Planning for Holyrood’s Crystal Carnival put on hold for now

By Mark Squibb/January 27, 2022

The Crystal Carnival hasn’t been cancelled just yet, but event planning has been put on hold due to the current COVID situation.

“Planning for the Crystal Carnival is delayed as we await further developments of the current alert level and public health restrictions,” explained councillor and recreation committee chairman Curtis Buckle during the January 11 council meting. “So, we’re just waiting now to see what the Province does.”

Each February, the town hosts a number of events for the February carnival, including a chilli cook-off, community skates, trivia nights, parties, a Chilly 5 KM run, and more.

Buckle said he is hopeful things will turn around, but that currently it’s a ‘wait-and-see’ situation.

“It would be nice for people to get out and enjoy the Crystal Carnival after all the COVID,” said Buckle. “We’ll have to wait and see how the restrictions roll out.”

Buckle also noted that winter events planned at the Star of the Sea Hall have also been cancelled.

The provincial government announced Monday morning, January 17, that the modified Alert Level 4 will remain in place until at least January 24. A new assessment will be made at that time.

Last year, the town cancelled all in-person carnival events.