IT will be Silent Nightin Perth this Christmas, with the popular Carols by Candlelight at Langley Park cancelled because of a lack of sponsorship.

A funding shortfall of $290,000 meant the event’s organiser for the past three years, Variety WA, made the decision to can the carols after naming-rights sponsor IGA withdrew and another one couldn’t be secured. The only sponsor to recommit to the 2018 event was the City of Perth, which renewed its $60,000 donation.

Variety WA chief executive Tony Hume said a deal couldn’t be reached despite talks with a wide range of corporates, the City of Perth, Lotterywest and the WA Symphony Orchestra. He did not believe it was the role of a children’s charity to bankroll such an event.

“We understand that the current economic climate has forced many businesses to re-examine their giving capacity. We had to consider whether we were in a position to underwrite the event, or whether we should instead be directing those funds to help children with needs in WA,” he said. “In the end, we took the very difficult decision that we could not afford to continue to run Carols by Candlelight in its current form and we are very disappointed to have had to make this choice.”

Asked if a glimmer of hope remained that a company or benefactor could come to the rescue, Mr Hume said “you never say never” but time was fast running out to bring all the required infrastructure and headline acts together. The City of Perth is considering staging a scaled-down carols event, but is offering no guarantees. Mr Hume believed the public would understand Variety WA needed to focus on its core role of helping sick, disadvantaged and special needs children.

He said if the City hosted a smaller event, Variety WA would do whatever it could to support it.

“For major sponsors there’s good exposure, it’s that time of year when families get together ... it’s a feel-good event and Christmas is a magical time. We were happy to be associated with it but can’t compromise what we do,” Mr Hume said.

Last year’s Carols by Candlelight was scrapped at the 11th hour due to stormy weather. In 2016, 20,000 people attended when the event became free. Though some suburban councils stage their own carols, Perth is now the only mainland capital not to have a major Carols by Candlelight event.

This year was to have been the 74th carols. The Sunday Times remains a media partner of Variety WA.

City of Perth chair commissioner Eric Lumsden said Variety’s news was regrettable but the council was not in the position to add funding.

“In spite of the City’s best efforts, it is not in a position to meet the $290,000 gap in funding, required for Variety WA to host the event. The City is exploring options to present a smaller carols event,” he said.

Premier Mark McGowan thanked Variety WA for organising the carols for the past three years. “I’m confident the City of Perth will make sure the Christmas spirit is alive and well,” he said.