FESTIVE Friday, Truro’s Christmas lights switch-on, will not take place this year due to lack of funding.

Truro Business Improvement District (BID) says “financial pressures” have forced it to prioritise installing and maintaining the city’s Christmas lights over holding a dedicated switch-on event this year. Last year’s Festive Friday event cost around £30,000.

The lights will now come on automatically this year during the afternoon of Saturday, November 22 to coincide with the first day of Truro’s Christmas markets. The Father Christmas Parade will continue as usual.

Truro BID is a not-for-profit organisation that receives levy contributions worth £322,000 from 362 city-centre businesses. These are used to deliver activities such as Children’s Day in June and the Truro Classic Car Show in July, as well as funding the Truro Rangers security patrols and contributing to the city’s Anti-Social Behaviour Officer and summer floral displays.

Festive Friday has run since 2021 with the help of grants and operational savings resulting from the Covid pandemic, plus in-kind support from the Hall for Cornwall, Truro City Council and corporate sponsorship.

However, BID representatives claim additional funding is required to cover technical and content costs including two large viewing screens, plus safety requirements such as security staff, barriers and first aid providers.

Truro BID Manager Alun Jones said: “Many other UK towns and cities, including Exeter and Leeds, have dropped their formal city centre switch-on events over the last few years due to the cost. In many cases, the switch-on event also had a limited benefit for the high street businesses who have funded the event.

“There will still be plenty going on for everyone to enjoy in Truro over the festive period.”

The Christmas Lights will run for six weeks from November 22. Full details of Truro’s festive activities will be revealed later this year at www.visittruro.org.uk