FESTIVE lights will be switched on but this year's Winsford Christmas Street Festival has been cancelled.
The annual event was reluctantly called off by town councillors last night due to the pandemic.
Excitement erupted in the town last year as TV celebrities Katie McGlynn and John Altman joined former mayor Cllr Ailsa Gaskill-Jones for a fun-filled switch on.
Katie, who played Sinead Tinker in Coronation Street, John Altman, 'nasty' Nick Cotton from Eastenders and local actor Ryan Gleaves pushed the button as crowds cheered.
TV celebrities starring in Peter Pan at Northwich Memorial Court last year switched on the Christmas lights with Winsford town mayor Cllr Ailsa Gaskill-Jones
Hundreds of residents joined excited children carrying almost 200 lanterns as they paraded through the streets led by a samba band.
It was the first time councillors were responsible for organising and managing the festivities.
Children paraded through the town last year carrying their lanterns
Councillors said they simply could not contemplate hosting such a big event amid current social distancing rules.
Town clerk Mark Bailey told members: "It is with a very very heavy heart that I'm afraid we have reached the point where we need to make a decision. We have tried to put it off for as long as possible the hope that things improved.
Acrobats and street performers entertained the crowd last year
"But is is a very crowded event in a very small space which makes it very difficult to socially distance. Ordinarily our Christmas Street Festival is the biggest event of the year with stalls and festivities on the Old High Street.
"Now with the pandemic we are living in it is just going to make it impossible."
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A firework display marked the grand finale of last year's Christmas Street Festival
Latest guidance from the Government states that there shall be no social gatherings involving more than six people.
The switching on of the Christmas lights is still set to go ahead on Friday, November 27 and will be broadcast to the town via social media.
It is suggested that the mayor should press the button with a small group of people representing the town.
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