City Centre Set For Further Weekend Boost

Many thousands of people will again descend on the city centre this weekend, helping boost trade and further raise Swansea’s profile as a city of top class events. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As well as Wales’ second round game at Euro 2016 being shown live on Castle Square’s big screen on Saturday, an Armed Forces Day in Castle Square, the JCP Swansea Half Marathon and the Terry Hetherington Award at the Dylan Thomas Centre are among the other events taking place. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They follow on from a weekend that included Lionel Richie at the Liberty Stadium, the Swansea Festival of Transport and the Swansea International Jazz Festival. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Armed Forces Day lasts from 10.30am to 4.30pm in Castle Square on Saturday June 25. The event will include come and try activities, a display of military stands, other military themed entertainment and marches through the city centre from the 215 ATC Squadron and the City of Swansea Pipe Band. A piper and a bugler will also feature in a flag-raising ceremony. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The JCP Half Marathon, back for its third year, will take place on Sunday June 26. Welcoming 8,000 entrants this year, the event takes in the heart of the city centre, Swansea’s coastline and a number of the city’s most iconic landmarks. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Also taking place at the Dylan Thomas Centre at 7pm is the Terry Hetherington Award – an evening of celebration and readings to mark the entries for this year’s competition for writers aged under 30, founded in memory of the Neath-born poet. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development and Regeneration, said: “It’s been a fantastic start to summer in Swansea Bay, building on recent figures that show tourism is now worth over £400 million a year to the city’s economy for the very first time. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The combination of high quality local events with stars like Lionel Richie has given residents and visitors top class entertainment on their doorsteps, but there’s lots more to look forward to as well, including more Wales action at Euro 2016 on the big screen, other city centre events and the Wales National Airshow at the start of July. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Work on realising our ambitious and exciting plans for the St David’s and Civic Centre developments is on-going, but the quality of the Enjoy Swansea Bay programme of events and activities shows we’re determined in the meantime to attract as many people as possible into the city centre, helping boost our existing city centre traders and keep meeting people’s aspirations.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​