The Victorian Christmas Market scheduled for Nov. 27-29 has been cancelled due to rising numbers of cases of COVID-19 in the region and P.E.I.'s withdrawal from the Atlantic bubble earlier in the week.
"In light of the current COVID-19 climate in Atlantic Canada and the recommendation to severely reduce our festive programming from the Department of Public Health, we couldn’t find a balance with how we could go ahead with the market in keeping with those recommendations without taking the integrity and the heart out of the annual tradition," stated a news release from Discover Charlottetown, which was organizing the market with the Confederation Court Mall.
While the market is cancelled, Discover Charlottetown said there would still be Christmas programming in the downtown over the weekend, including stilt walkers, horse and wagon rides, carollers and wine tastings.
"We encourage everyone to get out and support our local retailers and restaurants who have worked so hard to safely operate, to check out our Whoville-Inspired Christmas Town along the Confederation Centre Plaza and Victoria Row, and to consider planning a staycation at one of our lovely accomodations who have some incredible holiday rates," stated the release.
Those who wish to support the vendors who would have taken part in the market can obtain a list from Downtown Charlottetown, which is also looking at the possibility of holding pop-up markets at the Confederation Court Mall and at Founders’ Food Hall and Market.