Festive Fun For All At Llanelli’s Christmas Carnival

Llanelli’s spectacular Christmas carnival and lights switch-on takes place this Friday, November 18 and it promises to be a ‘cracker’ of a night! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The festive fun includes the largest carnival procession in Wales, a dazzling fireworks display, funfair, live music and a host of entertainment on the main stage at the Spring Gardens with Heart Radio’s Jason Harrold. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Last year more than 20,000 people descended upon the town to join-in the celebrations, organised by Carmarthenshire County Council, Llanelli Rural Council, Llanelli Town Council and Llanelli Round Table; supported by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Meryl Gravell, Carmarthenshire County Council’s executive board member for regeneration and leisure, said: “The carnival is the biggest night of the year in Llanelli attracting people from across the county and beyond. We have a packed programme of entertainment planned so wrap up warm, come along and enjoy the festivities for what promises to be yet another fantastic night.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Llanelli Town Mayor Cllr Bill Thomas said: “The carnival is the highlight of the calendar year in Llanelli with thousands of people descending upon the town to enjoy the festivities. A lot of work goes in to organising the carnival and preparations are well underway. I am looking forward to what promises to be yet another brilliant night.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Llanelli Rural Council Chairman Cllr Stephen Donoghue said: “Llanelli Rural Council is proud to be a partner in the Llanelli Christmas Carnival. It is one of the highlights of the year for Llanelli and gives residents and visitors an opportunity to not only set themselves up for the festive season, but to see what the town has to offer. The ongoing support of this annual event shows the commitment we have to making Llanelli a better place to live, work and enjoy.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Steve Wilson, managing director of Wastewater Services at Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, said: “We are proud to be part of a Christmas tradition in Llanelli that has been running for almost a decade, and are hoping to add to the festive cheer at this event. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“After working on RainScape projects in the town for several years and investing £60 million, we want to give something back to the community by offering non-profit organisations, such as community groups, schools and charities, the chance to apply for up to £1,000 as part of the RainScape Community Fund. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“RainScape helps to reduce the risk of sewer flooding and pollution by catching, slowing and reducing the amount of rain water which goes into the sewer network.
“Residents can speak to a member of the team every Thursday at The Hub in Stepney Street. Customers can also email or call the team for more information at rainscape@dwrcymru.com or on 0800 085 3968.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Road closures will affect the town centre from 12pm starting with the closure of Cowell Street, followed by other town centre roads from 5.30pm. Church Street, Town Hall Square and adjoining side streets will close to traffic at around 5.45pm, ahead of the carnival procession. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A rolling road block will be in place along the carnival route from 6.15pm, affecting the route into the town centre from Pwll, through the town centre, along Queen Victoria Road, Erw Road and Waunlanyrafon. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Traffic may be affected until around 8pm. Llanelli’s multi-storey car park will be open until 10pm. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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Event details ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

11am
• Start your Christmas shopping at Llanelli’s open air market on Stepney Street and town centre shops ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

4pm
• Fun fair rides open with side stalls plus selection of hot and cold refreshments
• Live music on the main stage, Spring Gardens
• Visit Father Christmas for free at Llanelli Library (4.15pm – 6pm) ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

4.30pm
• Live entertainment and music begins including Jasmine from the X Factor and local acts Neil Peters, Chloe, and Leighton Phillips with compére Terri Dean
• Street entertainment at various locations ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

6pm
• Jason Harrold from Wales’s largest radio station Heart FM takes over the main stage for fun and frolics ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

6.15pm
• Carnival parade leaves Festival Fields, Sandy Road ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

6.40pm
• Presentation to Christmas lights design winners on the main stage, Spring Gardens ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

6.45pm
• Christmas lights switch-on by Llanelli Town Mayor, Llanelli Rural Council Chairman and Carmarthenshire County Council Chairman ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

7pm (timing approximate)
• Arrival of carnival parade in Town Hall area ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

7.40pm (timing approximate)
• Spectacular firework display commences over Town Hall Gardens ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

8.15pm (timing approximate)
• Carnival parade prize presentation on the main stage ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

9pm
• Funfair closes ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

10pm
• Llanelli multi-storey car park closes ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​