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🇧🇪 Belgium /Disasters & Emergencies

Lier Summer Fair Canceled Due to Extreme Heat

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • The city of Lier has canceled its summer fair, scheduled for June 27-28, due to extreme heat forecasts.
  • Several animators and vendors had already withdrawn due to the high temperatures, including Studio 100 characters like Bumba.
  • The event will be rescheduled for later in the summer, with a new date to be determined soon.

Lier has canceled its upcoming summer fair, originally set for Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28, citing the persistent extreme heat. The decision was made after numerous animators and vendors indicated they would not participate due to the dangerous temperatures.

Concerns were initially raised by local merchants who feared low attendance amid the heatwave. Additionally, Studio 100, a company that provides popular children's characters for the event, informed the city that their costumed performers, including the character Bumba, could not operate in temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius for safety reasons. "Our characters don't come above 30 degrees because Bumba can't survive that," Mayor Rik Verwaest (N-VA) explained.

Our characters don't come above 30 degrees because Bumba can't survive that.

— Rik VerwaestMayor of Lier, explaining why Studio 100 performers, including the character Bumba, could not participate in the summer fair due to extreme heat.

In consultation with the merchants, the city council opted to cancel the entire event. Mayor Verwaest emphasized that the fair represents a significant investment for the city and that they want to ensure the funds are well-spent and the time invested by merchants is productive. "We are planning a fair for a time when everyone can fully enjoy it," he stated.

The summer fair will be rescheduled for a later date this summer, with the new date to be announced shortly. The city aims to avoid conflicts with other local events when selecting the new date. Other events planned for the weekend, such as "Lier Feest" and "Zomer in het park," are still under review for necessary measures, while the Thursday evening market and the events market will proceed as scheduled.

We are planning a fair for a time when everyone can fully enjoy it.

— Rik VerwaestMayor of Lier, assuring that the canceled summer fair will be rescheduled.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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