Santa’s on tour as big day looms ever closer

FATHER Christmas and his sleigh will be touring Cardiff during the next couple of weeks in the countdown to the big day.

He arrived in Llandaff last week to help kickstart the festive season in the suburb.

Santa’s Sleigh Tour of the Welsh capital is arranged by his helpers at Cardiff Round Table, and will see him stop off in different areas of the city to meet local children.

On Wednesday, he was the special guest at the lights switch-on on Llandaff High Street.

Volunteers from Cardiff Round Table organise the event to give families a chance to meet Father Christmas and his elves and receive some free goodies.

This week, he will be visiting Whitchurch and Llandaff North tomorrow to see if youngsters have been naughty or nice this year, before heading to Rhiwbina on Wednesday, Roath and Birchgrove on Thursday and Ely on Sunday.

Next week, the sleigh will tour Penylan on Monday, Llanedeyrn and Pentwyn on Tuesday before finishing with a visit to Radyr, Danescourt and Fairwater on Wednesday.

As a volunteer-organised event, the Round Table says Santa Sleigh would not be possible without the help and support of local businesses around Cardiff.

For many years, Big Yellow Cardiff has supported the event by providing free storage for the sleigh.

Another local business that has helped to make Christmas magical this year is Tanner’s Cardiff, by providing Cardiff Round Table with a fleet of trucks to be used by the volunteers to take the sleigh around Cardiff.

Equipping the volunteer team with three trucks, all ranging in “reindeer power”, they act as the perfect replacement while Rudolf and his friends get some rest ready for their big night.

Jeff Barry from Cardiff Round Table said: “Santa Sleigh is a perfect opportunity for the Cardiff Round Table team to get involved with the community.

“Our large fundraising event, Sparks in the Park, enables us to fund activities like this and help the local areas celebrate Christmas, along with hosting lesser-known events like the senior citizens Christmas lunch.

“Without the support of the local community, events like this wouldn’t be possible.

“We thoroughly enjoy being able to provide these sleigh runs for the city and think it’s a perfect way to celebrate the Christmas season.

“This year, the Cardiff Round Table volunteers have built a new sleigh, so we would love to encourage more people to come out and see Santa.”