The countdown to Christmas in Swansea has started as work begins on setting up a festive Alpine Village in the heart of Museum Park.
Swansea Council in conjunction with partners will be offering a safe and festive Christmas this winter with new lights, a Christmas Market, Christmas trees in the city centre and a Virtual Christmas Parade.
Swansea Castle and Wind Street will be among the local landmarks lit up as part of the festive attractions being laid on to brighten up the countdown to Christmas which starts from the middle of November.
Sayers Events – the Council’s delivery partner for the annual Christmas attraction on Museum Park – will be arriving on site this weekend to begin setting up the Giant Wheel ahead of opening a new festive Alpine Village from November 14.
And although there will be no Christmas Parade this year due to the Covid-19 restrictions, there will be a Virtual Christmas Parade broadcast on November 15 ahead of the Christmas lights going on the following day.
Robert Francis-Davies, Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, said the council is making sure there’s lots of festive fun on offer while helping keep everyone safe for Christmas.
He said: “The Covid restrictions and the need to socially distance mean we have had to plan our celebrations differently this year to ensure people’s safety.
“But we’ve put together an exciting programme of events and attractions to help Swansea celebrate Christmas safely.
“We’ll be lighting up the city centre with a new lighting scheme, including some additional features on the Kingsway and the McDonald’s building on the edge of Castle Square. We’ll also have two Christmas trees, one in Castle Square and one at the top of Kingsway near the Dragon Hotel.”
He added: “There’s also going to be a Covid-safe traditional Christmas Market in and around Oxford Street with stalls offering a variety of festive gifts, treats, food and drink.
“Obviously we can’t run the usual Christmas Parade this year because of the pandemic. Our plan is to come back in 2021 with an amazing show that’ll be every bit the successor to the incredible event that we had last year.
“In the meantime for this year we’ll be going online with a Virtual Christmas Parade so everyone can enjoy it from the comfort of their own homes.”
Whilst Waterfront Winterland won’t be possible this year, our partners Sayers Events will be laying on a festive Alpine Village offering a number of attractions and festive food offerings. It’ll include an ice skating path through a festive woodland instead of the usual ice rink as well as the centre-piece Giant Wheel which is being set up from this coming weekend.
Construction activity is allowed during the Welsh Government’s firebreak which is why Sayers is going on site on Museum Park from this weekend to make sure the Alpine Village is ready to open from November 16.
All the arrangements for the festive countdown are being put in place in compliance with current Covid-19 regulations and all attractions will comply with any new arrangements announced by the Welsh Government after November 9.
He said: “Operating within the guidelines, we’re planning to do all that we can to help make Christmas enjoyable for our residents put while keeping everyone safe.
