Here comes Santa Claus!

The Christmas countdown is underway, and Bridgend town centre is getting ready to welcome Santa and his reindeers with a range of festive events designed to get you into the Christmas spirit.

Rudolph and the gang will be leading the way through Bridgend town centre from 11am on 24 November before arriving at Santa’s grotto in Carnegie House, Wyndham Street.

Children and adults will be able to visit Santa in his grotto between 12pm – 4pm, and can also join him at 4:15pm opposite Barclays Bank in Dunraven Place to watch him switch on the town’s Christmas lights.

Santa will return to his grotto between 10am – 4pm on Saturday 1, Saturday 8 and Saturday 15 December. Entry will cost £5 and includes a visit to Santa, a gift and a photo opportunity, with all proceeds distributed among local charities by the Bridgend Lions Club and the CF31 Bid group.

You can book online to visit Santa in advance or by visiting Carnegie House in Wyndham Street between 10am – 4pm on each Saturday in the run-up to the event.

In anticipation for Santa’s arrival, the CF31 Christmas Stage by Corvo Lounge in Adare Street will be putting on a show for Santa and his reindeer as they pass through the town centre, and will follow this with live performances from local musicians throughout the day.

To end this fantastic festive day, Bridgend’s Christmas lights will be turned on. The stage at Queen St will house the Bridge FM stage where local entertainers will also be performing. It’s a day not to be missed!

The switching-on of Bridgend’s Christmas lights is always hugely popular and offers fun for all the family to enjoy.

I would like to thank Bridgend Town Council, local traders and CF31 BID for working in partnership to put these events together, and for helping the people of Bridgend County Borough to get into the festive spirit this Christmas.

Don’t forget that thanks to CF31 BID, shoppers can park at the Rhiw multi-storey with the first hour free of charge

Councillor Charles Smith, Cabinet Member for Education and Regeneration

Take a step back in time and enjoy a Bridgend Victorian Christmas event taking place in Dunraven Place and Wyndham Street from 10am – 4pm on Saturday 1 December. On Saturday 15th December Bridgend town centre will turn white for the ‘White Christmas in Bridgend’ event where the public can pop along between 11am – 4pm for a snow-filled day of fun.

Adding to the festive excitement, the monthly Christmas market will return on 15 December from 11am – 4pm with a fantastic range of great gifts for friends and family alike. Whether its bath bombs or local beers and ciders, there’ll be something to suit everyone - and don’t forget the hidden gems on offer at Bridgend Indoor Market where you’ll be sure to find something magical this Christmas.

The Christmas festivities in Bridgend Town Centre will finish with a bang on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 December with the Welsh Christmas Feastival.

Taking place between 11am – 4pm, this will showcase amazing Welsh food and produce, and includes craft stalls and Santa’s Christmas wrapping elves who will be on hand to help make your presents look extra festive.

These events offer Bridgend town centre a fantastic opportunity to showcase local shops and amenities. We want people to support Bridgend town centre this Christmas by shopping locally, and supporting our traders, so we also have introduced the Bridgend Gift Card.

The gift card is a pre-paid MasterCard bought from the Bridgend gift card website which gives holders access to a network of around 60 businesses that have all agreed to accept the new card within their shops.

From restaurants, bars and cafes the exciting new initiative will see 100 percent of money spent using the cards going back into Bridgend town centre

Justin Jenkins, Manager of CF31 BID

Also returning for 2018 is the ‘Yule love Bridgend’ campaign, which is encouraging visitors and shoppers to support Bridgend town centre by buying at least one Christmas present from a local shop.

To take part in the campaign and pledge your support, simply snap a photo of your gift (or where you purchased it from) and post it to social media with the hashtag #YuleLoveBridgend.