The popular Zombie Crawl parade in Newquay has been cancelled due to Storm Austen.
Organisers have announced the decision this morning (Thursday), saying the safety of residents, visitors, performers and event staff must come first as heavy rain and strong winds are expected to affect Cornwall over the weekend.
The cancellation affects Saturday’s outdoor Zombie Crawl, which forms a major part of the annual Halloween celebrations in the town.
However, despite the setback, organisers have stressed that many of the event’s free family-friendly activities will still go ahead across Newquay.
Visitors will still be able to enjoy a packed programme of Halloween entertainment, including Karaoke, Titan the Robot, silent discos and a range of workshops and activities.
In a statement, organisers said: “The safety of our residents, visitors, performers and event team must always come first, and the forecasted heavy rain and strong winds mean we can’t safely go ahead with the parade.”
Many people had asked whether the parade could be postponed until the following weekend. However, organisers said this would not be possible due to road closure requirements and existing events already planned in the town.
They explained that the road closure permissions must be submitted at least three months in advance and the necessary permissions are not in place for next weekend. Organisers added they were disappointed to cancel the parade, but the decision had not been taken lightly.
They said: "We know how much this event means to our community, and this decision has not been made lightly. We're just as disappointed as you are, but safety has to come first."
Full details of the Halloween activities that are still taking place can be found on the Zombie Crawl website.
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