Council To Act On Christmas Lights Event Feedback

Swansea Council is welcoming feedback on this year’s Christmas lights switch-on event. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This feedback, the council says, will help inform the planning of next year’s event. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

On-going city centre works presented challenges to delivering a parade this year, but the council hopes these challenges will be overcome next year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A Swansea Council spokesperson said: “We always aim to make the Christmas lights switch-on a great, family friendly event. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We understand that many people were unhappy that there was no parade, but on-going works in and around the city centre meant there were challenges in delivering a parade this year, which is why we tried something different. We hope to overcome these challenges for next year’s event, while also taking people’s feedback on board. We always listen to what people are saying, which can be shown by the re-introduction of a real Christmas tree on Princess Way following feedback last year – a decision that’s been well-received. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This year’s Christmas lights switch-on was moved to a Thursday evening at the request of Swansea BID (Business Improvement District) to benefit city centre traders. Thousands of Christmas lights are also now in place across the city centre in areas like Castle Square, Wind Street, Plymouth Street, Kingsway, Whitewalls and Union Street. Swansea BID has also installed 200 mini Christmas trees, timed to light up after dark in areas including High Street, Lower Oxford Street and Craddock Street. Like the switch-on event, we’ll also consider feedback on the location of this year’s Christmas lights when planning for next year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Many more Christmas events are planned for coming weeks, including the return of Waterfront Winterland, a Santa’s grotto on Portland Street and a Christmas Market on Oxford Street.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Waterfront Winterland will be returning to the Museum Park from the evening of Friday November 18 to Sunday January 8. The attraction will again feature a big wheel, Santa’s grotto, a funfair and two ice rinks – the main Admiral rink and a smaller rink for children. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Other city centre Christmas events include a Christmas Market on Oxford Street and a Santa’s Grotto attraction on Portland Street, both running from Thursday November 24 to Wednesday December 21. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Swansea Market will also be open on Sundays, with late-night city centre shopping available on Thursdays. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Free parking after 3pm is available in the St David’s multi-storey car park. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​