Staying safe from coronavirus at Newark Christmas lights switch-on
The public are reminded that changes have had to be made to this year’s Newark Christmas lights switch-on to keep people better protected from catching or spreading coronavirus.
This year’s event will be taking place in the Market Place on Sunday. It will open at 11am and close with the switch-on at 4.45pm.
This year’s event has been planned with the support of partner public bodies and with the aim of making it as safe as possible to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the community.
A number of changes have been agreed with those partners to mitigate the risk without taking away the excitement and pleasure that many thousands of people have in attending this popular event.
So as not to have one crowd watching a main stage; the live music and entertainment has been split between two stages at either end of the Market Place.
The fairground has also been limited to children’s rides.
There will be no fireworks display to close the event.
Alan Mellor, Newark Town Council clerk, said the entertainment provided throughout the day had also been enhanced with a number of professional street performers doing walkabouts around the Market Place.
There will also be a range of craft and charity market stalls.
Mr Mellor said: “The town council appreciates that these changes are not ideal but it has been agreed that they represent a sensible balance that will enable the event to take place in the context of the risks associated with the spread of coronavirus.”
Last year, the event did not take place with anyone present and the switch-on of the lights was filmed and screened on Facebook, where it was watched by 12,000 people. Because of that success, and to enable people to again watch from the security of their own homes without attending in-person, the town council has again commissioned filming.
A number of the acts will be filmed in advance with highlights of the day itself added. The event will therefore appear again on Facebook, from around 3.30pm to about 4.50pm.
The Facebook link for the Newark Christmas Lights Switch On is https://www.facebook.com/newarkroyalmarket