Adelaide Carols by Candlelight 2020 cancelled because of COVID-19 pandemic
The Elder Park Carols by Candlelight – one of the most popular events of the state – has been cancelled because of COVID-19.
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Adelaide’s flagship Carols by Candlelight has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, organisers announced on Friday.
In the latest major public event to be scrapped and in a blow for this year’s festive season, organisers said they could not guarantee safety or COVID-19 social distancing.
More than 30,000 spectators pack out Elder Park for the traditional singing event that was first launched in 1944.
But this year’s event has been scrapped due to COVID-19 restrictions on large gatherings, social distancing and “in the interests of public health and safety”.
It comes as the 2020 Christmas Pageant will go ahead in a smaller format at the Adelaide Oval.
Organisers are investigating a “virtual” event instead but no decisions have been made. The Advertiser is one of the event’s major media partners.
Greg Ward, the chief executive officer of Novita, the event’s organisers, said it was “very disappointing”.
“As a consequence of the ongoing COVID-19 regulations and restrictions, and in the interests of public health and safety, the difficult decision has been made to cancel Carols by Candlelight in its traditional format in Elder Park for 2020,” he said in statement issued on Friday.
“Given the uncertainty around large public gatherings and prevailing COVID-19 restrictions, and the difficulty in managing a large crowd with appropriate social distancing measures, it is clear that it would not be possible to go ahead … in a viable way.”
“(It) has been a South Australian festive season institution since 1944, so it is very disappointing that the pandemic has significantly impacted the ability to stage the event in its traditional format.”
He said a “virtual option” was being explored for an alternative event in December. He said as the event’s custodian the safety and wellbeing of children, families, artists, musicians, staging staff and volunteers was the main priority.
Last year’s was the 75th anniversary of the event. It’s believed to be the first time it has been cancelled.
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