Boldmere Christmas Festival cancelled over funding gap as other UK markets also pull out

Boldmere Futures CIC announced that the Boldmere Christmas Festival, a 14-year tradition in Sutton Coldfield, will not take place because the town council refused any grant to bridge the £10,000 gap between costs and income. The festival’s budget of £24,000 is partially offset by £14,000 from stalls, rides and voluntary donations, leaving a deficit that the council deemed unsustainable. Local shoppers and business owners voiced frustration, describing the loss as a blow to community spirit and commerce.

Meanwhile, Kimberley Town Council cancelled its own Christmas market, explaining that no suitable indoor venue could be found without making the event financially unviable, and that higher traffic-management and security fees, along with fewer volunteers and stallholders, made the market untenable. In Cornwall, the Fowey Christmas Market was also withdrawn after organisers said rising costs and operational challenges over the past five years made the event “extremely challenging,” and traders will receive refunds less a £50 administration charge. All three cancellations highlight growing financial pressures on small-scale festive events across the UK.