Railway to launch its 2025 Santa Special this Saturday

 

* Mrs Christmas Julie Jones with Father Christmas on the footplate of the 7754 steam locomotive.

Llangollen and Corwen Railway will officially launch its 2025 Santa Specials this Saturday, November 29 with a festive celebration featuring live music, special guests and a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Platform 1 at Llangollen Station.

Festivities begin at 9.30am when the Llangollen Silver Band will perform before marching down the platform to the steam engine, which will already be positioned at the bottom of the platform ready for the ceremony. Their arrival will set the festive tone as the first Santa Special prepares for departure.

At 9.45am, the band will be met at the locomotive by members of the steam crew, Father Christmas along with Hazel Birkenhead and Carolyn Thomas MS, who will both perform the official ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of this year’s Santa Specials, formally launching the 2025 festive season on the Llangollen and Corwen Railway.

 The official photograph will feature:

• Hazel Birkenhead
• Carolyn Thomas MS
• Steam Crew: Malcolm Lees, Rich Smith and Harvey Baldwin
• Bill Buck (representing Father Christmas)

* Filling up the Santa Special with water.

This year’s Santa Specials are already proving hugely popular, with many services close to selling out. 

Families will enjoy a steam-hauled journey through the stunning Dee Valley, a visit from Father Christmas, a gift for every child and the unmistakable festive atmosphere created by our dedicated volunteers. This event launches a full festive programme, which also includes the much-loved Siôn Corn Specials and the famous Mince Pie Specials, running between Christmas and New Year.

David Hennigan, Trust Manager of the Llangollen and Corwen Railway, said: “The launch of the Santa Specials is one of the highlights of our year. It brings together our volunteers, our communities and families who return year after year to share in the magic. 

"We are especially proud to have Hazel Birkenhead with us. Hazel is one of our outstanding volunteers and, despite being over 80, still cooks breakfast for our teams every weekend. She represents the heart of this railway. This event is largely run by our amazing volunteers, whose dedication makes everything possible. 

"Tickets for this year’s Santa Specials are already almost sold out, which shows just how loved this experience has become. We can’t wait to welcome passengers and begin another unforgettable Christmas season.”

Carolyn Thomas MS, who will help cut the ribbon, added: “I have been a supporter of the Llangollen and Corwen Railway all my life. I brought my children here when they were young, and now I am bringing my grandchildren. It is a wonderful asset for our community and a magical place at Christmas. I am delighted to help launch this year’s Santa Specials.”

* Tickets can be purchased at:
https://llangollen-railway.co.uk/santa-special/

The Llangollen and Corwen Railway looks forward to welcoming families for another magical Christmas aboard the Santa Specials and throughout the festive season.

Thailand-bound lads reach their wintering spot

* Louis declared the trip has been the best three months of his life. 

The past three months he's spent riding through Europe on the way to distant Thailand have been the best of his life, according to 18-year-old Louis Dennis.

He made the declaration as he and his mates Dyfan Hughes and James Thomas, also both 18, reached the town of Batumi on the Black Sea coast of Georgia where the trio - known as the Westheads - will spend the winter before pressing on towards the Far East early in the new year's better weather.

The lads, all from the Llangollen area, have set themselves an 18-month challenge to reach Asia where they're planning to meet their friend Harrison who moved there after his dad died from a heart attack.

Along the way they're aiming to raise £10,000 for the National Heart Foundation, more than half of which has already been pledged by hundreds of well-wishers back home who are closely following their progress.

As they headed out of Turkey towards Georgia they had to negotiate a large number of tunnels on the coastal route, some of which they risked dicing with heavy traffic but others they judged far too dangerous and jumped into taxis instead.

As they were having their bikes loaded into one of these the driver got a little "ruthless" and caused damage to a couple of their bikes, which required yet another visit to a cycle repair shop.

It was as they reached Batumi that Louis jubilantly told the video diary: "These three months have been the best of my life!"

* To follow the journey on their social media and make a donation if you wish, go to: https://linktr.ee/westheads

Papers available soon for Cancer Research Christmas quiz

For the 19th year Llangollen will be staging a Christmas Quiz on behalf of Cancer Research UK. 

Organiser Judy Smith said: "After all these years it's still only £1 - although you might consider a donation - and it will be the quiz paper will be obtainable from the Tourist Information Centre in Castle Street from November 29."

Railway makes changes to Sion Corn Welsh language services

* It's all aboard with Sion Corn at Llangollen and Corwen Railway.

Llangollen and Corwen Railway has announced timetable changes to this year’s Siôn Corn (Father Christmas) Welsh Language Train services, following customer feedback asking for more flexibility and an additional weekend option.

In response, the railway has added a new Saturday Siôn Corn service, alongside adjustments to two Friday departures to better accommodate families planning their festive visits. 

The Santa Specials are unaffected by the changes. 

The updated timetable for the Sion Corn - Tren Arbennig (Santa Specials) is as follows:

 

Corwen – Llangollen Return Services:

 

•         Friday 5 December – 10:00am

•         Friday 12 December – 12:20pm    

 

New Public-Demand Corwen-to-Carrog Return Services:

 

•         Saturday 20 December – 12:00pm

•         Saturday 20 December – 2:45pm

 

The addition of the Saturday services reflects strong demand from families who wanted more weekend opportunities to enjoy this much-loved Welsh Christmas tradition.

Children joining the Siôn Corn trains will be greeted by Siôn Corn dressed in traditional Welsh green, speaking Welsh, and bringing festive cheer to every carriage. Siôn Corn is the Welsh equivalent of Santa Claus – his name translates as “Chimney John”, a nod to his traditional folklore origins – and he is known for his warmth, storytelling and gentle humour.

 

Tickets are £12 per person, with each child ticket including a special gift from Sion Corn, who meets each child personally during the journey and spreads festive cheer in the heated comfort of our cosy carriages.

 

Wayne Ronneback, Corwen Station Master, said: “We’ve listened closely to what our customers told us, and the message was clear – families wanted more weekend choice. By adding a Saturday service and adjusting our Friday times, we’re making sure even more people can enjoy the magic of Siôn Corn here in Corwen. Seeing the children meet Siôn Corn in his traditional Welsh costume is one of the highlights of our Christmas season, and we’re delighted to make the experience as accessible and enjoyable as possible.”

 

* Tickets, priced just £12, are expected to sell quickly.

 

🎅 Book your Siôn Corn adventure now: https://llangollen-railway.co.uk/

 

Town Hall to turn orange to help stop violence against women

 

Llangollen Town Hall will be turning orange as part of a worldwide day of awareness next week. 

The Inner Wheel Club of Llangollen are inviting people to join them as part of the special Orange the World event. 

The United Nations initiative is being held to help raise awareness of violence against women and girls. The campaign motto is “HER SAFETY, OUR PRIORITY”.

Iconic landmarks all over the world will be illuminated in orange during a ten-day period from November 25 to December 6. As part of this, Llangollen Town Hall will be lit with orange lighting on Wednesday, November 26.

Members of The Inner Wheel Club of Llangollen will gather at Centenary Square from 11am on the day to distribute leaflets and raise awareness of the issue. 

It’s hoped they will be joined by other organisations in the town and any individuals who sympathise with the cause.

Pavilion's final headline show announced for 2026

                              

                           * Bowling For Soup. Picture: Jason Janick

Texan popopunk legends Bowling For Soup and folk punk royalty Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls are teaming up next summer to headline in Llangollen.

The two genre-defying musical powerhouses and long-time friends are joining forces for the first time ever for a run of dates across the country with their Bowl My Bones tour headlining TK Maxx Presents Live At Llangollen Pavilion on Friday July 3.

Friends of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod can access pre-sale tickets from 10am Tuesday via llangollen.net and tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday November 28.

One of rocks' most unlikely friendships began years ago, sparked by Bowling For Soup frontman Jaret Reddick’s admiration for Frank Turner’s music. In more recent years the two became good friends, even hosting a weekly live stream together during the COVID pandemic. Now, after years of fan requests, the tour they’ve been hoping for is finally happening. Frank is very much looking forward to hitting the road with his long-time friends: "I love summer, I love touring, and I really love Bowling For Soup. So let’s cut to the chase and do them all at the same time! These shows are going to be a lot of fun, I’m honoured to be part of the adventure."

* Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls.

While the feeling is more than mutual from Bowling For Soup's Jaret: “Discovering Frank Turner's music happened at an important time in my life. I needed it, but I didn't know how much. Now, many years later, I get to call him friend, and touring with him and The Sleeping Souls in his home country of the UK seems unreal to me. I think these are going to be special Summer nights that none of us will forget! Stoked!!!”

The announcement of the tour follows swiftly on from the news of Bowling For Soup teaming up Wales’ viral sensations Punk Rock Factory to release a brand-new version of Endless Possibility featuring alt-rock legends Wheatus, the main theme song from video game Sonic Unleashed. The song was originally written by Jaret and has become one of the most beloved songs from the Sonic The Hedgehog franchise ever, with fans continuing to post about it, stream it, and cover it more than 15 years later.

Bowling For Soup have spent the past 30 years proving they’re not just a band — they’re a guaranteed good time. Known for their infectious anthems, off-the-cuff comedy and massive singalongs, their live shows feel less like concerts and more like backyard parties with thousands of friends.

Their UK breakthrough came in 2000 with The Bitch Song, followed by the GRAMMY-nominated hit Girl All The Bad Guys Want, 1985 and High School Never Ends — tracks that helped cement their place in pop-punk history.

Frank Turner is one of the UK’s most successful and beloved artists, with a career built on relentless touring, heartfelt songwriting and a deep connection to his fans. Since going solo in 2005, Turner has released 10 studio albums and played more than 3,000 live shows with his long-time backing band The Sleeping Souls.

His 2022 album FTHC became his first UK Number 1, following four consecutive Top 3 records. His latest release, last year’s Undefeated continued that streak, debuting at Number 3 on the Official Album Chart and topping the Independent Album Chart. With more than a million records sold worldwide and a catalogue that blends punk spirit with folk storytelling, Turner has earned a reputation as one of the most compelling live performers of his generation.

Together Bowling For Soup and Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls bring a shared love for turning gigs into unforgettable nights. The Bowl My Bones Tour isn’t just a double bill — it’s a full-throttle celebration of connection, community and the kind of live music that sticks with you long after the final chord.

The announcement marks the final headlining show to be revealed for TK Maxx presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion 2026, which is presented as part of an ongoing partnership with the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor.

Bowling For Soup and Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls join iconic Welsh trailblazers Super Furry Animals, pop star Rick Astley, Scottish chart-toppers Deacon Blue, Britpop mastermind Alex James’ Britpop Classical, multi-platinum selling hitmaker Tom Grennan, global music icon Billy Ocean, dance music pioneer Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics and legendary singer-songwriter David Gray who will all headline the iconic Welsh venue in 2026.

Artistic Director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Dave Danford said: “Today’s announcement adds yet another genre to our hugely diverse line-up of shows at Llangollen Pavilion for summer 2026. We’ve really made sure there’s something for everybody next year, and if early indications are anything to go by then tickets are going to be in short supply!

“This completes our line-up for next year’s TK Maxx presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion series, and we can’t wait to get started in June!”

For more information go to llangollen.net   

FOLLOW BOWLING FOR SOUP WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TIKTOK | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE

FOLLOW FRANK TURNER WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TIKTOK | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE

County's 'free after three' parking returns for festive season

Denbighshire County Council’s ‘free after three’ parking initiative will be returning once again this year.

Between November 24 and December 31, council-run town centre car parks will be free to use across Denbighshire every day from 3pm to encourage more people to use their local high street for shopping in the run up to Christmas and New Year.

The ‘free after three’ scheme will be available in the following car parks:

Llangollen:  East Street, Hall Street, Market Street, Mill Street.

Corwen: Green Lane.

Denbigh: Barkers Well Lane, Crown Lane, Factory Ward, Post Office Lane, Vale Street.

Prestatyn: Fern Avenue, Kings Avenue, Lower High Street, Nant Hall Road, Railway Station.

Rhuddlan: Parliament Street.

Rhyl: Library (disabled bays only), Morley Road, Queen Street, Railway Station, Town Hall, Sky Tower, West Kinmel Street.

Ruthin: Crispin Yard, Dog Lane, Market Street, Park Road, Rhos Street, St Peter’s Square, Troed Y Rhiw.

St Asaph: Bowling Green.

Denbighshire County Council have also allocated five free parking days a year to town and city councils. Details of the remaining dates for each town and city councils are below:

Llangollen: 29/11, 20/12, 21/12.

Corwen: 03/11, 12/12, 13/12, 20/12.

Denbigh: 30/11.

Prestatyn: 21/11, 22/11, 24/12.

Rhuddlan: 08/11, 09/11, 07/12, 13/12.

Rhyl: 20/12, 21/12, 22/12, 23/12, 24/12.

St Asaph: 09/11, 28/11, 25/12, 26/12, 31/12.

Ruthin: Dates to be confirmed.

The car parks listed under the ‘free after three’ initiative will also be included within the free parking days.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “The ‘free after three’ initiative has proved popular in previous years because it is a great scheme that enables residents to support their local communities.

“We hope that everyone supports our local high streets and back our businesses, especially in the run-up to Christmas and take full advantage of the benefits of the scheme by using the county’s town centre car parks free of charge.”