Our beloved Sheffield Christmas market is set to take place despite coronavirus

Don’t worry Sheff students, Christmas isn’t ruined yet


Sheffield’s annual Christmas markets are still set to take place this year, despite the ongoing global pandemic.

Many festive celebrations across the country have already been cancelled and postponed until 2021, but Sheffield believes that their markets will still go ahead.

In line with government guidelines, the Sheffield Christmas market will follow a new layout design across the city centre to ensure social distancing is maintained.

This will keep the stall owners and the general public safe when visiting.

The markets are set to open on November 12 and run all the way up to Christmas Eve. They will be open from 10 am-6 pm Sunday to Thursday and 10 am-8 pm on Friday and Saturdays.

Popular attractions such as the Alpine Bar, Santa’s Grotto and the big wheel will be returning this year.

Earlier this week, Chatsworth House cancelled their 2020 Christmas Market event after the Prime Minister’s new ‘rule of six’.

On their website, they wrote: “Our main priority remains the health and wellbeing of our visitors, colleagues, exhibitors and partners, and this decision reflects that.

“We have been working closely with our partners in the local planning department, as well as our internal stakeholders, to assess if we could have run the market without compromising safety or the quality of the event. Unfortunately, we do not feel this is possible in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.

“We hope to welcome everyone back in 2021, when we aim to make the Chatsworth Christmas market even more special.”

Leeds have also cancelled their festive markets due to COVID-19. Nonetheless, Sheffield’s Christmas Markets are still to run.

Spokesman Julie Wilson told The Star: “We are planning to go ahead with the Christmas market,  obviously continuing to monitor government guidelines and we will be changing the footprint to help with social distancing.”

Let’s just hope, for all students’ sakes, that the Sheffield Christmas Markets do take place. Coronavirus may have plans to ruin our university year, but we won’t be letting it ruin our Christmas.

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