The coronavirus pandemic has devastated the Swindon events calendar in 2020.

Many events have been cancelled, while others - such as the town centre Christmas light switch-on early in October – have moved online.

But despite the setbacks,  many are due to return in exactly the same way next year – with hopes high that a vaccine can pave the way for crowds to gather once more 

Below is a list of the cancelled events we know are returning to Swindon in 2021. 

If we’ve missed any, please email details to connor.mountford@newsquest.co.uk

 

Swindon Advertiser:

MFor Festival 

The Lydiard park festival was due to return to the town for its second year on July 25 but was cancelled in May. 

The one-day festival will now be returning on July 31 2021 and retains its headline acts, including Rudimental, Craig David and Ella Henderson. 

 

Live at Lydiard

This second Lydiard Park event was going to make its debut in 2020 and organisers were promising “an event like no other” in Swindon. 

But, much like the MFor Festival, this one-day festival also had to postpone until August 21. 

It will also be keeping its original line-up, including acts like Sean Kingston and Roman Kemp. 

 

Swindon Advertiser:

Swindon and Wiltshire Pride

The annual August LGBTQ+ festival was postponed in the summer after social distancing measures meant the event could not go ahead. 

It usually attracts thousands of people with 2019 seeing more than 10,000 throughout the day. 

Chair Jo Sharpe confirmed the event would return next year. 

She said: "We’re confident the 2021 event is going to happen and we’ll have to come back bigger and better."

 

Swindon Advertiser:

Swindon Half Marathon

The new operators of the Swindon Half Marathon had to postpone their debut race this summer after a spike in Covid cases. 

Although originally going ahead with a reduced capacity and social distancing measures in place, a rise in cases in Swindon meant the September 30 event was postponed until September 19 next year.

 

Local elections

All local elections including mayoral, councillor and police and crime commissioner were postponed by a year to May 2021.