Here is the SOUTH WALES LIFE guide to everything Christmas. We make no excuses for it being long, we are a huge region and there’s so much going on. It’s Christmas though (well almost), so grab an early mince pie, a little drink to ease you along and enjoy our comprehensive guide to the festive season.

A little tip. Bookmark this page and come back regularly. You can bet it’s going to expand over the next few weeks. It’s very simple, either look through the entire page, or click on a particular area and see what’s going on. It would also be a great help to us if you let your friends know it’s here. Our team have worked hard on this and would like lots of you to see it.

Not every area has events as yet, but they are coming soon.

• ABERDARE
• ABERGAVENNY
• BARRY
• BRECON
• BRIDGEND
• CARDIFF
• CHEPSTOW
• CRICKHOWELL
• EBBW VALE
• GOVILON
• LLANTRISANT
• MERTHYR TYDFIL
• NEATH
• NEWPORT
• PEMBREY
• PONTYPOOL
• PONTYPRIDD
• RAGLAN
• RHONDDA
• SWANSEA
• TALBOT GREEN
• TREORCHY
• USK
• 20 THINGS TO DO ON CHRISTMAS EVE
• ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS DAY
• MAKE A SNOW GLOBE
• A LETTER FROM ‘YOU KNOW WHO’
• FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SONGS

ABERDARE

TOWER GROTTO – ZIP WORLD

Start with a mince pie and hot chocolate or mulled wine, then visit the grotto to meet Santa himself!

Follow the twinkling fairy lights up the steps to where he awaits your visit. You will find Santa inside his cosy Grotto where he loves to keep warm and enjoy a scrummy mince pie. Santa will welcome you inside to listen to your Christmas wishes, read your letter, and thank you with a special gift. Santa will also join you for some festive photographs for you to remember your experience.

Not only do you get a gift from the main man himself, but you also get your very own Welsh slate bauble to decorate at our craft station! Get your creative juices flowing and decorate to your heart’s content, ready for centre stage on the tree. A wonderful memento or something to gift over the festive season.

Write a letter to Santa and take home a special gift, suitable for all ages.

More details HERE.

CHRISTMAS AT ST ELVAN’S

Experience the magic of Christmas at St Elvan’s throughout December. Families can meet Santa Claus in his enchanting grotto, enjoy a festive breakfast with him, and witness the heartwarming “Christmas The Story” live nativity. The season also features spectacular concerts like “The Glory of Christmas” and the beloved “The Snowman – Live!” for a truly memorable holiday celebration.

ABERGAVENNY

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH-ON

Abergavenny Town Centre is alive once with its annual Christmas lights, and the market town is always worth a visit to stroll and enjoy a mince pie and a festive tipple (if you’re not the designated driver).

CHRISTMAS MARKET

Delight your senses with the aromas and tastes of Christmas! Come and join in at the indoor and outdoor Christmas Artisan Market, and discover a fantastic selection of food and drink, including licensed vendors, whilst choosing from a gorgeous array of artisan crafts and gifts.

The CHRISTMAS FARMERS MARKET is on Saturday 9th December in the Market on Cross Street in Abergavenny between 9am and 5pm, admission is FREE.

BARRY

PUGH’S CHRISTMAS VILLAGE

Pugh’s Garden Village are two family-run, award-winning garden centres in South Wales, offering a unique shopping experience. With over 15 additional concession stores, monthly gardening events, restaurants and a food hall, they are a family destination for all seasons.

The Christmas Shop is now open. For more information just go here PUGH’S. They also have another centre in Cardiff offering the same thing.

ENCHANTED ADVENTURES

Experience festive fun for all the family! Enjoy the daytime adventures filled with live elf shows, character meet and greets, and plenty of Christmas cheer.

Then as night falls, discover the illuminated evening experiences, featuring live Santa shows, ice princess performances, sparkling lights throughout the park, and so much more!

Tickets and more details on what they have on offer HERE.

BRECON

BRECON SANTA SPECIAL

This is like the real life version of the Tom Hanks movie The Polar Express. You get to visit Santa this Christmas and ride the railway to Santa’s grotto. Seriously, this is the perfect experience for families with children.

They’ve been doing these a little while now, almost 35 years in fact and they are more popular than ever. Which means you need to get in and book ASAP.

Your Santa Experience Includes:

• 🎄 Arrival at Pant Station
  Enjoy festive refreshments in the cosy café and browse unique gifts in the well-stocked shop — perfect for last-minute surprises.
• 🚂 A Magical Steam Train Ride
  Board the beautifully restored American-built Baldwin locomotive for a scenic 2-mile ride to Pontsticill Station.
• 🧝 Meet Santa’s Cheerful Elves
  At Pontsticill, be welcomed by Santa’s elves and enjoy lively entertainment
• 🎁 Visit to Santa’s Grotto
  Meet Santa in his charming grotto — with a special gift for every child.
• ☕ Complimentary Seasonal Treats
  Savour heartwarming refreshments throughout your festive visit.

🕰 Experience Duration: Approx. 1.5 hours
🚆 Train Journey: 2 miles each way (shortened festive route)
🐾 Please note: Dogs are not permitted (except assistance dogs)
🍼 Prams & Pushchairs can be left safely at Pant Station

The SANTA SPECIALS are really popular so if you want to book it’s best to call on 01685-722988. The timetable and details are just go here HERE

CHRISTMAS AT CANTREF

Cantref Adventure Park is located in Brecon, so just under an hours drive from Cardiff. If you’ve not been before it’s a massive adventure farm and park, with loads to do for the whole family.

This year you can meet the elves and have fun in the workshop. They’ll then take you to meet Santa. Obviously he’ll check his official Naughty and Nice list, but we know you’ve all been very good – haven’t you?

Arrive anytime from opening and enjoy a festive-packed day filled with activities, shows, and animal encounters:

🎄 Graduate from Elf Academy

🎄 Decorate Gingerbread with Mary Christmas

🎄 Laugh with Mr. Ev’s Christmas Show

🎄 Meet Santa: The Elves will take you to Santa, where he’ll check his Naughty or Nice List and reward the good with a magical golden key.

🎄 Unlock the Present Room to choose your perfect gift!

🕒Your booking time is for your visit to Santa, not your arrival time – so arrive early to make the most of the day! Late slots are especially magical as twinkling lights fill the farm.

There is so much more to do at Cantref Adventure Park which is great as your ticket includes Farm Park entry. For more details just go here CANTREF

BRIDGEND

CARDIFF

CHRISTMAS AT THE CASTLE

The place to see spectacular Christmas lights is at CARDIFF CASTLE. If you’re heading into town for some shopping or to take in WINTER WONDERLAND or the CHRISTMAS MARKET, then you definitely have to wander over, with your camera, for the lights.

CARDIFF CHRISTMAS MARKET

The Cardiff Christmas Market is back on the pedestrian streets of Cardiff City Centre in St John Street, Working Street, Hills Street, Trinity Street and the Hayes with yet another exciting and eclectic mix. There are both new and returning exhibitors as their original, hand made products are the essence of what makes our market so different and special every year.

This well established Christmas Market sited in the heart of Cardiff City Centre has been organised and successfully in excess of 20 years. It is a unique visitor attraction and offers an alternative shopping experience as you are buying original work directly from the makers themselves. Each year they have an extensive rolling programme of over 200 individual businesses selling a wide variety of diverse arts and crafts interspersed with seasonal food and drink.

CARDIFF CHRISTMAS MARKET runs until Monday 23rd December. The trading hours will be: Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm, with a late night till 7pm every Thursday. Sunday 10am to 5pm. If you’re in town, especially in the evening, it’s always worth a visit. To find out more, go here. MARKET

WINTER WONDERLAND

With an undercover ice rink, seasonal activities, bars and food stalls, all against the backdrop of the iconic civic centre and spectacular lights you really don’t want to miss a visit (or two) to the WINTER WONDERLAND.

You can enjoy some Ice Skating at the Cardiff Castle Ice Rink. There are various session times and prices, with a whole range of discounts available – HERE.

It’s not just about the skating! Cardiff’s WINTER WONDERLAND has a funfair including a wide range of games and rides, including familiar favourite, the Big Wheel. The Sur La Piste bar has two floors and is the perfect place to catch up with friends and family over a mulled wine – or just sit back and relax on the sofas while enjoying a hot chocolate. The authentic wooden chalet is guaranteed to get everyone in the festive mood.

For more details go HERE.

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WINTER ADVENTURES AT DYFFRYN GARDENS

Create moments to remember as you explore the gardens this winter. With the seasonal trails to guide you, there’s plenty to see as you wander through the grounds.

They know Christmas is a special time of year at Dyffryn Gardens, and can’t wait to welcome you for the winter season. Enjoy their winter trails, stop for a spot of Christmas shopping, or warm up with a bite to eat in the Gallery Café. The gardens will be open every day, except on the 25th and 26th December. 

Like many charities, they’re facing unprecedented challenges due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, they are focussing on providing safe and enjoyable visits during an uncertain time over winter, and as such have made the decision not to hold Father Christmas events this season. They hope that you’ll join them as we watch the gardens transform with the seasons during this magical time, and very much appreciate your continued support.  

THE CHRISTMAS REINDEER TRAIL 

Dates: 6th December – 4th January, 10am – 4pm

Price: This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Father Christmas has lost his reindeer and needs you to help him find them, they’re hiding in the gardens and when you discover them, they’ll have games for you to play. Games like stick the nose on the reindeer, snowball and spoon race, guess the Christmas song and more. The kind of fun that gets every member of the family, from youngest to oldest, laughing together.

After finding all the specially made wooden reindeers (made using recycled materials and wood found in the gardens), you can do some Christmassy colouring in the cosily decorated second-hand bookshop and then warm up with a hot chocolate and seasonal treat at the Gardens Café.

All indoor spaces have been adorned with hundreds of handmade decorations (also made by our team of volunteers) and there’s a lovely opportunity for a family photo in front of our giant “Nadolig Llawen” sign at the end of an avenue of Christmas trees.

WINTER WALKS 

Dates: 1st January – 28th February, 10am – 4pm

Price: Free, but normal admission fees apply

Although winter may not seem like peak season for gardens, at Dyffryn the grounds are far from dormant. This self-guided walk will take you to seasonal highlights. Find out how the gardeners are working to conserve the historic grounds, see the early blooms begin to flower or discover how they are encouraging biodiversity across site. With the gardens changing as the weeks go by, there’ll be something new to see each time you visit.

Pick-up your winter wander leaflet from the Welcome Centre when you arrive, it has a full-site map of the gardens and all the most interesting sections of the garden during the winter are highlighted so you can easily find them. Features such as snowdrops, early crocuses, Christmas Box, and ornamental grass. The map also points out where you can find our Glasshouse for a warming taste of the tropical even in the heart of winter.

On the back of the leaflet you can learn a bit about what our gardeners are up to over the winter and what we need to do to prepare the gardens for the spring.

If you’d like details on any of these lovely events, just go HERE.

ST FAGANS CHRISTMAS

Christmas Traditions: The Mari Lwyd & Hunting of the Wren Performances

They’ve got a festive pick and mix for you this year. Each weekend in December there’ll be a host of Christmassy fun to get you in the mood for the big day.

Explore the historic buildings which will be decorated in their contemporary Christmas finest, indulge in some festive food and drink from our restaurant, or take part in one of our seasonal events. 

They are expecting an appearance from a special Christmas character. Can you spot him as you walk around the Museum? 

Christmas Traditions

Come along to witness two of the most well-known Welsh customs during the Christmas season, The Mari Lwyd and Hunting of the Wren*, performed by Cwmni Dawns Werin Caerdydd. 

These unusual ancient Welsh winter traditions include singing, dancing, and a horse’s skull!

*No wrens will be harmed!

Details HERE.

Preparing for Christmas at Llwyn-yr-Eos Farmhouse

Come along to Llwyn-yr-Eos Farmhouse to see how the mistress of the house prepares for Christmas.

Find out more about Christmas preparations during the 1930s. See the festive decorations and find out about Christmas foods. 

The mistress of the house will be at home and receiving guests between 10.30am-1pm and 2pm-3.30pm on Saturday 13th December.

Details HERE.

Christmas Trail: Runaway Reindeer

The mischevious elves have left the stable door open, and now Father Christmas’ reindeer have scattered all across the museum grounds! With Christmas Eve fast approaching, they need your help to find them and bring them back to the North Pole in time for the most important night of the year.

Booking Information 

• You will receive 1 trail sheet and a pencil to complete your trail.
• You are welcome to complete one as a family or buy one for each person.
• Trail tickets are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for an alternative site or event.
• Please scan your e-ticket with a member of staff on site to collect your trail.
• Ticketholders can complete the trail any time between 29 November – 23 December 2025, however each ticket can only be redeemed once during this time.
• Language: Trails are bilingual.
• Age: Suitable for age 4+, younger children may need help.
• Where possible, we have used eco-friendly display materials and will use these again.
• Most of the St Fagans trail will be outdoors, therefore please wear suitable clothing and footwear for all weather.
• Note: We expect to be very busy over December weekends especially. The weather may affect our ability to park cars in the overflow car park and you may have to queue for a parking space.
• Your ticket price does not include parking. Car parking charge is £7 per day.

Details HERE.

Carols in the Chapel

There’s nothing like a bit of carol singing to get you in the mood for the festive season. 

Head to the Museum’s 18th century Pen-rhiw Chapel for St Fagans’ favourite sing-a-long. There’ll be lots of traditional tunes and a few more contemporary Christmas classics.

Booking Information 

• A ticket is required for each participant. 
• All pushchairs must be left outside the historic buildings.
• Sessions are available in Welsh or English. The language of each session will be clearly labelled on the ticketing page. Please ensure you select the correct ticket for your language choice.
• Accessibility: Due to the constraints of the historic building, the chapel has a limited amount of space for wheelchair users. Please select a wheelchair space when purchasing your ticket. 
• Your Carols in the Chapel ticket gives you a 10% discount on hot drinks at the Museum’s cafes on the day of your event.
• Ticketholders should arrive promptly and no more than 15 minutes before their allocated start time. Please allow up to 10 minutes to walk from the Museum car park to Penrhiw Chapel.
• Weather-appropriate clothing should be worn. 
• You will be required to wait outside until your allocated start time.
• Your ticket price does not include parking. Car parking charge is £7 per day.
• All tickets are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for an alternative date or event.  Please ensure that you are 100% happy with your choices before booking.
• Assistance dogs only for this event please.
• This is a historical building, and although accessible, visitors should be aware that the floor is uneven in places.
• Seating is allocated on a first come first served basis, please note that seating is on both ground and first floor level.
• Please contact events@museumwales.ac.uk prior to booking your ticket to discuss any accessibility requirements. 
• Hynt tickets are available for this event. Please ensure you have connected your Hynt card with your Amgueddfa Cymru account to access free tickets for carers and companions through this scheme. 

Details HERE.

SANTA DASH

Poor man will need to work off all that food so this is the perfect way to do it. The Calon Hearts SANTA DASH will see thousands of people dressed as Santa for this fun spectacle at Cardiff Bay. It’s basically a 5K race to raise money for Welsh Hearts.

Get along early for the warm-up, with the race heading off at noon from Roald Dahl Pass. It’s all perfectly safe, ELF & safety have checked it out.

Cheer and watch, as lots of festive costumes pass you by. Take some pictures too, it looks brilliant. Most of all this is supporting a great cause, so if you see someone with a bucket, make sure you have change (or notes) to drop in.

The Santa Dash is on Sunday 7th December at Roald Dahl Pass, Cardiff Bay. Times are to be confirmed but usually…..

Details HERE.

• 10:00 am: Festivities will begin
• 11:30 am: Warm-up
• 12:00 pm: Dash begins

CHRISTMAS AT BUTE PARK

Always an annual favourite in the capital, now in its fifth year. Take a mile long stroll through an enchanted world of illumination, uniquely crafted by world leading lighting designers.

Food lovers are in for a festive treat too with a brand-new line-up of leading local street traders coming to the city centre event.

As well as a feast of twinkling illuminations to get you into the spirit, Christmas at Bute Park is a real destination for foodies, offering an array of tasty street-food and bars so you can maximise the Christmas experience. 

Read our feature HERE.

CHEPSTOW

SEASONAL SCENTS: MEDIEVAL CHRISTMAS DECORATION WORKSHOP

Discover how people celebrated Christmas in medieval times and the role that scents played.

Learn which ingredients were local and which had travelled from afar. Learn their stories while you make a scented decoration to take home.

This is a drop-in activity. Suitable for all ages.

It’s on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th December between 10am and 3pm. Details HERE.

REINDEER TRAIL

Santa’s reindeers have been grazing (and pooing!) at Chepstow Castle.

But which reindeer has done its business all over Santa’s boots?

Come and search for clues and find the light-up reindeer hidden in the castle – in this festive poo-dunnit!

Please note that pencils will not be handed out with this activity. Pencils will be available to purchase from the Ticket Office at 95p, or you are welcome to bring your own with you on the day.

You do not need to book tickets for this event.

It runs from the 19th December between 10am and 3pm. Details HERE.

CRICKHOWELL

EBBW VALLEY BRASS AT CHRISTMAS

Join Ebbw Valley Brass for a Christmas Concert at the Clarence Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday, 4th December.  Enjoy an evening of festive favourites, Christmas classics with a modern twist and featured soloists from the Band.

With a varied programme, there’ll be plenty for all tastes and we’re delighted to be welcoming St Mary’s Church in Wales Primary School Choir as our special guests!

Tickets £10 on the door and from band members.

Details and tickets HERE.

CWMBRAN

SANTA’S COMMUNITY SLEIGH PARADE

Santa’s Back on his sleigh for 2025 and he can’t wait to see all the boys and girls! BUT they need a huge favour! Santas Elves reported back to the North Pole that last year, the boys and girls were JUST NOT LOUD ENOUGH!! So this year they have a special mission! Do you think you’re up for the challenge?

Santa needs you to line the streets (on the pavements staying safe) and bring your loudest instruments!! Pots and pans, wooden spoons, whistles, bells and loud voices and we need you to make as much noise as you can so everybody else knows Santa’s on his way! We know you can do it! Santa’s Helpers will be fully loaded with Chocolate treats for EVERY child! Everybody is welcome! Just come and find a safe spot on the route to see Santa and his friends.

Santa will TRY and stop for photos and high fives but will depend on traffic, weather etc! So please don’t be disappointed if we don’t manage to stop you’ll still receive your treat! 😍

EBBW VALE

GOVILON

VICTORIAN CAROL WALK

The Victorian themed walk goes round Govilon village. Starting at the bottom of Elms Road at 6pm and ending at Christchurch for light refreshments.

ALL ages welcome for this family-friendly even, and Victorian costume optional! This really is the perfect way to get in the Christmas mood! Once the date is confirmed we’ll let you know.

LLANTRISANT

ROYAL MINT CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE

The countdown is on for the most wonderful time of the year! Meet Santa and his elves as you venture through an enchanting workshop and discover timeless tales of Christmas traditions that begin with a single coin.

Please note: The Royal Mint Christmas Experience does not include a factory tour and is, instead, a festive experience designed for younger folk. To explore the history and engineering processes of The Royal Mint, please join us for one of our award-winning tours, which will resume in 2026.

For details and to book go HERE.

MERTHYR TYDFIL

NEATH

LUMINATE

This is definitely one of those, wrap up warm, grab the family, pack your camera and get out and have an amazing time events. LUMINATE WALES, Wales’s number one immersive light trail, is set to brighten up the darkest of winter nights, as it returns to Margam Country Park, South Wales’s historic country estate in Port Talbot.

Visitors can experience the mile-long illuminated journey filled with creative new installations for 2025. The light trail, which has welcomed 1million visitors nationwide, since it launched in 2019 is an after-dark experience and one which is sure to captivate all ages – an event not to be missed in the lead-up to the festive season.

Luminate is at Margam Country Park through to Wednesday 31^st December. For details and to book yourself in go HERE

Just a little heads up, some dates are showing limited availability so it may be best to get in quick before you lost your preferred date.

You can read our feature HERE.

ABERDULAIS CHRISTMAS OPEN DAY

Father Christmas is coming to Aberdulais and he’s bringing with him a lot of Christmas spirit in the form of stalls, storytelling, crafting and carols.

Aberdulais will be open from 10.30am-3.30pm, there’ll be stalls where you can buy Christmas gifts from local artisans, our volunteers will be reading Christmas stories in the second-hand bookshop, there’ll be family crafts where you can make cards, decorations and masks and if that’s not enough Christmas cheer for you the Waterwheel Singers will be giving a choir performance at lunch time. And of course, Father Christmas couldn’t let all this cheer happen without him so he’ll be visiting for the day as well.

This event is completely free to attend and there’s no booking needed.

For more details go HERE.

ELF THE MUSICAL

Based on the cherished 2003 New Line Cinema hit, Elf features songs by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (Disney’s Aladdin On Broadway, The Wedding Singer), with a book by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone). 

Buddy, a young orphan mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. 

The would-be elf is raised unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. 

With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity.

Faced with the harsh reality that his father is on the naughty list, and his step-brother doesn’t even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. 

This modern day holiday classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner elf. After all, the best way to spread Christmas Cheer is singing loud for all to hear.

The show runs from the 2nd to 6th December. Details and tickets HERE.

NEWPORT

CHRISTMAS AT TREDEGAR HOUSE

Unwrap 500 years of Christmas at Tredegar House, with twinkling lights, a magical atmosphere and over 80 decorated trees. Be transported through the generations and explore how the Morgan family celebrated Christmas, find out how the festive season was spent in the house from Tudor feasts to Victorian traditions and  up to the 1950s when St Joseph’s school were here. Find out more about the nuances of evolving tradition, and how Christmas was celebrated through 500 years of Tredegar House.

To start the Christmas season off, look for festive lights throughout the gardens and beautiful decorations in the mansion house from 4th December and embark on a cheery discovery of the Tredegar House Christmas scene.

House opening times:

• 4 December, 4pm – 7:30pm (last entry 7pm)
• 5 to 8 December, 11am – 3:30pm (last entry 2:45pm)
• ‘Late night’ 12 to 23 December, 12pm – 7:30pm (last entry 7pm)
• ‘Twixmas’ 27 to 31 December, 11am – 3:30pm (last entry 2:45pm)
• Closed 24, 25 and 26 December.
• Check the homepage for more details.

SANTA AND SCROOGE VISIT

Two very different characters will be visiting Tredegar House this Christmas. On 13 – 14 December and 20 – 23 December. Father Christmas will be roaming the grounds spreading Christmas cheer ahead of the big day, while Scrooge will be in the house trying to escape the festivities.

Normal admission charges apply and appearances are on select days only (from 1pm – 7pm). Be sure to check the schedule carefully before visiting to avoid disappointment. Come along for a festive experience full of cheer and a dash of magical Christmas mischief.

LATE NIGHT CHRISTMAS OPENING

On 12th – 23rd December, they are open until 8pm so everyone will have a chance to enjoy a magical Christmas at Tredegar House. The Brewhouse will also be open on the late nights until 8pm, so come along and experience Christmas cheer after hours.

WINTER WALKS

Wrap up warm and take a stroll through Tredegar’s frosty grounds. Be careful not to slip, take in the surroundings of the formal gardens and immerse yourself in the long past festive celebrations enjoyed by the Morgan family through the centuries.  

In the parkland, the lake often freezes at this time of year and on a frosty day the paths glisten making the garden and park a magical wintery wonderland to explore.

Christmas at TREDEGAR HOUSE is always special, and a lovely place to visit anytime. To see everything they have on offer, go HERE.

CHRISTMAS AT THE CELTIC MANOR RESORT

Even if you only go for a walk through and a drink at the CELTIC MANOR RESORT you will feel incredibly festive when you leave, they always do Christmas very well and this year is no exception. To get you in the mood, take a look at the video below.

It’s difficult to go through everything, but here’s a few highlights……..

SANTA’S TEA PARTY TILL 24TH DECEMBER

A magical experience for the whole family, share an unforgettable memory with everyone sat together and join us for seasonal holiday festivities, as we welcome Santa and his helpers back to the Caernarfon Ballroom at Celtic Manor Resort for 2025.

6th, 7th, 13th 14th & 22nd December
£40 adults, £30 children

16th, 17th, 18th December
£36 adults, £26 children

20th, 21st, 23rd & 24th December
£50 adults, £40 children

More information HERE.

CIRQUE SCROOGE (ICC WALES)

Step into the enchanting world of A Christmas Carol at ICC Wales this festive season as Charles Dickens narrates his beloved tale with imagination and humour.

Watch as the reluctant Ebenezer Scrooge transforms, discovering the true spirit of Christmas and granting Tiny Tim’s heartfelt wish for a dazzling Christmas circus!

The show runs from 12th December through to 3rd January. Details HERE.

They have some much going on right through the holiday season, head to the Celtic Manor website for more – HERE.

PEMBREY

PEMBREY LIGHT TRAIL (4th – 21st December)

Immerse yourself in the magical wonderland of the Pembrey Country Park Light Trail! This enchanting event is returning for another year, and the best part… The Light Trail is FREE to enter! (Parking fee applies, no parking fee required if you have an annual parking permit)

FATHER CHRISTMAS VISIT (6th – 21st December)

We all know how busy Father Christmas is at this time of year. He is stopping off to see all the boys and girls before he heads back to Lapland before the big day. Come and create some Christmas magic by bring the children along to see him in his cabin, will they be on his good or naughty list?

SENSORY SENSITIVE FATHER CHRISTMAS VISIT (9th & 16th December)

Pembrey offer a special Sensory-Friendly Session for our Christmas Light Trail, designed to create a comfortable and calming environment for visitors with additional needs. This session allows everyone to enjoy the magic of Christmas at their own pace.

TUBING & TOBOGGANS BY NIGHT

Fun on the slopes!! Join us for some thrill seeking speed on the slopes during Pembrey Light Trail Available dates: 4th December to 21st December Time: 5pm – 9pm

CHRISTMAS WREATH MAKING

All materials and guidance provided. A festive atmosphere with mulled wine & mince pies, Your own handcrafted wreath to take home.

For details on all those events go HERE.

PONTYPOOL

SANTA RUN

Hitch up your sleigh for TORFAEN’S SANTA RUN and bring a flash of red to Pontypool Park with hundreds of runners dressed as Santa Claus. Back for it’s 5th year, this brilliant event is not only great fun but is raising awareness and funds for Age Connects Torfaen. They are an organisation who reduce isolation and loneliness amongst older people.

Taking place on Sunday 1st December, you will join hundreds of others, in their best festive fancy dress to run, jog or walk 5k or 2k (depending on how many mince pies you’ve had) around Pontypool Park. The route consists of 1 or 2 laps of the already measured Pontypool Parkrun route.

Festive entertainment will be provided around the route, which is suitable for dogs and buggies. All participants will receive a medal and goody bag.

The SANTA RUN is on Saturday 5th December from 12 noon at Pontypool Park. To get more details and to sign up, go here RUN

PONTYPRIDD

CHRISTMAS CRACKER

Get ready for a magical start to the holiday season at Pontypridd’s Christmas Cracker Event! This festive celebration features a lively outdoor cinema, a vibrant market with unique stalls, and exciting children’s entertainment.

Santa’s Grotto will once again be hosted at Pontypridd Museum on Saturday, December 6th, 13th and 20th from 11am to 3pm. Entry to the grotto is free, with voluntary donations to the Mayor’s charity gratefully received.

More details HERE.

SWANSEA

WATERFRONT WONDERLAND

Waterfront Winterland will be open till 4th January

Get your ice skates at the ready!

Waterfront Winterland is back this year in Swansea and to kick start the festivities, tickets for ice skating are on sale now! 

The ice rink at Swansea Waterfront Winterland offers a magical skating experience, set in a festive undercover setting to ensure fun regardless of the weather. Nestled in the heart of the event, the rink allows visitors to glide on the ice while soaking in the enchanting holiday atmosphere. With its sheltered design, it provides the perfect winter activity for families, friends, and couples to enjoy the thrill of skating in a cozy, protected environment.

What’s new for 2025?

Live music stage

Live music will be played Friday Saturday and Sundays in the undercover seating area near the bar 5-10pm.

Covered seating

Enjoy Food and drink rain or shine with the new undercover seating area.

Covered Ice skating viewing area

They’ve added a covered viewing area to keep you out of the rain when watching your loved ones Ice skate.

Christmas Tree maze

Get lost! All new magical Christmas Tree maze for you to navigate your way around.

More details HERE.

SANTA’S GROTTO AT DAN-Yr-OGOF

Around an hour from Cardiff and north of Swansea, The National Showcaves Centre for Wales is an absolute must visit at anytime of the year.

DAN-YR-OGOF CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE is something more than a little different. This is a place to capture that special ‘magical’ Christmas experience that the kids (and you) will remember for the rest of the year?

For details and tickets, go HERE.

SANTA’S GROTTO – GOWER FRESH CHRISTMAS TREES

Wander through a twinkling Winter Wonderland filled with talking trees, cheeky elves, and even polar bears before meeting Santa himself for a special gift.

You can also feed real reindeer in the Barn and handpick your own Christmas tree to take home.

More details HERE.

TALBOT GREEN

TREORCHY

USK

20 THINGS TO DO ON CHRISTMAS EVE

• Spend Time With Loved Ones
• Sing Christmas Carols
• Go For a Walk To Look at Christmas Lights
• Close The Curtains and Turn On The Christmas Lights
• Take Pictures and Post Them
• Open ONE Pressie
• Make a Special Meal
• Dress Up Like It’s a Special Evening (which it is)
• Get Snuggled Up On The Sofa
• Watch A Festive Movie
• Follow Santa – There are Apps Which Let You Track His Progress
• TV Off, Christmas Music On
• Leave a Mince Pie For Santa & Carrot For Rudolph
• Drop In On The Neighbours
• Bake. Whatever You Make, It’s A Great Time to Get in the Kitchen With the Kids
• Go To Church – If That’s What You Do, Plan It Into Your Evening
• Make A Hot Chocolate With All The Extras. It’s Christmas After All.
• Build A Snowman (If We Have Any Snow That Is)
• Prepare What You Can For Christmas Dinner
• Go To Bed Early

ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS DAY

Go For a Dip In The Sea

On Christmas Day, all across South Wales and indeed up and down the country, people are putting on their Santa hats, maybe fancy dress, or unbelievably, a swimming costume. They then race into the freezing sea for fun and charity. Like the lovely folk in Tenby.

Get Out On Your Bike

If you get a bike off Santa, or maybe you have one collecting dust in the shed, Christmas Day (weather permitting) is the perfect time to take your two-wheeler out on the streets.

Go To A Christmas Service or Concert

If you’ve had enough of the TV and kitchen, then one of the many services and Christmas concerts are a really good thing to do. It’s sociable and incredibly festive. And really no one minds if you can’t sing, just join in.

Help Others

There are so many charities in need volunteers all year round, but especially at Christmas. If you have a few hours free and want to do something different and very good, why not offer to lend a hand. It could even be dropping in to a neighbour who is alone on the day.

Tour South Wales

I know what you’re thinking, how ridiculous. Actually, there is no better day to tour this amazing region of ours. Very few cars, relatively empty streets, what’s not to enjoy? Our parks, beaches and countryside are all yours (almost).

Borrow a Dog

If you don’t have your own, trust us, a friend will gladly lend you theirs. While they veg-out, you can lead-up their pet and get out for a long walk in the fresh air. The dog will love you for it and you’ll probably love yourself enough to have another mince pie.

Pamper Yourself

This is precisely what it says on the tin. If you don’t want to leave the house why not flip things on their head and instead of pigging out in front of the TV, pamper yourself. Nice bath, music, candles, the whole works. All day Christmas PJ’s are so last year.

A LETTER FROM YOU KNOW WHO

We don’t know if this will help but it’s here for you to do as you please. We’re sure you know what we mean………

MAKE A SNOW GLOBE

The shimmering magic of snowfall is always transfixing, whether it’s outside your window or inside this classic toy. Homemade globes let you create a wintry scene straight out of your own imagination. Thanks to Martha Stewart, here’s a simple way that you and the kids can make your own globes. They are really easy too.

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SONGS

CHRISTMAS TOP TEN

Christmas wouldn’t be the same without a good old festive tune. Noddy Holder has made a pension out of it for goodness sake. We walk into a shop and the same old favourites will be ringing out, but no matter what you think, I can guarantee you’ll be singing along to every one of them/

Here at SOUTH WALES LIFE we’ve been around the music game for a lot of years, and I mean a lot. While we would never disagree with any favourite festive song list, we think ours are real classics…….

• LONELY THIS CHRISTMAS – MUD
• MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE – SHAKIN’ STEVENS (Had To Really)
• DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS – CHRIS REA
• STOP THE CAVALRY – JONA LEWIE
• SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN – BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
• MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY – SLADE
• I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERYDAY – ROY WOOD & WIZZARD
• STEP INTO CHRISTMAS – ELTON JOHN

CHRISTMAS RECIPES