The organisers of Spalding Flower Parade have cancelled this year’s event due to financial pressures.
Organisers say they were going to be £15,000 short of the £90,000 costs they need to cover in order to hold the event in May.
The cost is the bare minimum needed for items such as security, road closures and insurance.
But by cancelling this year’s parade, organisers hope that should guarantee a 2027 event goes ahead, with a
queen to be elected on March 7 this year to help spearhead the funding push.
“This decision has not been taken lightly,” a statement from the organising committee said. “Following a thorough and honest review of the parade’s financial position at a recent committee meeting, it became clear that it would not be financially viable to raise the full £90,000 required to meet the essential costs necessary to deliver a safe, high-quality parade in 2026.
“Over the next 16 months, the committee will focus on fundraising, planning, and strengthening resources to ensure the successful return of the Spalding Flower Parade in May 2027. During this period, we will need the continued support of the town and community to help us achieve this goal.
“We will be contacting all float participants, vendors, and craft stall holders directly to update them on the situation and advise on next steps.”
“The Spalding Flower Parade remains very much alive, and the committee is fully committed to delivering a vibrant and successful event for the community in 2027,” they continued. “We would like to sincerely thank everyone for their continued support, understanding, and encouragement.”
Spalding Flower Parade secretary Toni Preston said this year’s event had secured some National Lottery funding, but the time will be spent to look at bigger funding opportunities and are looking for someone who can join the other volunteers on the board who can help with marketing.
Robin Hancox, chair of Spalding Town Board said: “We are sorry to hear that the flower parade is not going ahead in 2026.
“We recognise the tremendous amount of hard work that has been done by many people. We look forward to it hopefully being back on the calendar in 2027.”
A spokesman for Spalding Business Improvement District, said: “Spalding BID is saddened by the cancellation of this year’s Spalding Flower Parade, but fully respects the reasons behind this difficult decision.
“We are encouraged that this step will enable the parade to return in 2027, as the event plays a vital role in attracting visitors and supporting the local economy.
“Organising large-scale events such as the flower parade requires significant time, funding, and resources.
“Many charities and community groups face similar challenges, including reduced donations, limited grant opportunities, declining volunteer numbers, and increasingly stringent health and safety regulations. These factors have made event delivery more complex and costly than ever before.
“In November 2025, Spalding BID met with members of the Flower Parade Committee to explore ways to retain some festive activity in the town for local businesses on parade day. However, it became clear that the scale and financial demands of the event now requires a highly commercial approach.
“Spalding BID wishes the Spalding Flower Parade CIC every success and looks forward to further discussions about the 2027 parade in due course.”
Sarah Fletcher, manager of Spalding BID, added: “The Flower Parade is an iconic event for Spalding, and while we understand the challenges behind this decision, we remain committed to supporting initiatives that bring vibrancy and visitors to our town.
“We look forward to working together to ensure the 2027 parade is a resounding success.”
