A Festival of Lights concert and market and has been cancelled due to severe weather conditions, the Samoa Tourism Authority says. 

The concert and food stalls situated in front of the Government Building in central Apia is a part of the Government's Lights Festival initiative.

"The public is hereby advised that due to severe weather conditions currently affecting Samoa, the festival of lights concert and stalls for today 18 December 2020 has been cancelled," the S.T.A Festival of Lights Committee notice reads.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused."

The Lights Festival was launched by the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi on last week Friday.

Spearheaded by the Samoa Tourism Authority (S.T.A.), in partnership with Government Ministries and agencies, the 2020 Light Festival is lighting up the town area with Christmas decorations of assorted types and kinds.

S.T.A. Liaison Officer, Su’a Hesed Ieremia, said the idea behind this year’s festival was to bring light to dark times faced by the country and the whole world during the COVID-19 pandemic.

And with the border closure restricting citizens from travelling abroad and preventing tourists from entering the islands, the festival hopes to encourage those at home facing hardships.

However, those plans had to be postponed due to the severe flooding which large parts of the town centre and its outskirts inundated with floodwater.