Pontypridd will be merry and bright this Yuletide, with further investment made by the Town Council into the town’s Christmas lights. Adding to the new lights unveiled in the town centre in 2020, this year additional areas will be included in the festive glow with the Christmas lights now extending to Taff Street, Market Reserve and Church Street. The lights will be switched on in mid-November.

A special visitor will be in town in the run-up to Christmas. Pontypridd Museum will be home to Santa’s Grotto on November 27th and December 4th, 11th and 18th from 11am - 3pm.

Come and meet Santa, who’ll be giving out selection boxes and sweets as early Christmas presents. A visit to the Grotto is 50p per child, with all money donated to the Mayor’s Charity Appeal.

Family Christmas trails are back again this year. In the weeks before Christmas, a Victorian themed trail will run through the town centre, with prizes for completed trails. And why not blow away the cobwebs between Christmas and New Year by following the 12 Doors of Christmas Trail on Pontypridd Common. More details for each trail will be revealed on the Town Council’s social media pages soon.

Schools in the Town Council area will all receive a Christmas tree and are invited to take part in a competition to decorate the Christmas tree of the future. In a continuation of the Town Council’s focus on tackling climate change, schools are asked to decorate their tree using recycled and sustainable materials. Pontypridd Town Mayor, Carl Thomas will judge each entry. The closing date is December 1st.

Pontypridd residents can join in the creative Christmas cheer by sharing pictures or videos of their own Christmas trees or Christmassy window decorations on social media. Don’t forget to tag Pontypridd Town Council when posting.

Budding young artists will be pleased to see the return of the annual Christmas card competition with a top prize of £25. Working in partnership with Kip McGrath Pontypidd, the Town Council is calling for entries from children up to the age of 11 who live or attend school or activity groups in the area.

All entries will either be displayed in the Pontypridd Museum or laminated and hung on the Christmas tree in Pontypridd Town Centre.

The competition will be judged in three age groups:

Age 3-6 (Reception, Year Groups 1 & 2)

Age 7-9 (Year Group 3 & 4)

Age 10-11 (Year Group 5 & 6)

The winners in each age group will receive a prize of £25.00 and have their card framed. In the run up to Christmas, the three winners will also see their Christmassy creations on the big screen on the EE building in Pontypridd Town Centre.

Participants are asked to design a Christmas card (cover only). The card should measure 15¼cm x 21cm (6” x 8”) (A5). The closing date for entries is Thursday 2nd December.

Please include full name, age or year group and school/group of the child on the back.

Cards can be brought into Pontypridd Museum or sent via email to: info@pontypriddtowncouncil.gov.uk

Pontypridd Town Mayor, Carl Thomas said, “These past two years have been incredibly tough on all residents of Pontypridd. We want to bring back the cheer of Christmas and celebrate the season with our community, which has shown amazing resilience. We’re looking forward to safely sharing the joys of Christmas with you all once again.”

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