Aberdeen’s Christmas Village will not run this year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been confirmed.
Councillors on the city council’s strategic commissioning committee this afternoon decided to cancel the event in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is unclear whether the village, which last year was held in Broad Street, Upperkirkgate and the Quad at Marischal College, will return in 2021.
A council spokeswoman said: “The strategic commissioning committee agreed that due to issues relating to Covid-19, it will recommend to the city growth and resources committee that council no longer proceeds with a Christmas Village for 2020 as planned.
“Aberdeen City Council will continue to work with Aberdeen Inspired and other stakeholders to consider alternative uses for the funding budgeted to support the city centre at Christmas and report back to City Growth and Resources Committee in due course.”
Council co-leader Douglas Lumsden, who sits on the committee, said: “It’s very sad to have to cancel because there are a lot of people who really enjoy the Christmas village.
“But it’s the right thing to do. There’s no way it could have gone ahead with so much uncertainty, and there is just too much risk with the Covid-19 situation.
“Hopefully it can come back stronger next year when the situation is a bit clearer.”