It’s nearly the end of November, so it's time to start the countdown to Christmas. Only 29 days to go.....
Santa, the Mayor of Abergavenny and our own Commonwealth cycling champion Becky James will all be helping with the official switch-on of the town’s Christmas lights today, 26th November, at 4.30pm outside the Town Hall.
Be sure to take torches if you go along to watch, and join in the parade through town to Cibi Walk, where there’ll be carols round the Christmas tree with the Salvation Army Band.
Preparing for Christmas can feel frantic and stressful, so don’t leave it till the last minute. Look out for special shopping opportunities in and around Abergavenny over the next few weeks - craft fairs are places where you can make lots of your festive purchases under one roof, and then sit down for a coffee and a mince pie.
Today there's a lovely open day at the Court Cupboard craft centre in Llantilio Pertholey, a chance to buy superb quality gifts, artwork and cards from the producers themselves, and have a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie with them.
There’s a Christmas Fair in aid of Cancer Research at the Priory Centre in Monk Street from 10am on Friday 2nd December. Then, on Sunday 4th, you can pop over to Clydach Village Hall for the annual Clydach Christmas Market. This starts at midday, and there are free goodie bags for the first 20 children to arrive, plus some mascots visiting – sounds intriguing!
In the week ahead there’s also late-night shopping at Raglan Castle on Tuesday and Crickhowell High Street on Thursday. And then there are the fab shops in our lovely high street, which is looking pretty festive already.
So we’re spoilt for choice, with lots more to come, including free parking in town on Saturdays in December and the Abergavenny Christmas Food Festival in two weeks' time. Who needs Cwmbran??