Christmas is not canceled in Coventry, the city’s head of events has said, despite growing anger over the cancellation of the annual lights switch-on.

The city will instead host a “Christmas festival” after canceling the lighting over financial concerns.

There will also be a Christmas market and the Ferris wheel, which opens to the public the week before the event.

The festival, which will begin at 16:00 GMT on November 20, will feature “Christmas icons” spread across the city, including jumping elves, Santa Claus and an aerial acrobat angel.

Jon Hogan, the council’s director of events, said: “The council is still investing in Christmas.”

But figures provided by the council to the BBC revealed there would be a drop in spending.

The council spent £226,000 in 2023 and around £300,000 in 2022 and 2021.

This year you will spend £160,000 on Christmas lights, decorations and activities – and save £10,000 by postponing your lights switch-on event.

Late night shopping will begin on the night of the festival, which aims to attract people to the city center and boost the area’s retail economy.

“Using different smaller spaces across the city means we can accommodate large numbers of people, and the Christmas Market will also occupy Broadgate,” Hogan said.

“Christmas is definitely not canceled in Coventry.”

Christmas lights will remain on throughout the city, but one shopper in the city center was upset.

“I think it sucks, it’s part of Coventry tradition,” the person said. “It’s all part of the Christmas spirit.”

Another added that it was like “taking away something that has been part of Coventry for so many years”.