NO Christmas street party will take place in Kapunda or Freeling this year, but organisers of both events are hoping to still keep the festive cheer alive.

The Kapunda Christmas Street Party Committee (KSCP) agreed to cancel the 2020 event, after coming together for a meeting on Sunday.

KCSP secretary and treasurer Leonie Boyd said a number of reasons were behind the decision, with the main one being the uncertainty around social gathering restrictions related to COVID-19.

“We just don’t know that a gathering like this would be allowed and even if it was allowed, can easily change at any time,” she said.

“But also we have not been able to do any fundraising and we do not want to ask businesses for sponsorships or donations because this has been such a hard year for so many. We just feel it would not be right.”

The Kapunda Christmas Street Party has been held as a free community for more than 30 years and typical involves food stalls, rides, dancing and music, rides and children’s entertainment, along with a visit from Santa.

Ms Boyd said the committee is keen to keep some traditions alive and has begun to brainstorm ways to keep the town festive come December.

“We do feel sure we can organise the dressing of Map the Miner and we can go ahead with competitions, such as best decorated homes and businesses, and colouring in competitions, extending this year to adults as well as children, and also the elderly within the community and in nursing homes,” she said.

Meanwhile, Freeling Christmas Street Party organisers announced yesterday their 2020 event would be cancelled.

In a statement on their Facebook page, the organising committee wrote they had a “responsibility to the community” to help battle the pandemic.

“Normally by now we would be well on our fundraising journey, but we have not been able to do any fundraising at all and we do not want to ask businesses for sponsorships or donations because this has been such a hard year for so many,” the post read.

“We just feel it would not be right to do so.

“Unfortunately with events that are escalating both interstate and here it is more than likely that a second (bigger) wave will eventually hit SA.

“As a committee we have a responsibility to the community to ensure we are doing everything right to help the battle against this pandemic and follow government direction to ensure the health & wellbeing of our community.”