Llanelli’s Carnival countdown to Christmas

LLANELLI’S Christmas Carnival, is the biggest in Wales, attracting crowds of 20,000.

 

This year the town’s Christmas carnival capers are launched on Friday, 18th November.

There is a Christmas craft fayre in Stepney Street sponsored by St Elli Shopping Centre on the Saturday and the famous St Elli Centre reindeer parade through the streets of the town to shopping centre follows on Sunday.

A profusion of colourful floats, high class street entertainment including a fairground, staged music and a fantastic fireworks display explodes into the sky above the town on carnival night.

This is the manner Llanelli has heralded the countdown to Christmas and its festive lights switch-on for more than 30 years.

Last year a record 12 floats entered the carnival thanks to the hard work of the Llanelli Round Table. This year Round Tabler’s are hopeful that schools, businesses, charity groups and streets entries will keep up the momentum making this year’s Llanelli Carnival the best yet.

Anyone interested in entering a float in the carnival should contact Roger Bowen on 07940115864 or by email: rogerbowen@taxassist.co.uk. Lorries and lighting can be provided.

The event is jointly funded by Carmarthenshire Council and Llanelli Town and Rural Councils. This year the county hosts the carnival.

To create a festive celebration in the town the event is spread over three days culminating with Santa being delivered to his grotto at St Elli Shopping centre by a team of Cairngorm reindeer on Sunday. The Santa procession leaves the rear of the St Elli Centre at 1pm on Sunday November 20th and tours up Market Street into Thomas Street and back round Vaughan Street into Stepney Street where there will be street entertainment.

Last year the AJL Displays £30,000 grotto set up under the shopping centre’s glass pyramid was one of the most elaborate in Wales attracting a record 7,000 visitors.

The Christmas carnival starts at 6.30pm from Festival Fields on the Friday night, proceeding along Sandy Road – West End – Gelli Onn – Bridge Street – Town Hall Square – Old Castle Road – Waunlanyrafon. The parade will circle round Ty Elwyn to finish up in front of Old Town Hall for fireworks at 7pm.