It’s shaping up to be a cracking Christmas in Tenby, with the popular coastal resort lining up three weekends of fun in the run up to the festive period.

Tenby Town Council, Tenby Chamber of Trade, Tenby LVA, Tenby RNLI and Tenby Lions have joined forces to create a feast of festive fun for young and old as the town counts down to the big day.

The Yuletide merriment starts on Saturday, November 28, when Father Christmas will arrive to help Mayor of Tenby, Clr. Paul Rapi, turn on the lights of the Christmas Tree in the grounds of St. Mary’s Church.

Local DJ Steve Briers will be on hand in the Square from 4 pm to lead the festivities, before Clr. Rapi heads down to Tenby Lifeboat Station to join the crew of the Hayden Miller as they launch to head out towards Caldey to meet Father Christmas.

Arriving back on shore at around 5.15, they will then jump onto the ILB to be towed into the Square ready to turn the lights on at 5.30 pm. We’re also promised a festive flurry of snow from the roof of Tenby House Hotel.

Shops in the town will also be encouraged to open later in the evening that day for a spot of Christmas shopping and there is also an opportunity for local charities and organisations to have stalls in the Square to raise money for their charities.

The evening rounds off with a community performance of Handel’s Messiah in St. Mary’s Church at 7 pm.

There will be no activities in the Square the following week, but there will be a Christmas Table Top sale in the De Valence Pavilion on Saturday, December 5, while Tenby Round Table will be hosting their ever popular Senior Citizens Christmas dinner in the De Valence on December 9.

On December 12, Steve will be back in the Square spinning some more festive tunes, when he will also be joined by the Salvation Army band, the Friendship Club carollers and Peppa Pig, George, Bob the Builder and a surprise Minion (Kevin, Stuart and Bob aren’t sure which of them can make it just yet!). There may also be another surprise visit from Father Christmas.

The ever popular Tenby Ladies Circle Santa Run through the streets of the town takes place the following day, December 13, setting off from the grounds of St. Mary’s Church at 12 noon, while Tenby in Bloom will be hosting Christmas bingo in the De Valence on Wednesday, December 16.

Father Christmas will again be roaring into town on December 19, courtesy of The Three Amigos, while DJ Steve Briers returns to the Square, this time to be joined by the newly formed Tenby Community Wind Band, the Friendship Group carollers and Frozen favourites Anna, Elsa, Sven and Hans.

At every event there will also be an opportunity to place Christmas wishes on two special trees, at the Tenby in Bloom fundraising stall, while Tenby Carriage Rides will also be festive themed throughout.

The festive fun does not stop at Christmas either, with the annual Boxing Day Swim on December 26, a combined Renaissance/Tenby Rugby Club New Year’s Eve Party at the De Valence on December 31 and the pantomime Robin Hood in the De Valence on January 2.