The Spalding Flower Parade will not take place in 2026, the organisers have announced, as they look to take more time to ensure they raise the £90,000 needed to put on the event.
The volunteers who make up the parade committee say it ‘would not be financially viable’ to put on this year’s event.
The Voice understands organisers were expecting to be around £15,000 short of what they’d need to cover the costs of legal requirements needed for the event to take place, so have decided to delay to ensure they can afford to hold one in 2027.
“The Spalding Flower Parade Committee regret to announce that the 2026 Spalding Flower Parade, scheduled to take place on May 9 and 10, 2026, will not go ahead and will instead be deferred to May 8 and 9, 2027.
“This decision has not been taken lightly. 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.
“We are pleased to confirm that the parade theme for 2027 will remain ‘countries of the world’.
“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 committee do say they’re looking to put on a fundraising event in August and will continue with the regular quiz and bingo nights.
A Go Fund Me has also been launched for the 2027 event which can be found at https://gofund.me/b35dde7e2
One thing that will be going ahead is the crowning of a flower queen and their deputy who it is hoped will lead the fundraising drive for the 2027 event. That takes place on March 7.
“The successful candidates will serve throughout 2026 and 2027, attending fundraising events and supporting preparations for the 2027 parade,” a spokesman said.
The group are also looking for a volunteer to join the committee in a marketing role.
“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.”
Anyone interested in volunteering or helping the Spalding Flower Parade is asked to contact [email protected]
