Festivities Continue Across Caerphilly

The council’s festive programme of events is in full swing, with attention turning to Bargoed and Risca this weekend (Saturday 26 November) for their annual Christmas Market events. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The ever-popular Bargoed Christmas Market returns, with a wide variety of festive food, craft and charity stalls filling the High Street, allowing residents and visitors the perfect opportunity to support the town’s retailers and make a start on their Christmas shopping. From 10am until 5pm on Saturday 26 November, the town will also play host to a range of Christmas activities for the whole family to enjoy, from street entertainers, funfair rides, real reindeer, and much more. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In Risca, Tredegar Park will also be taken over by stalls and entertainment aplenty between 12.00pm and 5.30pm with something to suit people of all ages. With a fantastic range of entertainment from children’s crafts, carol singing, reindeers, birds of prey, stalls and funfair rides; and even the opportunity to pay a visit to the main man himself in his magical grotto, Christmas certainly will be coming early to Risca! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As the afternoon draws to a close, join guests for the annual light parade and Christmas light switch on that takes place at 4.45pm. Accompanied by Cefn Hengoed Majestics Jazz Band, street entertainers and local dancers, visitors will parade around the park with lanterns and lights. Carols around the Christmas tree will be the finale to the event, accompanied by the Salvation Army. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There will also be lantern making workshops taking place in the park throughout the day in readiness for the parade and there will also be light sticks and glow sticks given out for free while stocks last. This FREE event is organised by Caerphilly County Borough Council in partnership with Risca West and East Community Event Group. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Hots on the heels of these events is Blackwood Christmas Market, which returns for 2016 on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 December. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

With festive fun from 9am until 5pm on Saturday and 10am until 4pm on Sunday, Blackwood Christmas Market will fill the town centre with festive cheer for everyone to enjoy. There will be real reindeer to see and of course a Santa’s grotto located inside Tidal’s Store, where children can meet the man himself! Children’s funfair rides will also be on offer during the fair, as well as fantastic entertainment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The craft tent will host a lantern making workshop, where children can get crafty in preparation for the River of Light lantern parade which will come to the town on Thursday 8 December. Whether visitors want to treat themselves, or buy a unique and thoughtful gift for someone special, there is something for everyone at Blackwood Christmas Market. Don’t forget Santa will be riding through Blackwood town centre on his sleigh on Saturday 3rd December at 4:30pm to switch on the town’s Christmas lights! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​