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Glasgow Elfingrove event scrapped one day after tickets go on sale

itison An artist's impression of the Kelvingrove museum at winter with snow everywhere. The building is lit up.itison
Elfingrove was scheduled to run at Kelvingrove and include a 360 degree immersive projection show

A Glasgow Christmas event in that promised to be a multi-million pound "premium experience" has been scrapped just one day after tickets went on sale.

Discount deals website Itison, the event organiser, said there was not enough demand on the first day of sales to "confidently take the event forward".

Elfingrove was scheduled to run at the city's Kelvingrove Museum from 26 November until 13 December with a 360 degree projection show, miniature train ride and outdoor Christmas market.

Itison said refunds would be issued automatically to anyone who bought tickets.

The news was greeted with bemusement on social media, with several people wondering why the decision was made after just one day on sale.

One wrote: "Most people can't afford to buy things as soon as they go on sale and were probably waiting for pay day."

Another added: "Its a shame you have taken this decision so quickly, you only started advertising it 10 days ago so not a lot of people would have known."

The event was announced in July, but full details were only confirmed this month.

itison An indoor hall with multi-coloured lights flashing across the walls, in shades of purple, turquoise, orange and yellow. itison
Organisers said the event would include a 360 degree immersive projection show

In July, Itison claimed the event would bring 100 jobs for the city, and would be a multi-million pound investment offering a "premium experience".

The event was to feature 24 projectors accompanied by a cinematic score delivered through individual headsets.

The firm said staff had travelled the world for inspiration by viewing various projection shows.

The outdoor winter village promised a bar, light installations and street food vendors.

Council arts body Glasgow Life had praised the event for offering a "fresh festive experience".

Itison previously put on Kelvingrove festive events with an ice rink until 2022.

It also runs the GlasGlow event for Halloween at the city's Botanic Gardens.

However, in 2023 organisers said the Christmas event was being shelved due to inflation and increased prices across the supply chain.

In a statement, Itison said: "Putting on major events of this scale is a huge financial risk and sadly the level of early demand is below what we need to confidently take the event forward.

"As a small independent business rooted right here in Glasgow, we have to be practical as well as ambitious."

It said other upcoming events, including GlasGlow, were not affected.