By Press Release
By Mal Butler
The Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival will not happen again this year – but there is a glimmer of hope it may return.
The event, which attracted visitors from all over the world, was held in and around the village for more than 20 years with organisations and charities displaying their decorated trees in a variety of venues. Chris Goodman, who organised the event for 20 years, retired last year, and a smaller event was held at IW Pearl on the Military Road – which will be the case again this year.
However, Chris revealed this week: “I have had an enquiry from someone to take it over, but it’s too late for this year.
“I always had to start planning the next festival as soon as the previous one finished, as there is so much work to be done. It’s something I will have to chat with the person about properly because they need a lot of information and I have a tried and tested formula which worked for more than 20 years.
“I think people really didn’t believe I was stepping down, but I have had ill health and I’m getting on, now. It’s only now that the reality is sinking in; I’m getting loads of email enquiries and it makes me feel awful but it shows how much people want it to take place. It put Brighstone and the Island on the worldwide map. We would get coach parties from across the United Kingdom and visitors from as far as Australia. I really hope it will continue in the future.”
This year’s event at IW Pearl will run between December 1 and January 4. Organisations are invited to contact the manager, Lizzie Wade, who said: “You just need to supply your own tree which can be any size and colour with decorations; the more imaginative the better. Charities will be able to raise money by means of a collection box under your tree.”
Meanwhile, the Yarmouth on Ice will not return this year, despite a successful debut in the town last year.
Hundreds of people visited the synthetic ice rink, but organiser, Mandy Miles, admitted: “It’s very sad. Basically, everyone enjoyed it last year but said that real ice was the way to go.
“We spent a lot time on getting quotes for real ice but it is so much more complicated and so much more expensive – about £80,000 without the cost of a 24/7 generator! I just couldn’t even raise half of that with sponsorship so we decided it was too much of a risk. Never say never, but not this year.
“Having put Yarmouth on the IW Christmas map I am keen to keep people coming, so am planning a late-night shopping day on the day of carols in the Square on December 17 and we are running the grotto again.
“As we invested in lighting for the town last year, it will be lit up again this year. I am also trying to investigate whether we could get any street performers or circus-type people to spend the day with us.”