«The debut of IllumiNatale was a magical evening, with many people in Piazza Galimberti and masks fitted properly. Of course someone has criticized, not just on social media. At the “Santa Run” in the afternoon there were 800 and in the photos some were without masks. But as the Technical Scientific Committee says and as it was reiterated in the mayor’s ordinance on outdoor masks, doing sports, if interpersonal distance is guaranteed, the masks can be removed “. Thus says Ilaria Longhi, who is part of the organizing committee of IllumiNatale.
The inauguration of the event, simultaneously with the centers of the Vermenagna and Roya valleys affected by the flood of 2020, coincided with the obligation to wear an outdoor mask: for everyone, on the entire plateau, 24 hours a day , until the Epiphany.
The checks were “soft” with no fine (a penalty of 400 euros was foreseen). Also on Thursday a change of plans was announced, only for New Year’s Eve. Longhi again: «We discussed with the Prefecture, we understood that the night of December 31st Piazza Galimberti would be unmanageable. Especially for the alcohol that is consumed on New Year’s Eve. Only for that evening we canceled the Beat Circus concert at 10pm, the DJs after midnight, the street food stalls. Other shows have been brought forward to the afternoon. We had to consider that a few days ago the event of Gigi D’Agostino for the New Year’s Eve in Fossano was canceled: we would have had too many people in the square. It is useless to risk it. Different for the other events: they are outdoors, in safety, designed to bring people and accompany shopping. What if we end up in the orange zone? Nothing changes for outdoor events, while those indoors, such as workshops for children at the museum, could be canceled ».
Another great event of «IllumiNatale» is scheduled for tomorrow: at 9 pm in Piazza Galimberti there will be the air show of the French «TransExpress», dancing evolutions of 8 artists under a giant flower 50 meters high. It is the show that opened the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and the celebrations of Matera, European capital of culture in 2019: many will arrive to attend, the show is free.
Giorgio Chiesa, confirmed at the top of the provincial hoteliers association, president of We Cuneo, which is part of the organizing committee of “IllumiNatale”: “The first evening it worked, the people of Cuneo must know that there are advertisements for IllumiNatale in the railway stations of high speed from Bologna to Rome, from Turin to Venice. The event is a promotion of the city. I understand the comments on social media for gatherings, but respect is needed for those who organized and invested in shows and lights. The tightrope walker we were waiting for Thursday, due to an injury, did not show up and we replaced him: things that happen. What counts is the fact that investments are being made in promoting Cuneo on a national level. Thus tourism, commerce and the whole city benefit.