Saturday, November 30, 2024

Biggest parade in years kicks off Christmas Festival

Special llanblogger report and pictures


* The firework display lights up the town.


* Town crier Chem leads the festival parade into town over the bridge.

The biggest parade in years, featuring everything from a penny farthing bike to a Rolls Royce and a cavalcade of vintage tractors to a tuk tuk, kicked of this year's Llangollen Christmas Festival in fine style watched by a huge crowd.

And later the mayoress of Llangollen - now probably better known as Big Brother housemate Sarah Griffiths - assisted the mayor Cllr Aled Morris, rounded off a great day by switching on the town's Christmas lights.


As the rain held off things began early with the opening up of a wide array of around 30 stalls and a traditional children's ride in Market Street, which were all kept busy throughout the day.     


Centenary Square saw stalls showcasing the contribution of local community groups and outside the Tourist Information Centre there were more stalls manned by  charity and community groups.


The square also housed a programme of musical entertainment and morris dancing displays.

 

Throughout the day there was a treasure hunt involving many of the town's shops.


The big festival parade came through just after 1pm, starting at the Pavilion and heading into town along Abbey Road, Castle Street, Bridge Street, Chapel Street, Oak Street and back onto Castle Street stopping off outside the Town Hall. 

 

During the afternoon the Town Hall was the scene of children’s entertainment with Sion Corn’s Grotto, circus school, face painting, balloon sculpture, bouncy play and morris dancing, all of it free of charge.

 

Just after darkness fell came the highpoint of the switching on of the Christmas lights by the mayor and mayoress followed by a massive fireworks display touched off from the hill overlooking the town which lit up the sky and delighted the crowds.


All the proceeds from the festival will go to local charities and good causes.



* Llangollen Silver Band sets the parade tempo.


* A vintage car delights the crowds.


* A brewery dray hauled by two magnificent horses came in all the way from Stockport to join the parade.


* The first of many decorated tractors thunders in.


* In contrast came youngsters on their scooters.


* A WW2 Jeep and veteran car were next in line.


* A penny farthing cyclist followed by a colourful tuk tuk.


* Back on foot for the morris dancers.


* A couple of cute four-legged friends clip-clop in.


* Sion Corn in his sleigh greets the crowds on the bridge.


* One of a group of vintage tractors in the parade.


* Cheering occupants of a tractor-pulled trailer.


* A vintage Rolls Royce brings up the rear of the parade.


* Saying it with stilts.


* Market Street was temporarily closed to allow the stalls to be set up.


* A street performer plays in Market Street.


* The hook-a-duck stall does a brisk trade.


* Clywedog Steel Band plays in Centenary Square.


* A colourful bunch out collecting for the Christmas Festival.


* The mayor and mayoress, Cllr Aled Morris and Sarah Griffiths, are greeted by town crier Chem outside the Town Hall.


* The mayor greets Sion Corn at the Town Hall.


* Karl Joseph performs in the square.


* Chris Burton performs a Beatles medley with a Christmas flavour.


* The mayor and mayoress switch on the lights.


* The fireworks display. 

... and at the end of the day some long bus queues home



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