Traders sympathise as lights switch-on axed again

A stand alone Christmas lights switch-on show will not be brought back, despite concerns the move could affect businesses.

Worcester City Council said the cost of staging a separate event rose from £5,389 in 2023 to £15,058 in 2024. Instead, the city's Christmas lights switch-on will again form part of the opening of the city's Victorian Christmas Fayre.

It is the second year a separate event will not be held because of costs. In 2024, the event was cancelled due to bad weather.

Gift stallholder Beverley Green said the decision was understandable but would mean some small businesses lost a valuable trading opportunity.

Green, who runs The Little Brown Dog and trades at the Victorian Fayre, said having two separate events helped smaller businesses attract customers.

"It is a shame really," she said, adding: "I'm glad that we have got something going on but it does have an affect really on trade.

"We're very small and we look forward to having those two opportunities to trade."

She said the standalone switch-on attracted different visitors to the city and gave traders an additional day to promote their businesses.

"We're losing a day of trading really because it was a separate event so it was an extra day for us," she added.

However, Green said she understood the challenge facing the council.

"It must be very difficult finding a balance when you've got an amount of money and where to spend it," she said.

"The council have got a lot of priorities to think about and it's usually these sorts of events that do have to go because the other services are probably more essential."

Sam Barriscale, from Worcester record shop Spin The Black Circle, also backed the authority's decision.

"I think everyone's running on budgets at the moment, that includes the council," he said.

"So cuts have to be made somewhere and there's still a switch on with the mayor so if they're saving as much as they say they're saving then needs must."

Sarah, from Cornucopia Home and Gift, said she was disappointed the two events would not be held separately.

"There's an element which makes sense but it makes me sad they're not making an event for each of them," she said.

A Worcester City Council spokesperson said a standalone switch-on event had not been held since 2024 because of the rising costs of staging it.

"This includes covering the cost of a stage, sound equipment, safety and security, traffic management and medical cover," they said.

"Instead, a switch-on event was held to coincide with the opening of the Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre.

"This new approach maintained the Christmas magic of the ceremony and reduced costs."

The 2026 Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre will officially open on 3 December, with mayor Tor Pingree leading the opening ceremony, alongside BBC Hereford & Worcester and Father Christmas.

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