Beaumaris Victorian Christmas cancelled

A popular Anglesey festival is cancelled this year due to rising costs, revenue declines and space limits

Beaumaris Victorian Christmas cancelled amid rising costs and space constraints

Beaumaris Victorian Christmas, a two‑day festival that drew crowds for carriage rides and seasonal treats, has been cancelled for this year. Organisers cited six reasons including the new one‑way system in Beaumaris blocking Rating Row, limited interior space due to a new community cafe and a booked Canolfan, and higher road‑closure costs billed by the council.

The Green on the seafront, where donations help fund the weekend, is not freely available anymore and parking charges have reduced contributions. The event typically attracts up to 4,000 people; last year the bucket collection raised about £312 over two days. Organisers, all volunteers, say the workload and tensions around planning have become too much and are considering alternatives for the weekend, but no decision about next year has been announced.

The cancellation exposes how small, volunteer‑run events depend on a fragile mix of policy, space and public generosity. A traffic plan and limited venues collide with a culture that prizes tradition and communal gathering. If towns want to protect local heritage, they must consider how rules and costs affect the capacity to host such gatherings. A sustainable path could involve clearer support from local government, flexible use of spaces, and a plan that balances the heritage appeal with practical constraints. The choice to pause also invites a broader conversation about the kind of community experience a small town wants to finance and how to keep it affordable for residents and visitors alike.

Highlights

The future of Beaumaris Victorian Christmas will hinge on how the community and authorities address cost and access together