Sheffield City Council’s Halloween and Christmas events will go ahead

Sheffield’s Council said there are no plans to cancel any of its holiday events but Christmas lighting-up times will be reduced as the city is facing around £18 million budget cuts. 

The first Halloween themed event, Out of This World, will take place in the city centre on Sunday 23 October. 

Attractions will include street entertainment, magic workshops, TV and movie vehicles on display, ComiCon stalls and illusion shows, and more. 

The annual Fargate Christmas light switch-on, festive market and Santa’s grotto will go ahead, all starting in November. 

A spokesperson from Sheffield City Council said that Christmas lighting-up times will be reduced by 4.5 hours per day compared to previous years. This means the city centre lights will go on from 4pm to 10pm.

The Town Hall Christmas tree will also be back this year but will not be lit up early in the day.

Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, of the Local Government Association, which represents local authorities, said: “Councils know how important it is for communities to have opportunities to come together and share experiences, meet friends and family and have fun together, and will do what they can to ensure they continue.”

Councils in cities across the country, including Leeds and Manchester, announced cancellations and cuts back on Halloween, Bonfire Night and Christmas events to save money as the cost-of-living crisis worsens. 

Cllr Vernon-Jackson added: “Councils are facing at least £2.4 billion in extra cost pressures this year as a result of inflation, energy costs and projected increases to the National Living Wage.

“This includes considering whether certain events should go ahead or not. Councils’ circumstances will differ, therefore it will be up to the individual council to decide what events should go ahead and to what extent.”