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

Thousands of families turned out to enjoy the biggest ever Llanelli Christmas Carnival on Friday. The spectacular parade wowed the crowds who lined the route from Sandy, right through to West End and Town Hall Square where there was also a huge funfair and live music on stage from Heart FM DJ Jason Harrold and a host of singing stars. Street traders and local businesses have reported booming trade as people stopped to pick up refreshments and early Christmas gifts. The event was topped off with a dazzling firework display over Llanelli Town Hall and the switch-on of the Christmas lights. Organisers, Carmarthenshire County Council, Llanelli Rural Council, Llanelli Town Council and Llanelli Round Table, reported a successful event with everything running according to plan. Llanelli Christmas Carnival is famous as being the largest carnival procession in Wales, with visitors descending on the town centre from far and wide to enjoy the festivities. The Leader of Carmarthenshire County Co...

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.” Llan...

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...

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...

Police are taken measurers this year to ensure Wales’s biggest Christmas Carnival is not spoiled by drunkeness. They have been visiting schools before Friday‘s Llanelli Carnival because of large numbers of drunken young teenagers apprehended early on carnival night last year. They hope by education, offering advice and police presence to deter underage drinking. The youngsters' Facebook and electronic gadget grapevine was to blame last year, suggest police. Llanelli carnival committee heard how as early at 5pm on Carnival night last year many teenagers as young as 13 and 14 were being taken home in an intoxicated state. Some young girls were found lying on the grass so inebriated they were unable to stand. There was little trouble but people had been amazed at the level of drunkenness. Roger Bowen, of carnival organisers Llanelli Round Table, said it was necessary to take robust measurers to protect the thousands of young families who attended the carnival and the youngsters thems...

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...

Members of Llanelli Round Table will be hosting a charity bike ride on Sunday (11th July), starting from the Discovery centre at North Dock, Llanelli. There will be an adult ride over 31 miles and a junior ride for schoolchildren over eight miles. “It promises to be a great day out and a great chance to take part in exercise that will do you good and help local charities,” said Round Table chairman Craig Toutt. “The aim is to raise money for the local Breathe Easy groups, which are part of the British Lung Foundation. “At the same time, we will give local schools the opportunity to raise funds to benefit themselves. “In the junior ride section, 50% of all money raised by individual schools will be returned to the school the week following the event.” Mr Toutt said he expected all children and parents wishing to take part to raise a minimum of £5 per person. The junior cycle ride follows the Llanelli costal path from the North Dock Discovery centre to Burry Port and back. The event has ...