ALL outside entertainment which was due to feature as part of the Dunster Winter Festival has been cancelled amid the threat of Storm Darragh this weekend.
Event organisers have made the decision with a “heavy heart” after discussions with police with more talks expected with other groups arranging events on Saturday and Sunday (December 7-8).
The decision comes after the Met Office upgraded its weather warning for wind in West Somerset, the Bristol Channel, and West and South Wales, which could see gusts of up to 90mph.
A statement from Dunster Winter Festival confirmed on Facebook: “Although we are a stoic bunch and ever optimistic, with the weather warning changing to ‘red’ this morning and with ‘amber’ and ‘yellow’ weather warnings in place for the rest of the weekend, after discussion with the police, it is with a very heavy heart that we must cancel most of the event.
“All outside entertainment is cancelled as is the Christmas Market in the Tithe Barn and the wreath-making workshops. We are in discussions today with Quantum Theatre, Medieval Baebes, Homestart and Brian Hoggard as to whether their ticketed events are still going ahead and we will make an announcement on that as soon as we know.
“The National Trust team at Dunster Castle are meeting later today to decide whether or not they will be closing their site. All our lovely shops, pubs and restaurants are likely to be open over the weekend, but please contact them directly if you have booked a special event with them.
“As you can imagine the organising committee has put a massive effort in to establish what would have been our inaugural Festival and we had planned something magical in the spirit of our beautiful medieval village.
“Still, we plan to be back bigger and better next year. I do just want to say a special thank you to our event director, David Noad, owner of Ellicombe Manor Cottages. He has put an enormous amount of work into this new event, and without whom there would not have been the festival in the first place.
“Please share this message with anyone you know is planning to come. Thanks everyone for following our journey.”