Full weekend jam-packed with festive celebrations
CHRISTMAS lovers, rejoice: Llanelli’s annual Christmas carnival is back, and this year it promises a full weekend jampacked with festive celebrations.
The two-day event will feature a traditional carnival procession with the lights switch-on, a reindeer parade, and a fireworks display that will have low-noise fireworks as well traditional ones.
The carnival will launch on Friday, November 19, continuing into Saturday, with a Christmas themed food and drinks market – mulled wine, anyone?
With pandemic restrictions slowly but surely easing, this year’s carnival is set to be a warm welcome in the town – particularly after last year’s event was virtual.
While Covid passes will not be required for the event, social distancing guidelines will be in place wherever possible and the safety guidelines for the parade are expected to include a request for anyone feeling ill on the day to avoid the event.
The carnival procession will leave Festival Fields, Pwll, at 6.15pm and will arrive in town shortly after the Christmas lights switch-on at 6.45pm. There will also be a fun fair in Spring Gardens with a fireworks display marking the finale at 7.40pm, featuring a mix of low noise and traditional fireworks.
On the Saturday, the town will host a range of unique Welsh street entertainment from 10am onward, including a Sir Tom Jones tribute, Ysgol Y Strade choir and Burry Port’s Cor Meibion. Drag artist Ruby Slippers will also be making an appearance, along with local singer Hayley Paultyn and others.
For those keen to meet Rudolph personally, the reindeer parade will be held on December 4 in the town centre, organised by Ymlaen Llanelli.
Road closures are expected to take place, with Station Road and Church Street closing from its junction with Murray Street to its junction with Gelli on from 5.45pm until 8pm.
Gelli Onn will be closed to westbound traffic only, from its junction with Thomas Street.
Carmarthenshire Council leader, Cllr Emlyn Dole, said: “We are delighted that the carnival is able to return this year and locals and visitors who travel to see this event deserve to have an occasion they can enjoy, however, we must remember that coronavirus hasn’t gone away.
“We need to continue to remain vigilant and enjoy responsibly and by taking some simple steps such as wearing a mask will help protect ourselves as well as others around.”
■ Anyone interested in entering a float in the carnival can contact Roger Bowen at Llanelli Round Table on 01554 750008.