Important Announcement: Changes to Christmas Town Schedule
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It is with heavy hearts that we announce Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town will be closed this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday due to Storm Darragh and expected winds of 60mph+. Your safety is our top priority, and while this decision is devastating after a year of planning, it is the right one.
Those who have tickets booked for the weekend have been contacted by email.
Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town is a non-profit event created by Bridge Creative and Baccanalia For Culture CIC for our community and local businesses. Sadly, the best way we can serve you now is to prioritise your safety.
For safety reasons, please do not come to the site this Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. If you have questions, please contact info@bishopaucklandschristmastown.co.uk
Stay safe,
Thomas & Ben
Is Santa and the Meet & Greets Cancelled?
Unfortunately, we must confirm that the Santa’s Grotto and character meet & greets are also cancelled. While these activities were planned indoors, they are still located on-site, and accessing them safely is not possible due to weather conditions and high winds.
Safety Concerns: The site is unsafe to access with wind speeds forecast to exceed 60mph, posing serious risks to visitors and staff.
Operational Challenges: Operating the grotto requires staff movement outside, and the box office is situated in the marketplace. With the entire site being packed down in a short timeframe before conditions worsen, continuing these activities is unfortunately not feasible.
We share in your disappointment and deeply regret having to make this decision. Your safety and that of our team is always our priority.
Why are we closed? The weather looks fine today (Friday).
We understand that the weather today (Friday) may appear calm; however, our decision to close Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town was made based on thorough weather analysis and safety assessments.
- Thursday Night Winds: Wind speeds reached 35mph, which is hazardous for gazebos and temporary structures. Many parts of the site could not withstand these conditions and had to be taken down for safety.
- Weather Forecast: Winds are predicted to increase further from Friday evening through Saturday and Sunday, reaching dangerous levels in excess of 60mph.
- Safe Derigging: Friday morning (10 AM–3 PM) is our only safe window to pack down the site without endangering our team or equipment.
The safety of our visitors, staff, and community is always our top priority. While the weather today may appear fine, the logistical process of taking the site down needs to be factored in.
When will I get my refund?
We understand that refunds are a priority for those affected by the cancellation of Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town, and we are committed to resolving this as quickly as possible. When an event is cancelled under these circumstances, several steps must be followed:
- Safety & Communication: Ensuring all safety protocols are enacted and everyone is informed of the closure.
- Site Derig: Packing down the site during safe conditions.
- Supplier Payments: Working with contractors and suppliers to settle payments.
- Financial Reconciliation: Reviewing income and expenses to determine the shortfall.
- Insurance Claims: Submitting claims to recoup losses, as we lost significant revenue from the cancelled weekend.
As a non-profit event, we don’t have large financial reserves to draw on. Your refund will be issued as soon as we settle our accounts and finalise further support. We ask for your patience as we diligently navigate these processes to ensure ticket holders are reimbursed. Once we have reached step 4, we may be able to issue refunds sooner, but please allow us some time to work towards this. We will keep you updated every step of the way and work as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding during this challenging time.
Please email us at info@bishopaucklandschristmastown.co.uk with any other queries.
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