The organisers of the Rye Christmas Festival have announced there won’t be a festival this year. This community event, run by volunteers, began in 2015 and after a hiatus during Covid, was revived in 2022.
One of the main issues is a lack of funding available for one-off events, as well as a need to grow the organising team, as Sophie Thorpe from the Festival explains. “Rye Christmas Festival team needs to grow to be able to delegate roles and responsibilities, from erecting the lights, fundraising to cover the insurance costs or wrapping the presents from Santa to name a few… Without this the project is unsustainable and unmanageable.”
She hopes to bring the festival back in 2026. “The event is open to a completely new team to take it over, or welcomes individuals to create a new committee. All suggestions and constructive comments are welcome.”
Email: sophie.christmasinrye@gmail.com.
Image Credits: Kt bruce .
that £62k money used on Rye BID consultation could have helped with this
Sadly restrictions placed on how that government funding is spent would preclude this
Thats not true unfortunately as the funds were restricted. A successful bid however would mean there was a pot of funding available for such events as these and would see the town lit year after year with correctly installed lighting….
Anyone wanting to promote their Christmas events can do so on the Rye website on which we are collating information to show visitors and residents that Christmas is not cancelled in Rye completely.
Volunteers, or the lack of them, is endemic for all organisations relying on them! Why IS that?
Because there’s a culture in this country of people being willing to work for free, and on the other side of the coin a culture of preferring to get something for nothing. But relying heavily on volunteers has its drawbacks. Does Christmas in Rye bring in money to the town? If so, those who receive that money should be prepared to pay into a fund (or do some fundraising) to make it happen. You can still offer volunteer opportunities to those who really don’t feel they need payment.
Without volunteers, most of the organisations would cease to exist including the Heritage Centre. Perhaps you’re not aware that Rye Town Council voted to shut the centre and mothball the Rye Town Model about 5 years ago.
The 50 year old model would have been dismantled and never seen again! Since then, a charity was formed and the centre has successfully run with over 23 volunteers, pretty much all retirees.
There’s absolutely no way the centre could survive without them.
Are we appreciated ? Yes, not only by the town but the people who visit.
To answer Janet
I do believe that a lot of the people who do volunteer work are under appreciated and taken for granted a occasional pat on the back goes a very long way.
Too many councillors took it for granted that Andi Rivett would do most of the Christmas decorations on his own, this is a short sharp reminder, if you wish to be a councillor you all have too step up to the mark.
Sorry, so it’s just councillors that have to roll their sleeves up?
Interesting John that you have neglected it is a town councillor who organises the entire event (or maybe you didnt know?) And our current Mayor, alongside a colleague also gathered a team to erect the lights last year following in Andi Rivetts footsteps…..it would be great though for future candidates to consider the festival a staple event to be involved in.
BAH HUMBUG!!!
I was happy to join with four other Town Councillors and one former Councillor, with 7 citizens to put up the Christmas lights last year after Andi had passed on the baton. We went out over many nights, often in foul weather, as a team, with several kindly residents and businesses offering us warm drinks to keep up Christmas cheer. With the oldest team member being aged 75, why not join us this year John? You won’t be expected to shin up a ladder but your esprit de corps will be more than welcome!
Fair comment Andy,and I would just like to apologise to you and others that erected the Christmas lights last year, seeing Andi Rivett putting the lights up on the Christmas tree at Strand Quay on his own,I just wondered where were his assistants on that occasion.
Another unfounded dig at Rye Town Council!
Not quite, it’s a retraction of sorts and an apology?
Seconds out, round 2. May the best man win.
So if you want a Merry Christmas you will need to go elsewhere for the Christmas spirit. I suppose next year will be worse with discounted hotel stays being offered. There are some really lovely places to go for Christmas with festive lights mulled wine etc etc Christmas spirit a-plenty. So all you business owners you expect volunteers and councillors to put in the hard graft to make sure you have a profitable Christmas period. In the words of Allan Sugar your missing a trick here its a no brainer, YOUR FIRED! Put your hands in your pockets to make sure your business flourishes.
Will there be a tree this year? Will there be carol singing in the High St.? Would it be possible to do a scaled-down version of the wonderful festive lights? So good for the spirit (& shopping!).