Scarborough is cancelling its ceremonial switching-on of the Christmas lights - because it's too popular.
Ten thousand visitors came in December 2005 - but fire officials say only 2,000 can safely attend, reports the Daily Mail.
So instead of turning families away - or face a compensation claim if someone was injured - council officials have cancelled the event altogether.
Penny Marsden, an independent councillor and shopkeeper, described the decision as 'a joke'.
"This is a joyous occasion when children come out to enjoy the start of Christmas - and we are going to rob them of it," she said.
But council chief executive Jim Dillon said: "A vast amount of hard work by all parties has been carried out in looking at ways of staging the event safely, but we all feel the risks are far too great."