While an expanded Christmas market planned for Cheltenham has been cancelled because of the Coronavirus pandemic, the town’s residents and visitors can look forward to completely new Christmas lights this year – thanks to the BID and support from Cheltenham Borough Council.
Organisers say that as well as sparkling during the darker hours, the new lights will bring a gleam of light during day, as golden baubles hang from trees on the Promenade and holly, reindeer, stars and harps adorn the lampposts in other streets.
A new Christmas tree will be installed at the popular Montpellier roundabout, and the BID also plans to put on a range of family activities to make Christmas as special as possible.
Alex Rose, chairman of the BID, said: ‘The decision to cancel was a hard one. We looked at several alternative plans which would enable us to bring the extended markets to town, but the public’s health must come first’.
Jess Goodwin, event manager for the BID and Marketing Cheltenham added: ‘With nearby places like Worcester also cancelling their markets, Cheltenham would have been the only town in the South West and Midlands still running a market, attracting large crowds from neighbouring regions, which could affect the level of infection within the local area and we want to do what is necessary to avoid this.’
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