Festival group looks forward to a Santa sleigh parade after the disappointments of lockdown
LLANDAFF North Festival Group is looking to bring back a little Christmas magic to the community after celebration plans were cancelled last year.
The Llandaff North and Gabalfa Christmas trail is set to go ahead on December 12 from 4.30pm and will see Santa parade through both villages on his sleigh.
The volunteers could even organise trips to excited youngsters in specific houses if residents of the two villages contact the group by November 30.
Venues such as The Railway pub, the Community Hub and Mario’s Barbers will also be lit up with Christmas lights to bring festive cheer back to the community.
The celebration will not see a traditional switching on of Christmas lights due to a lack of funds but the group’s chair, Lewys Wootten, hopes the occasion will still be a magical one.
“We know how much the Christmas lights mean to Llandaff North and although we won’t be able to bring the usual lights back this year, we hope that we can sow the seeds of bringing two amazing communities together and find ways to work together in the future,” he said.
Mr Wootten grew up in Llandaff North and owns Lew’s Coffee Shop in the Community Hub. He joined the group when it was formed 10 years ago.
The festival group relies on funding from the community to make events such as the one this Christmas happen. The effects of lockdown and the summer festival being washed out in 2022 left the group’s finances decimated and unable to go ahead with any celebrations since.
However, this Christmas Mr Wootten says the group has a “renewed energy to bring loved events back to Llandaff North and to Gabalfa for the first time”.
Mr Wootten and the group want to run fundraisers next year in the hope that he and the group can bring Christmas lights back to the community in 2024.
All Saints Church in Llandaff North will be hosting folk singer Tré Burt for a show in April and proceeds will be split between the group and the church. This will be the first gig at the church in over six years.
The group is made up of seven volunteers but Mr Wootten says they are always looking for more people willing to help the community.
- You can donate to the Illuminate Llandaff North and Gabalfa GoFundMe page online
- Email the Llandaff North Festival Group at llandaffnorthandgabalfa@outlook.com
