Llanelli Carnival kicks off Christmas celebrations in style

Over 15,000 festive visitors filled the streets of Llanelli town centre on Friday, 22 November 2024, to celebrate the town’s annual Christmas Carnival.

Spectators were treated to a brilliant visual display, as this year’s carnival boasted a procession of 24 lorries, each one decorated and carrying various community groups from across Llanelli. A big thank you goes to the volunteers of Llanelli Round Table for coordinating the carnival parade and to Owens Group, M & M Greene and Oliver Jordan Transport for their tremendous support in supplying and driving the vehicles.

Congratulations to Frankie Rees, Maes Y Morfa School and Lucia Rees, Five Roads School, who were crowned the winners of the junior and infant categories in this year’s Christmas lights design competition. Both winning designs are proudly displayed in the town during the festive period.

The Christmas lights design competition is organised and facilitated by Carmarthenshire County Council, Llanelli Rural and Town Councils, Llanelli Chamber Of Trade and Commerce and Ymlaen Llanelli.

Regular attendees to the Llanelli Christmas light up, which takes place each year during the Carnival, will have noticed a new glow in the town’s Christmas lights. Brand new Christmas lights have been jointly purchased for the town centre by Carmarthenshire County Council - with money from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, Llanelli Town Council and Llanelli Rural Council.

Llanelli’s Christmas Carnival is one of the largest community Christmas events in Wales and is delivered in partnership with Carmarthenshire County Council, Llanelli Town Council, Llanelli Rural Council and Llanelli Round Table with the funfair supplied by South Wales Showmen’s Guild.

Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture and Tourism, Cllr Hazel Evans said:

What a fantastic family occasion and a spectacular visual event this year’s Llanelli Christmas Carnival was. It was truly wonderful to see the community spirit of Llanelli and visitors coming from far and wide to celebrate together.

The Council’s investment to upgrade the Christmas lights demonstrates our commitment to increase footfall in Llanelli’s town centre.”

Image, left to right:

Dyfrig Richards | Vice President Llanenlli Chamber of Trade & Commerce

Cllr John Prosser, Mayor Llanelli Town Council

Cllr Martin Davies, Chair, Llanelli Rural Council

Lesley Richards, Chair of Ymlaen Llanelli, Business Improvement District

Cllr Handel Davies, Chair, Carmarthenshire County Council

Cllr Andrew Stephens , Vice chairman Ymlean Llanelli

Lucia Rees, Infant winner

Frankie Rees, Junior winner