The annual Padanaram Christmas Festival has been cancelled this year due to Covid, according to a member of the business association that runs the event — and the town’s yearly tree lighting ceremony may not take place either.

Parks and Recreation director Tim Lancaster confirmed that the official ceremony to light the town’s tree — which normally takes place in early December — will “most likely” not go ahead due to the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the Padanaram Business Association’s annual Christmas Festival normally sees hundreds of families come out to celebrate the holidays in the South Dartmouth village.

But according to Wendy Joblon, owner of children’s apparel retailer Folia, the association — of which Folia makes up one of around two dozen members — decided to cancel the festival last month due to a recent surge in coronavirus cases.

“We are just trying to encourage people to shop early and shop local,” said Joblon.

“The festival usually attracts hundreds of people and for a retailer it was a great way to get people in my store,” she added. “It is a loss of business for sure but it was also a great night to get in the holiday spirit.”

Last year’s festival drew crowds of people to the village to shop, see Santa, hear stories told by the Grinch, do crafts at Santa’s workshop, and drink cocoa and eat popcorn provided by the business association members. 

“It’s a wonderful community gathering,” said Milbury real estate broker Maggie Tomkiewicz at the 2019 event. “People come out from all over, and it’s just a fun time.”

The village has already put up this year’s Christmas light display.