The annual celebration was cancelled last year due to Covid
AFTER a year out, Rhiwbina Christmas Festival is returning this winter season to bring some much-needed festive cheer.
The festival, which is organised by Rhiwbina Events Team, will take place from 4pm to 6pm on Saturday in Rhiwbina Village.
The local tradition promises plenty of festive excitement, with shopping, food and drink, live music and a visit from Santa
The winner will be announced of Rhiwbina’s Best-dressed Christmas Window competition, which runs throughout this week, and the Christmas tree lights will be turned on in Rhiwbina Village.
The festival was cancelled last year due to the pandemic. In its absence, residents organised an “alternative” Christmas Festival, hosting a series of socially-distanced events. These included making Christmas trees out of recycled material, a virtual Christmas lights switch-on, and carols sung over Facebook Live.
“Our main driver, as volunteers, in working so hard to make the festival evening a success is the realisation that for many residents very few events have been able to start or go back to how they used to meet,” said Eleanor Sanders, a member of Rhiwbina Events Team.
“The festival provides an outdoor event where hopefully everyone feels safe and can once again be together- it gives a little light relief in what has been a very difficult year for so many.”
Despite the success of last year’s alternatives, the return of the in-person Christmas festival has sparked excitement among the local community, with more than 1,100 people marking themselves as “interested” on Facebook.
“The last few years have been very challenging indeed, and the Rhiwbina Community have, as always, rallied around and helped each other so much,” said Rhiwbina and Pantmawr councillor Jayne Cowan.
“I am pleased that we have an event this coming weekend, which should be a much-needed boost to the shops who have worked so hard over this period to support the community, and I hope residents will be able to support them.”
The Rhiwbina Events Team has already begun ushering in Christmas in the area, raising funds for a Christmas tree that has gone up in the village centre and organising a “Santa Tour” of Rhiwbina and Pantmawr on Sunday.
The event saw Santa tour Rhiwbina and Pantmawr on a truck-mounted sled, flanked by cycling elves and PCSOs.
Santa’s helpers also collected money for Holibobs Children’s Cancer Charity, a Rhiwbina-based charity that helps children diagnosed with cancer spend precious time together as a family through short breaks and holidays.
Established in 2018, Holibobs have provided almost 90 holidays to children diagnosed with cancer or leukaemia.
“We couldn’t have done this without our local community of supporters, it just wouldn’t have been possible,” said Holibobs trustee Liz Gillen. “We are 100% reliant on fundraising as we receive no grants or funding from other sources.”
The money raised for us at events like the Santa Tour of Rhiwbina keep us going, helping us to continue to support families going through the very worst of times, and we are all so grateful to everyone that helps and donates.”
