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The iconic free outdoor concert draws a crowd of roughly 100,000 revelers to Cape Town’s CBD each year and sets the tone for the festive season celebrations.
FILE: Cape Town’s annual holiday lights are turned on on December 3, 2017. Image: EWN.
CAPE TOWN – The City of Cape Town (CoCT) has canceled the annual holiday light-up event for 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The iconic free outdoor concert draws a crowd of roughly 100,000 revelers to Cape Town’s CBD each year and sets the tone for the festive season celebrations.
However, the CoCT said there were plans for events that would help boost the economy, especially for local businesses.
The city said it was important to stop the event for the safety of all those involved in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the extension of National Disaster Management Act restrictions affecting the number of people allowed in gatherings. public.
“In addition, it was important that the City take into consideration the need for austerity, given the adverse impact that the pandemic and the subsequent shutdown have had on the economy,” JP Smith, a member of the Mayor’s Committee on Safety, said in a statement. on Sunday.
“The Lighting of the Holiday Lights is the city’s iconic event, which has helped usher in the joyous season for five decades while also providing entertainment for locals and tourists.”
Smith said, however, there was a silver lining that would help revitalize the economy.
“The city is considering hosting several smaller events as part of Cape Town’s CBD revitalization program, the first of which will take place in Greenmarket Square this week,” Smith said.
He said that these events would be organized in accordance with national lockdown restrictions and with all current health and safety protocols.
“We are also in discussions with various event organizers to bring their events to the CBD. As the city of Cape Town, we believe the events will be instrumental in revitalizing the economy in the future. “
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