For release 18th November 2011
With funding from Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority Collabor8 Project, the Brecon Winter Wonderfest will start at 10am on Saturday 26th November, offering a wide array of experiences and events for the whole family to enjoy. Thousands of revellers are expected to turn out to enjoy the event and buy their gift amongst loads of festive cheer and experience the switching on of the Christmas lights against a backdrop of the snowy peaks of the Bannau Brycheiniog in the distance.
A special Christmas Farmers’ Market in the main streets of Brecon brings the best festive food and drink on offer locally and you can wander through town looking at the treasure trove of the traditional Christmas arts and crafts market stalls. Festival goers will be treated to live music and the switching on of the town lights and Christmas tree. Brimming with handmade gifts, stocking fillers and decorations, it promises to bring a slice of nostalgia to your Christmas celebration – here’s even a living Christmas nativity and real reindeers, making the experience truly magical. There’s a lot to do for the whole family including a special appearance from Organised Kaos – a Youth Circus, a climbing wall in Lion Yard organised by Bikes and Hikes, a bouncy castle by Totally Tastic and art workshops hosted by community group Take pART. St Mary’s Church will also be running a competition where people can bring in their works of art to put on display.
Organised by Brecon’s Chamber of Trade and supported by the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority’s Collabor8 Project, the festival takes place throughout the main town and streets of Brecon. So whether it’s your Christmas turkey you’re shopping for or Welsh Black Beef, cranberry sauce, smoked salmon, Welsh Whiskey, Christmas puddings or just those little sausages for pigs in blankets – you’ll find it all right here in Brecon this weekend.
Trading will be as normal in Brecon with many centre shops hoping to be inundated with the boost in population. But if all this excitement is too much for festival goers, they can sit down and enjoy the proceedings from one of the many local cafes or coffee shops.
Ms Kizzy Edgson from the Brecon Chamber of Trade has been key to organising the event. She said: “We’ve held Christmas Fairs before in the town and they have been really well supported but we wanted to do something extra special this year and we hope that this will be magical day for the whole family. With real reindeer and a living nativity – we think this will be the best yet!
“The response from local businesses and Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority has been fantastic and it is a pleasure to welcome new stall holders and the Farmer’s Market into this special day.”
Nick Stewart, Sustainable Tourism Project Officer said: “We are pleased to be working with and supporting the Chamber of Trade to put on what promises to be a great day to bring in the festive season. We hope that the events and festivities being laid on are enjoyed by people that live in the area but also draws in the extra footfall that Brecon needs to benefit from visitors and tourism.”
Cllr Martin Weale, Member for Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority said: “We all look forward to Christmas in Brecon – it’s a real opportunity for all the local community to get involved in our festive activities. There’s so much going on throughout the town and it really is the perfect opportunity to not only shop for Christmas presents but also order some lovely local produce through the Farmer’s Market and small businesses in time for Christmas dinner.”
The Brecon Winter Wonderfest is running from 10.00am to 5.00 pm on Saturday 26th November.
-ENDS-
Pictures: Copyright of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority
NOTES TO EDITORS
The COLLABOR8 Project is 50% funded by the ERDF Interreg IVB North West Europe Programme. This partnership project involves nine different partners from Ireland, Wales, England, Netherlands and Belgium. It aims to actively involve clusters of small businesses in developing quality, sustainability and services that promote local ‘sense of place’. In this way each tourism cluster will be able to capitalise on the uniqueness of their regions to compete better in the EU and global markets.
The partners involved in the COLLABOR8 project are: South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd. (IE) -(Lead Partner); DLG Government Service for Land and Water Management: Office of the National Project New Dutch Waterline Department (NL); Stichting Studio VMK (NL); Flemish Land Agency (BE); Tourism East Flanders (BE), Westcountry Rivers Trust (UK); South Downs National Park Authority (UK); Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority (UK); and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council (UK).
Bannau Brycheiniog National Park is a landscape that offers a legacy of unparalleled proportions with spectacular mountain ranges, internationally renowned geology, bountiful wildlife and diverse recreational opportunities. It contains some of the most spectacular and distinctive upland formations in southern Britain and covers an area of 1347 sq km (520 sq miles).