No Christmas Carols at the Bay, no New Year's Eve fireworks and no Australia Day celebration activities.
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That is the sad reality facing the community of Port Stephens as a result of public health orders brought on by the global coronavirus pandemic.
Port Stephens Council said that to ensure everyone's safety this New Year's Eve, there would be no annual fireworks event along the Nelson Bay foreshore.
"In the interest of community and visitor safety, the event that attracts thousands of spectators each year will not be going ahead in line with the NSW public health order," a spokesperson said.
Each year council takes responsibility for managing the public space, in partnership with the police and emergency services, and d'Albora Marinas manages the fireworks.
"In previous years d'Albora has applied for support via the major events sponsorship program however, no application was made this year," the council spokesperson said.
The management at d'Albora would not comment on the cancellation.
Business Port Stephens president Leah Anderson said that that safety had to come first, and that "we have to take extra care with the amount of people that are going to be around (and already here) this year".
While the fireworks are off limits, Australia Day in Port Stephens will look different in 2021 due to COVID-19, with celebration activities at Nelson Bay and Raymond Terrace cancelled.
"In 2021 we'll celebrate our new Port Stephens citizens and annual awards recipients at a COVID-safe ceremony on Australia Day," the council spokesperson said.
"We can't open this to the whole community but we'll be sharing highlights online. We're also supporting the art show at Broughtons, with the announcement of the winner on January 26."
The council said that it would continue to work with Australia Day committees on providing some alternate fun and safe events.
Nelson Bay Australia Day committee chair Doug Cross said it was the first time the Fly Point celebrations had to be cancelled in 24 years.
"The activities take months of planning and we had to make an early decision," he said.
Home celebrations, similar to this year's Anzac Day, would be encouraged.
"We are hoping to distribute Australian flags to householders for display in front yards. Barbecues within COVID-safe protocols will also be encouraged," Mr Cross said.
ALSO SEE: Nelson Bay fireworks herald in 2020
Another causality of the pandemic is the popular Carols at the Bay, an annual community Christmas event organised by the combined churches of the Tomaree Peninsula.
Nelson Bay Baptist Church Minister Pastor Andrew East said that the difficult decision to cancel this year's carols was made following a meeting attended by clergy.
"We could not be confident of running the carols in the current environment, and the health advice about large congregations is clear."
He said that COVID-safe Christmas church services would go ahead at Nelson Bay Baptist.
"This year we have introduced fellowship lunches to be conducted at parishioners' homes ... meeting in small groups while staying connected."
All Saints Church Pastor Kesh Govan said the Nelson Bay church would conduct its COVID-safe carols service on Sunday, December 13, from 6pm.
"We will also be staging our fancy dress nativity service on Christmas Eve at 4pm and Christmas party on December 25 at 10.30am," he said.
"Hope Cottage will continue to run through the Christmas and New Year period and instead of providing free meals we are giving away hampers to those in need."
