Light and Life festival will not be returning to Harborough this year
The Light and Life festival will not be returning to Market Harborough this year.
Last year’s event at Market Harborough Showground was attended by an estimated 3,000 members of the Gypsy and Traveller community.
While the vast majority of the event is peaceful, serious incidents last year were linked to the event, with the council issuing a statement offering sympathies to residents who were ‘adversely affected’ by the presence of the festival.
James Webb, the chairman of the Leicester Agricultural Society, which manages the showground, confirmed that the festival will not be coming to the town this year.
He said: “The reason [the Light and Life Festival] won’t be returning this year is they want to have two smaller festivals at opposite ends of the country, North and South.
“That way, it will give all of the churchgoers, including those from Scotland and Cornwall a chance to go. That’s not to say they are not coming back next year.”
Mr Webb explained that they would not know until February/March next year whether the festival will be returning in 2027.
Harborough MP Neil O’Brien said: “Given the problems that have come with the Light and Life Festival over recent years, I am pleased that the organisers have said they will not be running it here this year.
“This event has caused so many problems locally that it should not be allowed to return in future.
“Many thanks to councillors who have been helping residents deal with the bad fall-out from this event - they shouldn't have to put up with this, and the council and showground should stop it from coming back.”