Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Llanelli is getting ready for its biggest night of the year – and it promises to be a real cracker! The Christmas carnival and lights switch-on will take place on Friday, November 18 with festive fun for all the family with its traditional floats, spectacular fireworks display, funfair, live music and a host of entertainment. Around 20,000 people are expected to line the streets to watch the largest carnival procession in Wales; and Heart FM is back for the second year running to broadcast the event across the nation with DJ Jason Harrold. The carnival is organised by Carmarthenshire County Council, Llanelli Rural Council, Llanelli Town Council and Llanelli Round Table; and this year it is being supported by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water. Carmarthenshire County Council Chairman Cllr Eryl Morgan said: “Llanelli Christmas carnival has a reputation for being one of the best in Wales; attracting people from across Carmarthenshire and beyond. “I am sure that this year’s event will once again be a...

Just testing from iPhone Llanelli Christmas lights.

Llanelli is set to explode in to life with its famous Christmas carnival, throwing the biggest party in the town’s history. The 20,000-plus pulling power of the biggest carnival in Wales has already seen 18 floats booked - more than any year ever before with six weeks still to go. Executive board member for leisure Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “Llanelli certainly knows how to party. This carnival is going from strength to strength. “It is wonderful to see the enthusiasm from the organisers and all those who attend the carnival let their hair down and welcome Christmas in style and with a panache that only Llanelli can muster.” Carnival organiser and Round Tabler Roger Bowen said: “We have many of the regular entries and a number of enquiries from newcomers for this year’s event. “The battle this year will be having enough lorries to go round. Owens Road Services and Greens Transport have pledged their support again but the entries are rolling in fast. We could easily top 30 floats this ...

Llanelli’s Christmas carnival – the biggest in Wales – could have 30 floats and a secret surprise package this year, pulling in anticipated crowds of 24,000. The town’s Christmas carnival capers and fireworks spectacular explodes on Friday, November 22, sparking a three-day festive party with a craft fayre in St Elli Shopping centre on the Saturday and the famous reindeer parade at noon on the Sunday (Nov 24). The spectacular event has been attracting national interest that could lead to a surprise additional attraction this year but ‘Mum’s the word’ on the Secret Santa surprise for the time-being. The carnival is organised by Carmarthenshire county and Llanelli town and rural councils with massive support from Llanelli Round Table. This year Llanelli Town Council hosts the event. Round Tabler Roger Bowen said: “There has been phenomenal interest this year with schools, businesses, charity groups, streets, marching bands and baton twirlers keeping up the momentum to help make this year...

There's a clamour to enter a float in this year’s Llanelli Round Table Christmas Carnival on Friday 18th November. Organiser Roger Bowen said there had been a good deal of early interest with 13 floats entered by the Scarlets, theatre groups, Coedcae School, The Wallich, Jenkins Bakery, Llanelli Gymnastics Club, Llwynhendy Community group, dance groups and Felinfoel and Furnace junior rugby clubs. “There’s every indication it will be the biggest carnival yet,” said Mr Bowen. Anyone interested in entering a float can contact Roger Bowen on 07940115864. The Christmas carnival starts at 6.30pm from Festival Fields finishing up in front of the Town Hall for fireworks at 7pm. 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. The Santa procession leaves the rear of the St Elli Centre at 1pm on Sunday November 20th before...

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 in...

Bad weather didn’t deter a good turnout for the Ammanford Christmas Carnival and Parade. The event last Friday night proved to be a success when a large crowd enjoyed the Parade, Carnival, switching on of the Christmas lights and firework display. Radio Carmarthenshire provided fantastic entertainment with local groups and performers on the stage. The lantern parade, as part of the carnival, was a big success and carnival organiser want to thank local artist Emma Stuart for organising it. The winners of the lantern parade were Ella Lewis, Alex Jones and Finn Stuart. The Ammanford Christmas Carnival is organised in partnership between Carmarthenshire County Council, Ammanford Town Council, and Radio Carmarthenshire and is sponsored by national housebuilder Taylor Wimpey. Cllr Clive Scourfield, Carmarthenshire County Council executive board member for leisure and regeneration, said: “I’m delighted that the Carnival proved to be such a success. It was a great way to herald the start of Ch...

Local children are being encouraged to join in lantern-making workshops ahead of the town’s Christmas Carnival on Friday, December3. The lanterns will be released in to the night skies before the carnival parade to provide a magical backdrop to the evening’s activities, which include a walking parade and a grand fireworks display. Father Christmas will also be brought in to town on a sleigh before he opens his Grotto in the Pensioner’s Hall. Radio Carmarthenshire and Ammanford Town Band will provide a host of musical entertainment on the night, and a funfair and street entertainers, including balloon modelling and magic and Uncle Sam stilt walker, will provide plenty of fun and games for all the family. The event is being organised as a partnership between Carmarthenshire County Council and Ammanford Town Council, and is sponsored this year by national housebuilder Taylor Wimpey. Ammanford Town Mayor Cllr Ray Spencer, said: “Ammanford Town Council is delighted to be working in partners...

Ammanford will be lit up with a glittering array of lanterns at the start of the town’s Christmas festivities. Local children are being encouraged to join in lantern-making workshops ahead of the town’s Christmas Carnival on Friday, December3. The lanterns will be released in to the night skies before the carnival parade to provide a magical backdrop to the evening’s activities, which include a walking parade and a grand fireworks display. Father Christmas will also be brought in to town on a sleigh before he opens his Grotto in the Pensioner’s Hall. Radio Carmarthenshire and Ammanford Town Band will provide a host of musical entertainment on the night, and a funfair and street entertainers, including balloon modelling and magic and Uncle Sam stilt walker, will provide plenty of fun and games for all the family. The event is being organised as a partnership between Carmarthenshire County Council and Ammanford Town Council, and is sponsored this year by national housebuilder Taylor Wimp...