It’s been announced that Ruddington’s 2020 Christmas Market and Fayre has had to be called off due to continuing concerns about COVID-19.
Ruddington Village Centre Partnership (RVCP) took over the responsibility of organising our village’s biggest, annual, festive event from Ruddington Parish Council earlier this year – and had ambitious new plans to host gazebo stalls and street foods all along Church Street and High Street, along with further food, drink and makers stalls at multiple indoor venues around the village centre. However, despite an easing of government restrictions, it seems the Coronavirus outbreak has made it impossible to get everything sorted in time and has also caused safety worries.
In a statement RVCP writes: “With a heavy heart, we have decided not to go ahead with our Christmas Market and Fayre on Saturday 28th November this year. With public safety our primary concern, and the large numbers of people we hoped to attract, we do not feel confident that social distancing at a bustling Christmas street and multi-venue indoor market will be possible.”
It adds: “With news that the local authority are understandably unable to make any firm decisions on road closures until at least October now, orchestrating such a large event with only one month notice became very difficult. We join other Christmas markets in the region in this decision, and look forward to Christmas 2021, when, with luck, the world will be back to a little more normality and we can revisit our big plans!”
The sad news comes hot on the heels of this week’s announcement from GCR(N) that no further heritage trains will run in Ruddington until Easter 2021 – which includes abandoning its legendary ‘Santa Specials’.
However, it seems Christmas will not be cancelled altogether with plenty of ‘festive magic’ promised around the village centre as well as the continuation of the regular monthly market, now safely spaced out on The Green: “In December we’ll be drafting in Santa’s Elves to help us dial up the Christmas spirit!” says RVCP.
Ruddington is well served by frequent Nottingham City Transport buses from the city – with the Navy 3 entering the village via Wilford Road and going on to Clifton, whilst the Green 10 travels via Loughborough Road and continues to Rushcliffe Country Park at peak times and on Sundays. Guidance on using public transport safely can be found >>HERE<<.
So you can always enjoy a #RuddyGoodDayOut!
