A CHRISTMAS market was cancelled just two days after it opened with customers slamming the fake ice rink and “dreadful” Michael Buble act.
The festive event was likened to the infamously disappointing Willy Wonka experience and was axed after it’s first weekend, despite being set to run for three weeks.
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Organisers claimed the fair, in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, was cancelled due “weather conditions” but customers had already been requesting refunds.
Mum-of-two Amanda Wilby took her sons, aged two and five, to the festival with a pal who brought her daughters, aged one and six.
She spent £15 on tickets for four people said the whole event was appalling: “The Santa’s grotto looked like an abandoned train carriage so we decided to not go in.
“The reindeers looked extremely sad and uncomfortable having such a small enclosure that wasn’t big enough for them to walk around.”
Amanda only spotted one ride which “didn’t look safe” leading her son to ask “mummy, where are all the rides?”
It took her boys 15 minutes to do then crafts and then the family decided to leave as there was there “wasn’t anything else” to keep the kids entertained.
She added: “I felt really sorry for the food vendors that were literally stood around doing nothing as it seemed everyone that was arriving was also leaving.”
Amanda hadn’t heard of the viral Willy Wonka disaster but after looking it up said it was a fair representation.
The catastrophic event, based on a Roald Dahl children’s novel, promised a “stunning” experience this February but was so poorly organised customers ended up calling the police.
Amanda requested a refund form St Bury fair organisers after raising concerns over the not-so-festive festival, but has yet to hear a response.
Other attendees slammed the event for being completely different from advertised.
Seemingly AI-generated posters claimed there was an “enchanting” ice-skating rink, “thrilling” fairground rides, and a “magical” Santa’s grotto.
It also boasted meet and greets with fictional characters and a Michael Buble tribute act.
Mum-of-three Carly Petts visited with her husband and was deeply unimpressed.
She said: “It said rides on the advert but there was only a small Ferris Wheel.
“Christmas trees were randomly placed with no decorations on.
“Just nothing to do and so underwhelming and not festive.”
Carly and her kids, aged two, nine and 13, were so disappointed she said they “wished they had stayed at home.”
The failed event has since racked up an 1.3 star rating on Google with customers leaving scathing reviews.
One read: “I personally will not be wasting my time and parking money on this again.”
Another stated: “What a load of rubbish. Don’t go. A complete waste of a day.
“To enable me to post this review, I have had to give it a star – it isn’t even worth 1 star.”
A third complained: ” A one and a half hour drive for a 20 minute walk and some luke-warm “hot cider,” such a shame.”
Festivalgoer Dan Prescott paid £24 to go with his father, wife and two children but, when attempting the ice-skating rink, claimed even his five-year-old daughter knew it was rubbish.
Katrina O’Keefe forked out £16 for the experience and described the whole thing as “dreadful.”
It all took place on Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club, whose chair, Craig Germeney, described the situation as a “real shame.”
The club had worked with the event managers previously and had never had an issue.
He said that the organisers had done the right thing by cancelling the event.
One of the festival acts Lucy Roper-Liggett, who offers a princess appearance, was booked to do five shows over the Christmas season at the fair.
The owner of Lucy’s Princess Parties said she was “gutted” and is looking into offering a show free of charge to kids who wanted to see the princess and for parents who couldn’t get a refund.
Event organisers originally released a statement blaming the weather for the closure: “Due to the weather conditions and the forecast for the following weekends.”
They later confessed the quick cancellation was due to “negative feedback” but continued to pin the disaster on the weather.
A spokesman said: “Unfortunately, we’ve been really up against it with the numerous storms, wind and extremely wet weather conditions during the site build.
“Our fairground supplier has been stuck in the Wales floods and a number of our Christmas market traders pulled out off the back of this.”
The organisers have apologised for any disappointment and said ticket holders would be contacted.
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