Lairg winter festival cancelled due to Covid health and safety uncertainty
A popular annual event in Lairg has been cancelled due to concerns over delivering the event safely.
Winterfest was due to be held on Saturday November 21, and normally attracts thousands of people to the area for a day of attractions for adults and children.
In a statement issued by Lairg and District Community Initiatives (LDCI) the group who run the event said it was with a heavy heart that it would not be able to host the event this year.
Kaye Hurrion, the LDCI chairwoman, said: "It is with a heavy heart that the LDCI board has made the decision not to hold Winterfest this year, it was booked for Saturday Novemeber 21.
"We are all upset over having to cancel but with the uncertainty of what we will or won’t be able to do safely. It is impossible to know what if any format would work.
"Normally by July we have booked the Reindeer and the fairground attractions, along with the children’s entertainment.
"I have only had one crafter contact me, by now we are almost full."
She continued: "So we have had to make the decision now, we held off as long as we possibly could.
"We were hoping that Winterfest would have been the communities light at the end of a very long tunnel but unfortunately it is not to be.
"Hopefully we can plan a big party for the whole community next year to celebrate getting through this pandemic together.
"Of course, I will personally write to Santa and Mrs Claus to explain the situation to them, but I am sure they will understand."