The Winter Wonderland Christmas experience begins in Leeds today but faces concern on the popularity it will receive.
The Leeds German market is usually an annual event that attracts a vast amount of tourists but was sadly cancelled in September by Frankfurt City Council.
This is the second year running the Christmas Market has been cancelled due to concern over the risk of health for staff and tourists because of the pandemic.
Kurt Stroscher, Frankfurt City Council’s director of festivals and events, said in September on the event: “Christmas markets are very much a place for socializing in a warm and cozy atmosphere, with Millennium Square the perfect setting for this. This fundamental part of the Leeds Christmas Market’s identity cannot be achieved in a global pandemic”.
Taking the market’s place this year is a new experience called Winter Wonderland which will feature an ice rink, pop-up markets, and an igloo bar all in Millennium Square.
The concern arises over how many people the event will attract this year, Leeds resident Kim Speight said, “I had no idea they were something happening, I haven’t seen anything happening or posted on Facebook”.
Another resident, Karen Armstrong expressed concern saying, “I feel having lots of people in a small space, all queuing up, just isn’t safe”.
Olivia Sykes, a student in Leeds said: “It’s my first year in Leeds and I was excited about the Christmas market but I’ll be going to the Manchester one because it’s a lot larger”.
Alicia Moran, who manages a donut stall expressed concern “They is a worry that people won’t want to come in numbers like the years previous but since they were nothing last year we hope it gives people something to look forward to”.
The Winter Wonderland event end on the 24th of December.
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