Full programme for Saturday's Christmas Festival

 

* Sion Corn will start Saturday's

Christmas Festival.

 

The arrival of Sion Corn – Santa Claus – at the town’s station will mark the start of this year’s spectacular Llangollen Christmas Festival on Saturday. 

Herladed by a town crier, the grand old man will then lead a grand parade, starting at 1pm, along Castle Street, Market Street, East Street and Parade Street to the Town Hall where he will take up residence in his grotto ready to welcome young visitors who will receive a small gift from him.  

To avoid long queues to see Sion Corn tickets will be sold in advance at quarter-hour time intervals. Thes will be available in advance from the Tourist Information Office in Llangollen and the Town Hall on Saturday.   

Oak Street will be closed from 10am-6pm where street entertainment, market stalls, music and dancing will take place. 

Also on the afternoon’s packed entertainments programme are facepainting, magicians, storytellers, morris dancing, circus acts, a samba band and Llangollen Silver Band. 

There will be lots of musical entertainment throughout the day, with a number of local choirs performing on the Chapel steps until the Christmas lights are switched on about 5.30pm. 

Youngsters from local schools Ysgol Bryn Collen and Ysgol Y Gwernant have entered competitions to see who will have the honour of lighting up the town at the big switch-on ceremony, which will be followed by fireworks display.

Donations towards the festival have been made by the town’s Chamber of Trade and Tourism, as well as other organisations and individuals. 

There have also been a number of fundraising events, including a bingo evening at the RAFA Club and a sponsored car wash with the help of the fire service.  

Collection boxes in various locations in the town and have raised over £100 so far. 

The festival fund was also boosted by Chamber of Trade and Tourism chair John Palmer who did a gruelling sponsored run from Corwen to Glyndwfrdwy and then swan six miles down the River Dee to the Horseshoe Falls. 

Pitches will be available at various locations across the town for those who bring their own stalls but tables will also be available in the Town Hall and the Band Hut in Parade Street at a cost of £20, and anyone interested should contact Ian Parry on 01978 753897 or Gareth Thomas on 01978 861345. 

The festival is a community event run and organised by volunteers, and net proceeds from the event will be donated to Hope House Children’s Hospice in Oswestry.  

If you would like to take part and help with the arrangements, particularly on the day, then contact Ian Parry on 01978 753897 or email: parry.ian@btinternet.com

 

Programme of Events

 

The Parade 

1.00pm from Railway Station

(Castle Street/Market Street/

East Street/Parade Street/Town Hall)

1.         Town Crier 

2.         Silver Band 

3.         Various Groups 

4.         Vintage Car  

   5. Horse & Carriage with Town Mayor                                                                                        

6. Morris Dancers

 

7. Circus Acts

 

8. Sion Corn  

 

9. Karamba Samba Band                                                             

10.            Fire Engine

Chapel  Steps – Castle Street

 

1.30pm       Ysgol Bryn Collen Choir

1.50pm       Ysgol Y Gwernant Choir

2.10pm       Llangollen Silver Band

2.45pm       Melodic Mondays Ladies Group

3.05pm       Llangollen Male Voice Choir

3.25pm       Karamba Samba Band

3.45pm       Operatic Society

4.05pm       Pantomime Group

4.25pm       Clerical Error Morris Dancers

4.45pm       Llangollen Silver Band

5.15pm             Announcements:-

                        Raffle Prize Draw

                        Best Dressed Window

                        Town Mayor’s Address

5.30pm             Switch on of Christmas Lights

                        Firework Display

                        Circus Acts

           Other Entertainment

 

Sion Corn’s Grotto in Town Hall

(Tickets, £4.00 each, are timed every quarter of an hour to avoid queuing and are available in advance from Tourist Information Centre and from 1.30pm on Saturday from the Town Hall Foyer).

 

     Town Hall Area       - Raffle Tickets

     - Hog Roast

     - Mulled Wine

 

Nativity Feature – Castle Street

 

Storytelling/Music/Magician/Balloon Man at Castle Courtyard

 

Face Painter – Band Room, Parade Street

 

Market Stalls in Town Hall/Band Room/Oak Street

(Open from 12 Noon to 5.30pm. Refreshments available in Town Hall and Band Room)

 

Oak Street          -  Children’s Rides

-      The Tower

-      Market Stalls

-      Musical Entertainment

-      Hog Roast

Also throughout the afternoon there will be Circus Acts, Morris Dancers, Magician, Storyteller, Balloon Man, Busker performing at various locations in the town