Community Council to “brighten residents’ lives” with festive events
TONGWYNLAIS is preparing to celebrate Christmas at the end of what the Community Council has described as a “difficult year for everyone”.
Events including visits from Father Christmas, carol singing and a Christmas lights competition have been organised.
Brian Griffiths, Chair of Tongwynlais Community Council, said: “It has been a difficult year for everyone, as a Council we have had to go virtual due to Covid. We were determined to try and brighten residents’ lives over the Christmas period, particularly the children.
“The Council have arranged the Christmas lights for a number of years, and I believe they get a little better each year.
“Tongwynlais Community Council and others who are organising events are very aware of the responsibilities of the health and safety rules set out by Government which will be adhered too.
“I would like on behalf of Tongwynlais Community Council and residents of Tongwynlais
to wish everyone a very happy and safe Christmas and look to 2021 with anticipation.”
In partnership with The Lewis Arms, the Community Council has arranged a competition to encourage families to put up their own impressive Christmas lights displays at home.
One family will win a family meal with wine at The Lewis Arms – paid for by the Community Council and the pub landlord – while the best-dressed street will win a plaque.
The village’s Christmas lights, which were installed on Thursday, November 19, are switched on daily between 3pm and midnight. The lights decorating the village can be seen on Merthyr Street, which runs through the centre of Tongwynlais.
In the Tongwynlais Village Facebook group, residents praised the “beautiful and very uplifting” Christmas lights, with one person saying that “the magic has begun”.
The Community Council had planned to put lights on the tree opposite the primary school, but it was advised not to based on regulations on gatherings and social distancing.
Tongwynlais Primary School will hold a Nativity this year, but parents will not be able to attend in person. Instead, the school will film each class’s play so parents can watch at home.
On two days in December, a small group from Councillor Linda Morgan’s Castell Coch Choral Society will sing carols in communal spaces in Tongwynlais.
Christmas events in Tongwynlais:
- December 8 and 9: Father Christmas will visit the village hall (places must be booked in advance, £2.50 entry fee). This is organised by the village hall committee (and Santa’s little helpers)
- December 7 and 14: Carol singing in Tongwynlais by a small group from Castell Coch Choral Society
- December 14: Independent judging for the Christmas lights competition
- December 24, 10:30pm: Christmas Eve Mass, St Michael and All Angels Church. There will also be a display of the stable with the holy family at the Church
- December 24, 10:30pm: Christmas Eve Mass, St Mary and James Church, Taff’s Well
In neighbouring Whitchurch, a crowdfunding effort raised almost £5,000 to ensure that the Christmas lights go up as planned.
