Cardiff city centre will turn into a festive fiesta on November 10, when Christmas really comes to town.
Providing extra festive cheer and Christmas sparkle will be a brand new family event called ‘Step Into Christmas’.
A variety of entertainment will fill the city centre’s streets, from tap dancing turkeys to carol singers offering a Christmas cracker of fun entertainment.
Step into the city centre on Thursday, November 10 between 4 -8pm and you will be immersed into a world filled with lights, music, magic and entertainment to herald the start of the festive season.
Entertainment will be city centre wide, with over 28 acts taking part in 80 performances. Queen Street, The Hayes and around the Castle Quarter in High Street and St John Street will be bursting with festive cheer.
Children’s favourites Ben and Holly from Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom will bring even more magic to the evening and will be meeting and greeting families at various intervals throughout the evening.
The band stand at High Street will be the venue for a number of performances including the brilliant, brass band; The Red Hot Santas who will belt out festive favourites alongside fun, up-tempo band The Sneakers and Victorian Carol Singers who will be dressed in traditional costume.
Step Into Christmas also marks the start of late night Christmas shopping in the city centre and the return of the Christmas Market in St John Street, Working Street and The Hayes with its traditional wooden chalets laden with hand-crafted Christmas gifts and of course seasonal food and drink favourites.
Santa’s Grotto will also return with his official Cardiff residence being based on Churchill Way.
Over on Queen Street, The Lord Mayor of Cardiff Cllr Prof Delme Bowen will officially switch on the Christmas Tree lights at 5pm.
Joining in with the party spirit will be Cardiff Central Library and The Cardiff Story who will open until 8pm for people to enjoy their facilities . Cardiff Market will also open late for the first time for this special event.
The Tourist Information Centre in The Old Library will be staying open until 8pm, with a range of Welsh gifts, books, CDs, calendars and souvenirs on sale as well as a selection of Christmas cards. There are also lockers available for anyone who wants to leave their bags somewhere safe while they carry on shopping or enjoying the evening’s entertainment.
Executive Member for Sport Culture and Leisure, Cllr Nigel Howells, said: “Step Into Christmas is every child’s dream, a city centre full of everything Christmas! The entertainment programme is jammed packed to keep the young and the young at heart entertained. The night promises to be very special and with so much to see and do I would encourage families to come along early to make sure they get to see everything.
“We have changed the format of Christmas Celebrations this year so that more families can enjoy the festive entertainment for longer. We have also worked closely with the Cardiff Retail Partnership to have an event which marks the countdown to Christmas and launches late night shopping in the capital.
“I am sure everyone will be in the festive mood once they have visited the Step Into Christmas Extravaganza.”
Cardiff Council will be offering free parking at Cardiff East Park and Ride site from 3pm based on a first come first served basis. The service that is usually £3 per car per day runs from Pentwyn Interchange to Dumfries Place via Newport Road.
Following Step Into Christmas, Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland with Admiral Open Air Ice Rink will open on November 17. Now in its 11th year the festive favourite which is situated in Cardiff’s iconic Civic Centre will run up until 2nd January 2012.
For more information regarding Step into Christmas and Winter Wonderland visit www.cardiffswinterwonderland.com or for regular updates send your details to [email protected]
