Events

It will be a warm Christmas, but without Locarno on Ice

A lot of hope and energy was aimed for, right until the last minute, but in the end (as in so many other areas), it was the pandemic that prevailed. However, despite everything, we will not give up. If Locarno on Ice will not be able to welcome the Locarno residents (and others) to the heart of their city during the holidays there will still be a Christmas atmosphere in Piazza Grande. This came from the Town Hall, but also of the organizers themselves of the traditional end-of-year event.

The dates for the next edition of Locarno on Ice, scheduled from 25 November 2021 to 6 January 2022, have been set. © CdT / Chiara Zocchetti

Barbara Gianetti Lorenzetti

18.11.2020 15:50

As early as last June Samantha Bourgoin spokeswoman for Locarno on Ice told us that they had sat with the various partners (sponsors, health and municipal authorities) to understand what could have been done . As the pandemic situation evolved, new scenarios were set up, with the choral contribution of all. In recent weeks, with the worsening of the situation and even more restrictive health measures, it has finally become clear that none of the variants developed up to that moment could be implemented. Also as a matter of responsibility. Hence the decision to renounce a real structured event.

The mayor’s gratitude

‘We are really very grateful to the organizers of Locarno on Ice for having fully believed in it - comments Mayor Alain Scherrer - and for having hypothesized a series of alternative scenarios, depending on the health situation. However, the latest developments on the coronavirus side have made us understand that none of it would have been possible to materialize. And this very reluctantly’. However, the City does not intend to give up. ‘Absolutely not - continues Scherrer -. our goal is to do it in collaboration with the other interested partners, including Locarno on Ice. A definitive program has not yet been set up, but various ideas have been discussed.

Thanks to Locarno on Ice, the heart of the city will still have its own big Christmas tree. ‘It is a tradition that we wanted to maintain, precisely to mark our presence - explains Samantha Bourgoin -. As every year we have identified a fir which, due to its size, should have been cut down anyway. We will install it arrive in Piazza Grande and decorate it’. Maximum reserve, however, for now, on the origin of the tree. More will be known on the day of its arrival in Locarno.

Considering, then, that other events, such as the traditional and beloved Christmas market in the Old Town, have also had to be canceled, the Town Hall would like to extend the festive initiatives to the other Locarno districts as well. ‘One idea - explained Alain Scherrer - could be to equip each with a decorated tree. Or you could also focus on particular decorative lighting’. The hypotheses, therefore, are not lacking and there is still a couple of weeks to put the detailed program on paper.

A look to the future

The City, in short, makes the best of the situation. ‘In the belief however - concludes the mayor - that Locarno on Ice is and remains a fundamental event and that our goal is to be able to return to spend the end of year holidays on its platform’. A desire that the Locarno Municipality wanted to formalize precisely in its meeting yesterday afternoon, approving the dates of the next edition, which will take place (crossing fingers ...) from 25 November 2021 to 6 January 2022.