Countdown to Christmas with great days out
The kids don’t break up until Friday, December 22, for their festive break but you can still get them in the mood for Christmas with the many events that are happening around Wales.And there is also plenty going on after the big day so you can get out and
1. Enjoy a lantern parade
Where: Harlech Castle, Gwynedd, LL46 2YH. When: Tomorrow 5pm-9pm. What: Harlech Castle and the local community are holding a Christmas cele-bration, complete with Santa’s Grotto, a lantern parade, music, late night shopping, local crafts and more. There is no admission charge. Details: cadw.gov.wales
2. Have breakfast with Santa
Where: Plas Newydd, Anglesey. When: December 2 and 3, 16 and 17. What: Step out of the cold, warm yourselves by the fire and sit back and relax while you listen to Santa’s magical Christmas tale.
This children’s event costs £10 per child and includes a story from Santa and his elf, one bacon or sausage bap and soft drink per child, ticket and a gift from Santa.
For adults, the café will be available for hot and cold drinks and breakfast menu. Details: Call 01248 714 795 to book or email plasnewydd@nationaltrust.org.uk
3. Go to an elves workshop
Where: Bodnant Garden, Tal-y-Cafn, Colwyn Bay. When: December, 2 and 3, 9 and 10, 16 and 17. What: The Christmas Elves are back at Bodnant Garden and children can go along and help them with their crafts, and make something to take home.
No need to book, just drop in at the Old Mill. Starts at 11am, ends at 2.30pm. Free event but normal admission charges apply. The Elves Workshop is in the Old Mill. Details: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
4. Have a giggle at the theatre
Where: Swansea Grand Theatre, Singleton Street, Swansea, SA1 3QJ. When: Monday, December 4, 11am and 6pm. What: Father Christmas Comes Up Trumps! is the follow-up familyfriendly musical from the team behind Father Christmas Needs a Wee! this is great alternative to panto or an introduction to theatre for your little ones. Details: Call 01492 475715 to book tickets.
5. Do the Christmas reindeer trail
Where: Bryngarw Country Park, Bridgend, CF32 8UU. When: December 6-17. What: Santa has lost his reindeer in Bryngarw Country Park – can you help find them? Collect your map from the Visitor Centre, make up your very own cup of reindeer food and then head out on the trail to find the reindeer.
Collect a sticker for each reindeer before heading back to the Visitor Centre to make a reindeer craft to take home. Details: bryngarw.ticketsolve.com
6. Ride a Reindeer Rodeo
Where: Caerphilly Castle, Castle Street, CF83 1JD. When: December 8-10. What: Caerphilly Castle invites guests to stave off the winter chill and join in with Christmas activities, from a Santa’s Grotto and ice skating to riding a reindeer rodeo. There will even be a 50ft inflatable bouncy castle to help burn off those mince pies!
Entry to the castle is free, with charged activities. Details: cadw.gov.wales
7. Listen to a Christmas story in fab surroundings
Where: Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths, Newport, NP18 1AE. When: Saturday, December 9, 11am4pm. What: One of the UK’s most popular storytellers, Daniel Morden, will share traditional festive tales.
Admission is free but there will be a £1 charge for face painting. Details: cadw.gov.wales
8. Discover wildlife and then see Santa
Where: Newport Wetlands, NP18 2BZ. When: December 9, 10.30am-noon and 2pm-3.30pm. What: Take a trail around Newport Wetlands and find clues that will help you discover what happens to wildlife over winter.
These will lead you to Santa’s grotto for nature, where you will need to give the password from the trail to get your present.
You can then finish off the event by making a bird feeder to take home to make sure that the wildlife in your garden has a feast on Christmas Day too. Details: www.rspb.org.uk
9. See Santa at the ironworks
Where: Blaenavon Ironworks, NP4 9RN. When: December 9 and 10, and December 16 and 17, 11am-4pm. What: Families are invited to meet Santa Claus in one of the ironworks’ historic Christmas Grottos — a chance to make unique memories with the whole family.
Admission is free but there will be a £3 charge to see Santa in advance. Details: cadw.gov.wales
10. Feed Santa’s deer
Where: Margam Country Park, Port Talbot, SA13 2TJ. When: December 9, 10, 16, 17, 20, 21 and 22, 10.30am. What: Join Santa as he feeds the park’s deer ahead of the big day. Details: www.margamcountrypark.co.uk
11. Go on a 12 days of Christmas trail
Where: Dyffryn Gardens, St Nicholas, near Cardiff, CF5 6SU. When: Until January 7. What: Find French hens, turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree as the Twelve Days of Christmas trail with its unique interpretation marks the start of the holiday celebrations at Dyffryn Gardens. You can also have breakfast or afternoon tea with the elves and meet Father Christmas. Details: Booking not required. Go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk for more details.
12. Go for Sunday lunch with Santa
Where: New House, Hotel, Cardiff, CF14 9UA. When: December 10 from noon. What: This Cardiff hotel is offering a Christmas-themed Sunday lunch that comes complete with a visit from Father Christmas.
The price, £27.50 for adults and £15.50 for children, includes a festive-three course lunch along with activities for the kids, before a meet and greet with the main man. Details: 029 2052 0280.
13. Go to a Christmas Fair
Where: Abergavenny. When: December 10, 10am-5pm. What: The Abergavenny Christmas Fair will take place across Abergavenny’s Market Hall, Upper Brewery Yard and St Mary’s Priory grounds, with more than 85 stallholders ready to help you stock up on fantastic produce for the festive season, or seek out some lovingly crafted presents for friends and family.
For the kids, there will be Christmas decoration and craft making activities, a festive fun trail full of surprises, marshmallow toasting and lantern making for the light parade.
A glittering line up of chefs on the
Market Hall stage will inspire your seasonal menus, with everything from foraged festive trifle, to making the most of Christmas leftovers.
Details: www.abergavennyfood festival.com
14. Have a date with Mother Christmas
Where: Big Pit, Pontypool, NP4 9XP. When: December 10, 11.30am12.30pm and 1.30pm-2.30pm. What: A chance for younger visitors to meet Mother Christmas and find out what’s been happening in the Christmas household. Has Rudolph been a good reindeer this year? Has Father Christmas finished painting the sleigh? It’s suitable for aged 0-5 and costs £5. Details: museum.wales
15. See Santa’s Toy Mine
Where: Rhondda Heritage Park, Pontypridd, CF37 2NP. When: Up until Christmas Eve. What: This is a grotto with a difference – it’s in a toy mine! You’ll be able to meet Father Christmas on a magical “underground” adventure and play in the giant snow dome as well as go to a teddy bear workshop.
Details: www.rctcbc.gov.uk
16. Watch the River of Light Lantern Parade
Where: Caerphilly. When: December 14, 6.30pm. What: This is a fabulous festive parade through the town centre, followed by a spectacular fireworks display above the skies of Caerphilly Castle. The parade starts at Caerphilly Train and Bus Station Park & Ride, then flows through the town to the rear of Caerphilly Castle (Crescent Road).
Participants will be accompanied by samba dancers, jazz bands and dancers creating a sea of colour through the town. Bring your lantern along and take part.
Details: www.caerphilly.gov.uk
17. Have a very Victorian Christmas
Where: Castell Coch, Cardiff, Tongwynlais, CF15 7JS. When: December 16 and 17, 11am4pm. What: Castell Coch gets ready to celebrate Christmas in Victorian style with storytelling and Christmas crafts. There will even be a chance to meet Santa in the drawing room.
Normal admission applies. There will be an extra £3 charge to see Santa, which will include a gift. For the chance to meet him, you need to book in advance.
Details: cadw.gov.wales
18. Watch a Crimbo film in a shopping arcade
Where: Duke Street Arcade, Cardiff, CF10 1AZ. When: December 21-23. What: Lost Lands Cinema, which organises the outdoor screenings on the top of Jacob’s Market, have come up with a programme of Christmas movies to really get you in the mood – and escape from the shopping mayhem outside. You can watch The Polar Express (21), Bad Santa (22) and Elf (23). Details: Tickets available from lostlands.co.uk
19. Have an old-style Christmas
Where: Tretower Court and Castle, Crickhowell, NP8 1RD.
When: Saturday December 23, 10am-3.30pm.
What: It’s Christmas at Tretower; less of the tinsel, more of the traditional approach. Expect holly and ivy, mistletoe and mulled wine, a yule log and a green Santa – and there may be one or two carols as well, though old ones, of course.
There will also be an extra £3 charge to see Santa for each child, which will include a gift.
Details: cadw.gov.wales
20. See the Christmas Around the World Trail
Where: National Waterfront Museum, Oystermouth Road, Swansea, SA1 3RD. When: Until Sunday, January 7, 10am- 4pm. What: If you want to discover how Christmas is celebrated in different countries, pop along to the museum to discover some unusual traditions. Entry is free. Details: museum.wales
21. Watch a Boxing Day swim
Where: North Beach, Tenby.
When: Tuesday, December 26, 10am-6pm.
What: Now in its 47th year, the Tenby Boxing Day swim is a spectacle that sees around 600 brave souls race into the sea, watched by thousands of spectators. The tradition raises money for local charities and has a fancy dress theme What better way to freshen up? Everyone who takes part gets a medal, but perhaps more importantly, the roaring bonfire on the beach is a welcome relief for swimmers to warm up by afterwards.
Details: www.tenbyboxingdayswim.co.uk
22. Go to the races
Where: Chepstow Racecourse, NP16 6BE. When: Wednesday, December 27. What: Coral Welsh National Day at Chepstow is Wales’ biggest race day. The Welsh Grand National is the feature race of the day, with adult tickets starting from £25 if booked in advance, and the kids get to go for free. Details: www.chepstow-racecourse.co.uk