Sion Corn starts his trip to Llan Christmas Festival

* Sion Corn takes a test drive in the vintage 1927 Alvis with owner

Roger Williams at the wheel.

Sion Corn has been looking for the fastest way he can get to Llangollen to star in the town’s famous Christmas Festival at the end of November.

The town is famed for celebrating various modes of transport like river, road, canal and steam train.

So the grand old man – he’s known as Santa Claus in English – has been giving them all a try to see which will get him there as quickly as possible so he can spend more time joining in the fun with the thousands of  seasonal merrymakers who are expected to come flocking in to the big event on the afternoon of Saturday November 24.  

First to be given the Sion Corn rapid transport test was a vintage car owned by Llangollen motoring enthusiast Roger Williams.

Sion Corn jumped aboard and after giving the 1927 Alvis his special sack test he pronounced himself well satisfied with the gleaming machine.

He said: “Despite being over 90 years old – which is actually quite a bit younger than me - it’s still very fast and there’s plenty of room for me to jump in and out with my sack.

“It’s a definite possibility for November 24 but I’ve still got a few more kinds of transport to try out before I pick my final ride.”

Kicking off at 1pm with the famous parade which sees Sion Corn being escorted into town over the historic bridge by a colourful cavalcade of entertainers and local groups, the Christmas festival features children’s fairground rides and games, circus acts, a magician, dancing and face painting.

There will also be a chance for youngsters to visit Sion Corn in his glorious grotto and put in their early requests from what they’d like to see him bring them on Christmas morning. 

During the afternoon visitors can look forward to an eclectic mix of musical entertainment from local groups on two outdoor stages and other on-street entertainment.

The fun-packed day rounds off at 5pm with the ceremonial switching on of Llangollen’s legendary Christmas lights and a firework extravaganza. 

Llangollen Christmas Festival is organised by a group of dedicated community volunteers. It costs over £4,000 to stage each year and is self-funding.

The festival aims to provide a free family-orientated event in the safety of the town centre with surplus funds being donated to Wales Air Ambulance and local community groups.

Over the last couple of years the police have estimated that the spectacular event draws over 2,000 people into town during the course of the afternoon.

For the second year the festival has teamed up with Light Up Local Food, a project aimed at promoting Llangollen-based food and drink producers.

Chairman of the festival committee Austin ‘Chem’ Cheminais, who is also the local town crier and a member of the town council, said: “With the help of the community we manage, each year, to raise just about enough to fund the event and give a little to charity.

“Last year’s festival was particularly successful, in spite of the weather, and the feedback from those attending was very positive.

“The ‘market’ feel to the event provided by Light UP Local Food was particularly commented upon and helped to attract visitors from much further afield.

“Once again we’re expecting a bumper crowd to come along and help us to give a great early start to Christmas.”