The organizers of two distinct Christmas festivities have called off their scheduled celebrations for this weekend, citing Storm Bert as the reason. Both Chelmsford’s Christmas lights switch-on and the Christmas Time at Canvey Seafront event have been withdrawn from the schedule. The Met Office has indicated that Storm Bert is expected to deliver powerful winds, substantial rainfall, and snowfall across various regions of the UK. Statements issued online by the event organizers conveyed apologies to local residents. The team behind the Chelmsford event stated: “Although our event won’t now go ahead on Sunday, Chelmsford’s lights will be switched on over the weekend when it is safe to do so.” Nevertheless, the scheduled arts and crafts market is slated for an indoor relocation to The Meadows. The organizers expressed their disappointment regarding the absence of a switch-on event this year, but added that they “can’t wait to be back in 2025 to make next year’s event our biggest yet”. The Canvey event was originally planned to feature Christmas lights and live entertainment. A spokesperson commented: “Unfortunately, due to the extremely bad weather conditions this weekend, we have had no choice but to cancel our Christmas event.” They further added: “We understand how disappointing this news is, and we are truly sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.” Individuals unable to attend the rescheduled date, which is expected to be announced next week, will be eligible for refunds. For updates on Essex news, follow BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available. Post navigation Woking’s Victoria Way closure extended into mid-January due to storm damage River Nene Under Severe Flood Warning