Cancellation of Chesterfield 1940’s Market, Fireworks Extravaganza and Christmas Lights Switch On

Chesterfield Borough Council has taken the difficult decision to cancel the 1940s Market, Chesterfield Fireworks Extravaganza and the Christmas Lights Switch On that were due to take place later this year.

With coronavirus laws currently prohibiting public gatherings and no certainty about what the future holds with the potential for further lockdown measures to be reinstated this autumn and winter, the council has reluctantly come to this decision.

Due to the scale of these events, which attract upwards of 20,000 visitors to Stand Road Recreation Ground and the town centre, this is a critical planning period for the council. Contracts would routinely have been let by now to key suppliers and it simply isn’t fair for the council to keep local businesses and organisations hanging on when they could be focussing their efforts on other events that have a better chance of being held..

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “I understand that lots of people will be very disappointed by this decision. The council really enjoys working on these events and we know how important they are to our residents, traders and retailers.

“The problem is that we don’t know what the future holds, and just as the public need certainty about their safety, the many partners who commit their time and money to help us to deliver these events also need certainty.

“We fully expect these fantastic events to return to the Chesterfield festivals and events programme in 2021.”

The popular 1940’s market was set to take place in the town centre on Thursday 29 October, the Chesterfield Fireworks Extravaganza on Thursday 5 November at Stand Road Recreation Ground and the Christmas Lights Switch On on Sunday 15 November, again in the town centre.