye on guidance from the Government and I’ve been promised an update from Santa himself as soon as possible.”

The markets normally open in the middle of November and run right up until Christmas with thousands of people descending onto the food, drink and retail stalls.

For this year’s event, the council has already been planning a newly pedestrianised stretch of Deansgate as part of the new map.

A decision regarding the go-ahead is set to be announced by the end of August. Civic leaders are keen on delivering some kind of festive events programme, if possible. 

Chief Executive of Visit Bath, Kathryn Davis said:  “It is disappointing that we cannot hold the Christmas Market this year, but I hope everyone will understand the reason for this decision and the early notice we are giving.

“We fully understand the value of the Bath Christmas Market to the city, but public safety and preventing the spread of Covid-19 has to come first.

“We are pro-actively working with partners across the city to create a Christmas event in Bath that will still support our local economy, but in a way that can be adapted as needed and disperses visitors across the city.”