As the cost of living increases and the energy crisis continues, many households will be wondering if they can switch on the Christmas lights this year. However, two of the most popular Christmas light displays have confirmed that there will be no changes to their events despite the spiralling costs.
Officials in several towns across the UK, including Guildford Borough Council in Surrey, have announced they cannot justify the cost of Christmas lights so are either cancelling or scaling back on plans for events or displays. This has led to a mix of criticism and support from local residents on social media.
The Christmas light show her in Nottingham at Wollaton Hall, where the hall is transformed into a winter wonderland, has proven to be a popular event with visitors. In previous years, the light show has used 5km of fairy lights with more than 70,000 bulbs to create the seasonal display. This year the show will open on Friday, December 2, until Sunday, January 1.
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Tickets are already on sale for the event with discounts available for local residents. Despite the increase in electricity, there will be no changes to the show which the team says will be 'bigger and better than ever' for this year. Although they are working hard to reduce waste and be efficient.
Now in its third year, the show has sold out in previous years with more than 100,000 people visiting the gardens to see the lights and lasers.
A spokesperson for Christmas at Wollaton said: “We’re looking forward to another exciting spectacle at Christmas at Wollaton this year, which will be bigger and better than ever with new features for 2022. We are working hard with the design and power teams to ensure we are efficient with power use and can achieve beautiful displays and installations without being wasteful.
They added: "We’ve already been taking bookings since we started selling tickets earlier in the year and we’re counting down to when we start the onsite build at Wollaton Hall in November. We really do appreciate that it’s going got be a tough winter. We first opened Christmas at Wollaton in the middle of the Covid pandemic, so we are used to working under difficult conditions and we will give everyone in Nottingham another treat this festive season."
"Our tickets are competitively priced and we are again offering special discounts for Nottingham city residents as well as off-peak ticket options, to offer more flexibility where we can.”
Nottingham's Old Market Square hosts the annual Christmas market which has a giant tree complete with hundreds of festive lights. Last year, the light switch-on event was cancelled amid Covid restrictions in a bid to keep crowds from gathering.
Nottingham City Council has announced there will be no changes to the plans for Christmas lights this year despite the ongoing energy crisis.
The lights and Christmas Market are one of the highlights of the year, drawing thousands of shoppers to the city centre. Located in Old Market Square, Winter Wonderland is run by the Mellors Group. There is traditionally a 60ft Norway Spruce Christmas tree complete with lights put up in the middle of the square with more than 4,000 bulbs.
Councillor Pavlos Kotsonis, said: “We are currently working with the Mellors Group to help them bring forward a refreshed Winter Wonderland offer this year. There are no modifications to the proposals to take increased energy costs into account - in fact, there are some exciting ideas which, if agreed, will make for an extra special Christmas attraction.."
"Details are still being finalised and will be announced, along with event dates, next month.”
