The Lunenburg Chamber of Commerce has cancelled its planned Christmas Concert, Chamber President Mel Payne said Friday.

The concert was set for Dec. 2 at Lunenburg Middle School and aimed to raise funds for the Lunenburg County Health Services and the Victoria and Kenbridge chapters of the Salvation Army.

Payne cited lack of volunteer participation and lack of time to prepare a sufficient show as reasons for the cancellation.

Concert Director Reginald Davis previously cited concerns about the concert and the lack of participation during the rehearsals, which began Sept. 14. 

Davis had recently stepped down as a result of the concerns, Payne said.

“This year we had to put it to bed, so to speak,” Payne said.

“We’ll try again next year, with hopefully 100 percent participation from everybody in the county,” Payne said.

Plans for the concert were announced during a July chamber meeting.

Payne said while unsure of the reason for the lack of participation, he will potentially aim with the chamber to pursue holding a concert the following year, generating public enthusiasm earlier on in the year.

“Maybe make a few tweaks here and there and go a different direction,” Payne said. “I’m bound and determined to make this event work because I think it is a great event and it would be a great event for everybody in the county.”