PTCardiff Winter 2019 Digital

52,000 COPIES FOR FAMILIES OF 

PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN 

Cardiff & The Vale 

CARDIFF’S WINTER 

WONDERLAND 

8 NOV - 5 JAN 

www.primarytimes.co.uk 

NEW FOR 2019 - THE ALPINE TRAIL 

UNDERCOVER ICE RINK, SUR LA PISTE BAR, 

FAMILY FUN FAIR & MORE! 

CARDIFFSWINTERWONDERLAND.COM 

WINTER 2019 

25 NOV – 2 FEB

Book your tickets online now at 

www.techniquest.org 

what’s this 

on 

Christmas 

Kids' Christmas Party 

14 December, 5–8pm PRE-BOOK ONLY 

Santa's Grotto 

7–8 & 14–15 December 

PRE-BOOK ONLY 

Festive fun-seekers are invited to an 

exciting evening opening at Techniquest 

with access to hands-on exhibits, treats, 

music and entertainment — plus a 

special visit from Santa! 

Father Christmas and his Elf will be 

ready to meet all the children on the 

‘nice’ list in a magical grotto. After 

telling Santa what they would like for 

Christmas, each child will receive a gift. 

6 December 

Once a month during term-time, pre- 

school children have exclusive run of the 

exhibits. This December, your little ones 

can meet Santa as he takes time out of 

his busy schedule to pop in and say hello. 

Weekends & school 

holidays in December 

See some unusual Christmas gifts, find 

out how to make decorations using 

chemistry, and take a crash course in 

untangling Christmas lights. 

7–8, 14–15 & 21–23 

December 

You and your team are in a race 

against time to defeat the towering 

snowmen, decipher secret blueprints 

and solve cryptic clues to fix the sleigh 

before Christmas comes around! 

SCIENCE DISCOVERY CENTRE IN CARDIFF BAY 

2 FLOORS OF HANDS-ON EXHIBITS • SCIENCE THEATRE 

PLANETARIUM • GIFT SHOP • COFFEE SHOP 

029 2047 5475 

WWW.TECHNIQUEST.ORG 

FIND US ON

Dear Readers! 

Welcome to the Winter issue of Primary Times! 

With Christmas, Hanukkah, and more right around the 

corner, it’s a wonderful time of year full of celebrations 

and cheer for the whole family. There are so many 

festive activities and events on in the upcoming weeks, 

there’s sure to be something for everyone. Many of 

these listed events are free or low cost – which might 

be especially helpful at this time of year! 

There are lots of opportunities to meet Father 

Christmas before he travels the world on Christmas Eve, 

make sure you check out our Where's Santa feature to 

see where he’ll be so you don’t miss him! 

Plus, the holidays wouldn’t be complete without a fun 

pantomime or show! Our Box Office pages are filled 

with brilliant performances; check to see what’s on 

local to you. 

From everyone here at Primary Times, we wish you 

happy holidays and a fantastic start to the New Year. 

With very best wishes, 

Sam, Amie and Jane 

4 Where's Santa? 

8 WOW 

15 St Davids Toy Appeal 

16 Christmas Traditions 

20 Top Tips 

22 Box Office 

26 Pinboard 

31 Competitions 

CALLING ALL 

FAMILIES 

AND TEACHERS! 

Remember to send in 

your news for our news 

pages – we would love 

to hear from you! 

Don’t forget 

to visit us 

online at 


/cardiff 

Primary Times 

Club-Cardiff 

...the UK’s biggest, free ‘what’s on’ magazine for parents! 

www.primarytimes.co.uk/cardiff 

Editor: Sam Jackson sam.jackson@primarytimes.co.uk Tel: 01275 331382 

Listings Editor: Jane John Art Editor: Amie Joachim 

Primary Times is independently published and distributed free through national primary schools in Cardiff and The Vale. 

It aims to inform families and children about current educational issues, forthcoming events, courses, attractions and to 

give teachers, pupils and parents the opportunity to participate in the magazine by adding to its contents or by joining 

in the competitions. It is NOT our intention to publish any racist, sexist or politically based material whatsoever. We also 

undertake not to carry any advertising which we would consider to be offensive to young families or harmful to the best 

interests of young children. Primary Times would like to thank all the schools in Cardiff and The Vale for their assistance in 

distributing the magazine and for their contributions to its contents. We would also like to thank all the advertisers who 

have supported this publication and therefore made it possible. Please support their endeavours when and where you can. 

The copyright on all written material, logos and advertising artwork produced by our studio remains with Primary Times 

or with the relevant contributor. Primary Times is currently publishing over two million copies per issue under franchise 

licences throughout Britain. 

Total Average Qualified Circulation: 

51,579 Copies 

BPA June Statement 2019 

CONTENTS 

Skate into winter 

at Viola Arena 

Present the voucher below at our public sessions, 

from 25th November to 2nd February 2020 

This voucher can be used once only and must be presented at 

the time of entry for up to 5 people to skate for £5 per person, 

including skate hire. 

Voucher only valid on sessions between 25th November – 2nd February 2020 

Not valid on the Friday Night Ice Party 

02920 789 630 www.violaarena.com 

@TheViolaArena 

@theviolaarena 

www.primarytimes.co.uk | WINTER 2019 Primary Times 3

WHERE'S SANTA? 

where's santa? 

ONGOING 

23rd November – 24th December 

Santa’s Ice Adventure 

Venue Pughs Garden Village 

Pugh’s Garden Village Wenvoe, Port Road, 

CF5 6AD. www.pughsgardencentre.co.uk/ 

visit-santa-in-wenvoe 

Whether booking is necessary, costs and a 

contact telephone number: The elves in the 

North Pole need your help! Embark on an 

enchanting walk through ‘Santa's Ice Adventure’ 

to solve all the clues to find Santa in his Cosy 

Cabin for a memorable one-on-one meeting. 

These simple, yet magical, individual child visits 

are ideal for first Christmases or those looking for 

a traditional Santa experience with added magic. 

Ticket price includes a gift from Santa for children, 

exclusive garden centre offers for adults and a 

donation to our Christmas charity, Cancer Research 

Wales. Costs - £12.50 per Child, £3.50 per Adult 

Saturday 30th November - 

Monday 23rd December 

Visit Santa 

IKEA Cardiff, Ferry Rd, Cardiff CF11 0XR 

In aid of Noah’s Ark charity. 11am - 5pm daily. 

Visit Santa - £10 visit and gift; £12 visit, 

gift & photograph. 

Santa’s Grotto 

Bristol Zoo Gardens, College Rd, Bristol,BS8 3HA 

bristolzoo.org.uk 

Be transported into a glittering winter 

wonderland with a visit to Santa’s Grotto. Be 

guided by the elves through the magical grotto, 

marvel at the twinkling lights and spend 

some time with Santa! Explore the Christmas 

animal-shaped lights, take part in Christmas 

arts & crafts, colour in a letter to Santa and post 

it off to the North Pole and meet Santa in his 

grotto and receive a special gift. Pre-booking is 

recommended online. These tickets sell fast so 

to avoid disappointment book now. 

Tel: 0117 428 5300. 

Until Sunday 22nd December 

Breakfast with Santa 

The Royal Mint Experience, Llantrisant, CF72 8YT 

www.royalmint.com/experience 

9.30am - 11am. Adults £5; children £9.95. A 

warming breakfast with the big guy himself. 

Each child will meet and have a photo with 

Santa and take away a special gift. 

Plus: 

World Snowball Fight Championships 

11.30am, 1pm, 2.30pm & 4pm. Train with 

Elfie and make Santa proud as your child 

takes part in the Elves’ annual snowball fight 

championships! Every children will meet and 

have a photo with Santa, sit in his sleigh and 

take away a special gift. £7.95 per child. 

Tel: 0333 241 2223. 

Wednesday 4th – 

Tuesday 24th December 

Festive Tour and Santa’s Grotto 

Principality Stadium, Cardiff, CF10 1NS 

www.principalitystadium.wales/tours 

Explore the hallowed halls in search of Santa 

Claus and the magical Christmas grotto. Visit 

highlights from the stadium tour on route to 

the grotto where each child will receive a free 

surprise gift from Santa himself! Tickets from £8 

Adults, £12 children. Tickets are limited so book 

early to avoid disappointment. Tel: 029 2082 2308. 

Until Sunday 22nd December 

Santa’s Magical Wonderland 

Trago Mills, Swansea Road, Merthyr Tydfil, 

CF481HT. www.trago.co.uk 

Monday – Saturday 10am – 1pm & 2pm – 

5pm, Sunday 10am – 1pm & 2pm – 4pm. £2 

which also allows one accompanying adult to a 

free cup of tea or coffee at the Brickworks Café. 

Enjoy a spectacular wonderland including a 

visit to Santa and a special early Christmas gift. 

Plus 

Every Friday, Saturday and 

Sunday until 20th December 

Breakfast with Santa 

9.30am – 11am. £7.99. Sit and have breakfast with 

Santa and receive a present. Tel: 01685 707500. 

Until Tuesday 24th December 


Queen Street, Cardiff, CF10 4EY 

www.visitcardiff.com/christmas 

Housed in a traditional wooden chalet, dressed 

perfectly for the festive season, children can 

meet Santa and his elves and receive a gift! 

No booking required. 

Santa’s Toy Mine 

Welsh Mining Experience at 

Rhondda Heritage Park, CF37 2NP 

www.rhonddaheritagepark.com 

Between 10am - 8pm. £10 per person. Visit 

Santa in his truly magical toy mine! You will be 

part of a group of festive fun seekers who will 

travel into the beautifully-decorated mine and 

meet Father Christmas. Tel: 01443 682036. 

Friday 29th November 

Christmas in Porth 

Porth Town Centre. www.rctcbc.gov.uk 

3pm - 6:30pm. See Santa in the town centre. 

Plus Giant Snow Globe, fun fair rides and more. 

£2 to visit Santa in his grotto. 

Saturday 30th November 

Christmas in Treorchy 

Treorchy Town Centre. www.rctcbc.gov.uk 

12pm - 5pm. See Santa in the town centre. 



Saturday 30th November & 

Sunday 1st December 

A magical Christmas Weekend 

Leekes, Cowbridge Road, Pontyclun, 

Rhondda Cynon Taff CF72 8XU 

www.leekes.co.uk 

11am - 4pm. A weekend filled with activities 

and fun for all the family. Visit Santa in his grotto 

and meet his live reindeer. Enjoy festive fun 

and treats and choose the perfect present from 

a selection of seasonal gifts. Book your visit 

to Santa in store and follow on Facebook and 

Twitter for event updates. Tel: 0333 222 4120. 

Father Christmas and Friends 

St Fagans National Museum of History, CF5 6XB 

www.museum.wales/stfagans 

Tickets from £5. 10.15am - 5.30pm. Father 

Christmas and his friends will be visiting St 

Fagans Museum so make sure you book a place 

for your little ones to join the fun. Choose from 

Meet Father Christmas, Cooking with Mother 

Christmas, write your letter in the Victorian 

schoolhouse and Christmas craft with the elves. 

Advance booking only. Tel 029 2057 3500. 



Blaenavon Ironworks, North Street, 

Blaenavon, NP4 9RN, www.cadw.gov.wales 

11am - 4pm. Visit the Victorian grotto, complete 

with a Victorian Father Christmas, carrying a 

sleigh-full of small gifts for all children. Booking 

essential. £5 per child to enter the grotto, 

including a small gift. Normal site admission 

prices still apply. Tel: 01495 792 615. 

Friday 6th December 

Christmas in Ferndale 

Ferndale Town Centre, www.rctcbc.gov.uk 

3pm - 6.30pm. See Santa in the town centre. 



Toddler Day 

Techniquest, Stuart Street, Cardiff, CF10 5BW 


Once a month during term-time, pre-school 

children have exclusive run of the exhibits. This 

December, your little ones can meet Santa as 

he takes time out of his busy schedule to pop 

in to Techniquest and say hello. Under-3s free, 

accompanying adults £7.20, children (3–15) 

£4. Tel: 029 2047 5475. 

Saturday 7th December 

Saturnalia 

National Roman Legion Museum 

Caerleon, NP18 1AE. 

www.museum.wales/bigpit 

11am - 4pm. Small charge may apply to some 

activities. Celebrate the festival of Saturnalia, 

with a Roman Soldier posted in the Barrack 

Room, games, demonstrations and a talk about 

festival traditions. Whilst you visit you can 

also take a look around the Caerleon Farmers’ 

Market. Tel: 029 2057 3550. 

Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th December 




Father Christmas and his Elf will be ready 

to meet all the children on the ‘nice’ list in a 

magical grotto. After telling Santa what they 

would like for Christmas, each child will receive 

a gift (worth £3). Spaces are extremely limited 

so your visit to Santa can only be guaranteed by 

pre-booking. £6.50 addition to admission price, 

see website for details. Tel: 029 2047 5475. 

A Medieval Christmas 

Caerphilly Castle, Castle Street, Caerphilly, CF83 

1JD, www.cadw.gov.wales 

Sat 10:30am – 4pm, Sun 11am – 4pm. Meet 

the man himself in this medieval setting. Plus 

festive arts and crafts. Booking essential. £5 per 

child to enter the grotto. Normal site admission 



Blaenavon Ironworks, North Street, Blaenavon, 

NP4 9RN. www.cadw.gov.wales 

11am - 4pm. Visit the Victorian grotto, 

complete with a Victorian Father Christmas, 

carrying a sleigh-full of small gifts for all 

children. Booking essential. £5 per child to 

enter the grotto, including a small gift. Normal 

site admission prices still apply. 

Tel: 01495 792 615. 




Tickets from £5. 10.15am - 5.30pm. Each 

weekend in December Father Christmas and 

his friends will be visiting St Fagans Museum. 

So make sure you book a place for your little 

ones to come and join the fun. Choose from 





Santa’s Wintery Grotto 

Cwmcarn Forest Drive Visitor Centre 

Crosskeys, NP11 7FA 

Continued on page 6 

4 

Primary Times WINTER 2019 | www.primarytimes.co.uk

WIN 

£300 

in IKEA 

vouchers 

Visit Santa at IKEA Cardiff 

30 th November – 23 rd December 

11am to 5pm daily 

Creating 

brighter todays and 

better tomorrows 

for the children of Wales. 

*All Grotto visitors will be automatically entered in to the prize draw. 

Sponsored by 

£10 (Visit and gift) £12 (Visit, gift and photo) 

Registered charity number: 1069485 

Cyfarfod Siôn Corn a’i Ffrindiau 

Meet Father Christmas & Friends 

Siôn Corn 

Father Christmas 

Nadolig Cymreig 

traddodiadol i’w gofio. 

A traditional Welsh 

Christmas to remember. 

Dosbarth Cyntaf 

Sain Ffagan 

First Class 

St Fagans 

Tocynnau ymlaen llaw yn unig 

Advance tickets only 

amgueddfa.cymru/sainffagan 

museum.wales/stfagans 

Sain Ffagan Amgueddfa Werin Cymru 

Caerdydd, CF5 6XB 

amgueddfa.cymru/sainffagan 

St Fagans National Museum of History 

Cardiff, CF5 6XB 

museum.wales/stfagans 


WHERE'S SANTA? 

www.cwmcarnforest.co.uk 

10am - 3.30pm. (Bookable sessions). Journey 

through Santa’s Wintery Wonderland, enjoy the 

penguins at play and the mischievous elves at 

work in their studio. Meet the big man himself 

and receive a present. Suitable for all ages. 

Please note you must reserve a place to visit 

the grotto. £6 per child (includes gift). 

Tel: 01495 272001. 

Sunday 8th December 

Santa and Elf Dash in aid 

of Welsh Hearts 

Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff Bay, CF10 5AL 

www.santadash.wales 

5K walk, jog or dash around Cardiff Bay. 

Festivities begin at 10am. Prizes for best fancy 

dress. Tickets £10 each or £30 group 4. 


Christmas Party 


www.techniquest.org/ 

5pm – 8pm. Festive fun-seekers are invited to 

an exciting evening opening at Techniquest with 

access to two floors of hands-on exhibits, treats, 

music and entertainment. Wave hello and have 

a selfie with Santa as he spends an hour out of 

his busy schedule visiting Techniquest. Discover 

some alternative Christmas gifts, and how to 

make decorations using chemistry in our Theatre 

extravaganza, A Techniquest Christmas Carol. 

Recommended for children aged 3 – 8 year. £7 

per ticket + booking fee. Tel: 029 2047 5475. 

Traditional Welsh Christmas 

Big Pit National Coal Museum, NP4 9XP 

museum.wales/bigpit 

10am - 4pm. Wrap up warm and gather at Pit 

Top at 10.15am to welcome Father Christmas 

as he travels 300ft UP from underground, then 

later join him in his cottage for story time. 

Enjoy Christmas Market, and make your own 

Christmas crafts. At 1pm join Blaenavon Ladies 

Choir and Beaufort Male Choir for carol singing. 

Entry to the Museum and Market is free; story 

time with Santa must be pre-booked online. £7 

per child which includes a gift. There is a small 

cash charge payable on the day for craft making. 

One free adult ticket per child. For any additional 

adults wishing to attend the session, and an 

additional adult ticket must be purchased. 

Limited tickets available. Tel: 029 2057 3650. 

Santa’s Grotto: Jingle Bells 

Insole Court, Fairwater Road, Llandaff, CF5 2LN 

11am - 4pm. Visit Santa and receive a 

Christmas gift. £9.99, (£7.99 (sibling 

discount). Buy tickets from BUYTICKETS.AT/ 

RASHMIEVENTS or c 

ontact rashmievents@yahoo.com 





Father Christmas and his Elf will be ready 

to meet all the children on the ‘nice’ list in a 

magical grotto. After telling Santa what they 

would like for Christmas, each child will receive 

a gift (worth £3). Spaces are extremely limited 

so your visit to Santa can only be guaranteed by 

pre-booking. £6.50 addition to admission price, 



Blaenavon Ironworks 

North Street, Blaenavon, NP4 9RN 

www.cadw.gov.wales 

11am - 4pm. Visit the Victorian grotto, complete 

with a Victorian Father Christmas, carrying a 

sleigh-full of small gifts for all children. Booking 

essential. £5 per child to enter the grotto, 

including a small gift. Normal site admission 







Fagans Museum so make sure you book a place 

for your little ones to join the fun. Choose from 













Browse the Christmas Market and make your 

own Christmas crafts. At 1pm join Blaenavon 

Town Band for carol singing. Entry to the 

Museum and Market is free; story time with 

Santa must be pre-booked online. £7 per child 

which includes a gift. There is a small cash 

charge payable on the day for craft making. One 

free adult ticket per child. For any additional 




Santa’s Grotto: Here Comes Santa Claus 

Insole Court, Fairwater Road, Llandaff, CF5 2LN 

11am - 4pm. Fun activity with elves. Festive 

hot chocolate and cookie. Visit Santa. Story 

time with Santa - receive a gift, meet the 

reindeer and his friends. £19.99, (£16.99 

sibling discount). Buy tickets from BUYTICKETS. 

AT/RASHMIEVENTS or 

contact rashmievents@yahoo.com 

Saturday 21st & 

Sunday 22nd December 


St Fagans National Museum of History 

CF5 6XB, www.museum.wales/stfagans 



Fagans Museum so book a place for your little 

ones to enjoy the fun. Choose from Meet Father 

Christmas, Cooking with Mother Christmas, 

write your letter in the Victorian schoolhouse 

and Christmas craft with the elves. Advance 

booking only. Tel 029 2057 3500. 


Blaenavon Ironworks, North Street, Blaenavon, 

NP4 9RN. www.cadw.gov.wales 

11am - 4pm. Visit the Victorian grotto, 

complete with a Victorian Father Christmas, 

carrying a sleigh-full of small gifts for all 

children. Booking essential. £5 per child to 

enter the grotto, including a small gift. Normal 

site admission prices still apply. 

Tel: 01495 792 615. 


Skate with Santa 

Viola Arena, Cardiff Bay, CF11 0JS 

www.violaarena.com 

Standard peak prices apply. Get your skates for 

a magical day of fun and festivities. Between 

1pm - 2pm, a very special guest will be visiting 

along with his mischievous elves. Skate with 

him, have your picture taken with him and 

ensure you’re on the nice list! 

Tel: 029 2078 9630. 

CARDIFF 

DASH 

@WelshHearts 

6 


Sglefrio Iâ Castell Caerffili 

Caerphilly Castle Ice Rink 

6 Rhagfyr i 6 Ionawr 

Ewch i’r wefan i weld yr oriau agor ac i archebu tocynnau 

ticketsource.co.uk/caerphilly-castle-ice-rink 

6 December to 6 January 

Visit website to check opening times and book tickets 

ticketsource.co.uk/caerphilly-castle-ice-rink 


WHAT’S ON WHERE 

If you are looking for more inspiration, there 

are many more events on our website 


LOOKING AHEAD 

January & February 2020 

The Nest on Tour 

www.rspb.org.uk/events 

In hubs and libraries across Cardiff. 

See website for details. Free drop-in 

sessions 10:30am - 12:30pm & 2pm 

- 4pm. See the interactive bird’s 

nest. Children can enjoy games, 

songs and activities exploring the 

wonderful world of birds. 

Tel: 029 2035 3000. 

ON GOING 


Saturday 21st December 

Christmas @ Noah’s Ark 

Noah’s Ark Zoo 

Clevedon Road, Wraxall, Bristol BS48 1PG 

www.noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk 

Free reindeer feeding on Saturdays. Christmas 

carols and much more. DIY Nativity, eco Winter 

Wildlife Walk. Plus musical performances on 

30th November, 7th & 14th December. For 

more details visit the website or 

call: 01275 852606. 


Sunday 22nd December: 

Christmas at Tredegar House 

Tredegar House, Newport, 

NP10 8YW 

10.30am - 4pm. Normal 

admission applies. See the 

lavish traditional decorations 

to get you in the festive spirit. 

Father Christmas will visit on 

selected dates. Tel: 01633 815880. 

nationaltrust.org.uk/tredegar-house 

Wednesday 4th – 


Festive Tour and Santa’s Grotto 


www.principalitystadium.wales/tours 

Explore the hallowed halls in search of Santa 

Claus and the magical Christmas grotto. Visit 

highlights from the stadium tour on route to 

the grotto where each child will receive a free 

surprise gift from Santa himself! Tickets from 

£8 Adults, £12 children. Tickets are limited so 

book early to avoid disappointment. 

Tel: 029 2082 2308. 

Friday 6th December - 6th January 

Ice Skating 

Caerphilly Castle, 

Castle Street, Caerphilly, CF83 1JD 

www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/caerphilly/ 

caerphilly-castle 

Visit the website for a full list of dates and 

Don’t forget to 

say you saw it in 

Primary Times! 

We check 

listings carefully but 

event details and prices 

may be subject to change. 

Please always check 

with the venue. 

times. Booking essential. Family ticket £27 

(admits 2 adults and 2 children, booking fee 

may apply). Tel: 029 2088 3143. 

Friday 20th December - 

Monday 6th January 

Christmas Holidays 

Parc Play,Unit 5, Curran Embankment, 

Grangetown, Cardiff, CF10 5DX 

www.parcplay.com 

Closed 24th - 26th December & 

1st January. Let your children burn 

off some energy during the school 

holidays with the Winter Trail and 

cosy winter cabin with crafts. NEW Winter 

Passes now available. Tel: 029 2034 5696. 

Until Sunday 22nd December: 

World Snowball Fight Championships 

The Royal Mint Experience, Llantrisant, CF72 8YT 

www.royalmint.com/experience 

11.30am, 1pm, 2.30pm & 4pm. Train with 

Elfie and make Santa proud as your child 

takes part in the Elves’ annual snowball fight 

championships! Every children will meet and 

have a photo with Santa, sit in his sleigh and 

take away a special gift. £7.95 per child. 

Tel: 0333 241 2223. 

Until Monday 23rd December: 

Luminate Wales 

Margam Country Park 

Neath Port Talbot SA13 2TJ 

www.margampark.co.uk 

4.45pm - 9pm. Last entry 

8.30pm. As darkness descends, 

meander along the mesmerising 

mile long trail. Be welcomed by 

Old Grandfather Tree and embark 

on your adventure through the beautiful, 

light tunnel. Play the keyboard outside the 

Citrus House and watch, as lit like never before, 

the Citrus House dances to your tune. Leave 

your wishes at the colossal wishing tree, before 

heading up to Waterfall Bridge. Make it past the 

troll and you’ll find yourself captivated by the 

delicate whispers of tiny fairies in enchanted 

fairy land. Pause to toast your marshmallows* 

over the fire pit, before heading to the Castle 

Courtyard to sip hot chocolate and warm up 

with some delicious food. Watch the Castle 

facade come alive with digital animation, 

before beginning your descent back through the 

gardens. Adults £12; children £8, under 3s free of 

charge. Tel: 01925 450640. Book at 

www.luminatewales.com 

Every day during the holidays 

(except Sundays) 

Big Build 

Wales Millennium Centre, Bute Place, Cardiff 

CF10 5AL. www.wmc.org.uk 

11am - 4pm. Free. Enjoy craft activities over 

the course of a week. Everyone involved works 

together to create one huge piece of art that 

takes over the entire Glanfa Foyer. 

Plus: 

Every Saturday: 

Family Saturdays 

Free. Fun-filled and craft workshops for the 

whole family to get involved in. Based in 

the Glanfa Foyer and hosted by a team of 

bilingual facilitators, everyone is encouraged 

to unleash their inner Picasso and make 

something special together in a safe, nurturing 

environment. You don’t need to sign up, just 

pop down or drop in if you’re passing and have 

an hour to fill with the kids. Age guidance: 3+. 

Tel: 029 2063 6464. 

Until Sunday 5th January: 

Track the Reindeer 

National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre, 

nr Newcastle Emlyn SA44 5UP 

museum.wales/wool/ 

10am - 4pm. Free. Eight of Santa’s Reindeers 

are lost in the Museum Search the galleries to 

track them down. Tel: 029 2057 3070. 

O Christmas Tree… trail 

Dyffryn Gardens, CF5 6SU 

nationaltrust.org.uk/dyffryn-gardens 

10am - 4pm. Normal admission prices apply. 

Explore the gardens and find 12 alternative 

Christmas trees that tell the story of Dyffryn. 

Have a go at the activities and see if you can 

beat your family. 

Plus: 

Wednesday 18th December - 

Sunday 5th January: 

Winter Lights Trail 

4pm - 7pm. Normal admission prices apply. 

As daylight starts to dwindle Christmas lights 

start to twinkle. Explore the gardens after dark 

and see the house and gardens lit up like never 

before. Tel: 029 2059 0813. 

Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland with 

Admiral Ice Rink 

City Hall Lawns, CF10 3ND 

www.cardiffswinterwonderland.com 

The Admiral Ice Rink has a clear span roof that 

will keep skaters and spectators dry, allowing 

you to enjoy the atmosphere of outdoor skating 

under the lights of the night sky, in all weathers. 

Look out for the fun skate penguins, which are 

designed to help younger children enjoy the ice 

with confidence. Plus there’s a family funfair 

with a wide range of games and rides, including 

familiar favourite, the Big Wheel. Enjoy a hot 

chocolate or a mulled wine at the Sur La Piste 

Bar plus there is plenty of foody treats like the 

bratwurst from the Bavarian grill to choose from. 

It’s free to enter the Winter Wonderland event 

site, but there is a charge for ice skating and 

activities. Tel: 029 2009 9087 

Until Sunday 5th January: 

Cheeky Elf Trail 

National Waterfront Museum, Swansea SA1 3RD 

museum.wales/swansea 

10am - 4pm. Free. Help find the cheeky elves 

causing calamity in the galleries! 

Plus: 

Until Sunday 29th March: 

Exhibition: Cartwn Cymru 

A lot of hard work goes into cartoons. Learn 

about some of the processes and see some 

of the amazing artworks produced by Welsh 

company Cartwn Cymru. Who knows, you may 

even see some familiar characters from your 

youth. Tel: 029 2057 3600. 

Until Monday 6th January 

Dippy on Tour 

National Museum Cardiff, Cathays Park CF10 3NP 

www.museum.wales/cardiff 

National Museum Cardiff is open Tuesday - 

Sunday, 10am - 5pm and admission is FREE to all. 

Dippy, the Natural History Museum’s iconic 

Diplodocus dinosaur skeleton, has settled into 

his new home in Cardiff! This Christmas, visitors 

will be able to marvel at Dippy, visit the natural 

history galleries, taking a journey from the very 

beginnings of time to the present day in the 

Evolution of Wales galleries, coming face-toface 

with dinosaurs and other amazing animals 

along the way. 

Plus: 

Until May 2020: 

Exhibition: The Fossil Swamp 

Free. Far back in time… before humans... 

before dinosaurs... there was a different world. 

This new exhibition reveals a snapshot in 

time from 300 million years ago - when a vast 

tropical swamp covered what is now Wales. 

The Fossil Swamp had monster plants, giant 

insects, thunderstorms and floods. 

Plus: 

Every Friday during term time: 

Toddler Time 

11am - 4pm. Free. Take along your toddlers 

to play, read and experience the exhibitions 

and galleries. Themed toys and activities with 

museum staff 1.30pm - 3pm. 

Plus: 

Just opened: 

Mission: Planet Earth 

Charge applies, check website for more details. 

This interactive virtual reality experience is like 

nothing you have done before! Join L.W.N.A 

the android to hunt down specimens and learn 

about how our world has evolved. Suitable for 

children 10 years old and over. 

Tel: 0300 111 2 333 (charged at local rate). 

NOVEMBER 

Monday 25th November - 


Film: The Aeronauts (PG) 

Memo Arts Centre, Gladstone Road, Barry, CF62 8NA 

www.memoartscentre.co.uk 

Times vary. Wealthy widow and pilot Amelia 

Wren, and headstrong scientist James Glaisher, 

are ‘The Aeronauts’. Together, they mount a 

dangerous balloon expedition to try and fly 

higher than anyone in history. Prices from 

£3.50 - £6.50 (extra 50p on the door). 

Tel: 01446 738622. 

Tuesday 26th November 

Shaun The Sheep: Farmageddon (U) 



5pm. Strange lights over the quiet town of 

Mossingham herald the arrival of a mystery visitor 

from far across the galaxy… but at nearby Mossy 

Bottom Farm, Shaun has other things on his 

mind, as his mischievous schemes are continually 

thwarted by an exasperated Bitzer. When an 

impish and adorable alien with amazing powers 

crash-lands near Mossy Bottom Farm, Shaun soon 

sees an opportunity for alien-powered fun and 

adventure, setting off on a mission to shepherd 

the intergalactic visitor home before a sinister 

organisation can capture her… can Shaun and 

the flock avert Farmageddon on Mossy Bottom 

Farm before it’s too late? Advance tickets: £3.50, 

door tickets: £4. Tel: 01446 738622. 

Wednesday 27 November 

Late Night Christmas Shopping 

Raglan Castle, Castle Road, Raglan, Usk, NP15 2BT 


5pm - 8pm. Raglan Castle will open afterhours, 

giving Christmas shoppers the chance 

to enjoy a great selection of unusual gifts at 

the visitor centre. What’s more, there will be 

mince pies and mulled wine on offer to add 

to the stress-free shopping experience. Free 

admission to gift shop only. Tel: 01291 690 228. 

8 

Primary Times WINTER 2019 | www.primarytimes.co.uk 

Continued on page 10

Byddwch yn rhan o ddathliadau 

ugainmlwyddiant y Cynulliad! 

Mae’r Senedd ar agor bob dydd tan 

24 Rhagfyr, a bydd croeso cynnes i chi yma! 

Be part of the Assembly’s 20th 

anniversary celebrations! 

Open every day until the 24 December, the 

Senedd will be ready and waiting for you! 

• Siop a chaffi 

• Ardal grefftau a theganau 

• Creu tagiau i anrhegion 

• Ysbryd nadoligaidd lond y lle 

• Shop and café 

• Toy and craft area 

• Gift tag creating 

• Festive feel throughout 

Ewch i www.cynulliad.cymru/senedd 

i gael mwy o wybodaeth. 

Visit www.assembly.wales/senedd 

for more information. 

MYNEDIAD AM DDIM 

FREE ENTRY 

from Llandaff North Pole to 

Tremorfa-lalalala la-la la-la 

and beyond... 

grab a family ticket 

for just £5.50 

all over Cardiff 

17 

64 

Yule 

Llog 

Interstate Highway 

North Road 

Boxing 

Day 

Special 

The Bells 

21 

Mince Pie Place 

27 

North 

Road Star 

11 

Santa 

Stadium 

Christmas Royal 

Infirmary 

Pudding 

Green 

27 

Christmas 

Number 1 

Llanrudolph 

The Inn 

(no vacancies) 

Christmas Shopping 

Centre 

Snow Road 

49 

Fairy Light Way 

The Three 

Kings 

Lapland 

Clinic 

13 

Toboggan 

50 

tickets for Barry and all across 

the network are also available 

find out more at 

cardiffbus.com/family-travel 

18 

Away in a 

Manger 

Reindeer Road 

The Holly 

& The Ivy 

Grotto Lane 

Mulled 

Pentrebane 

21 

Citaro 

Crescent 

Once in Royal 

Llandaff City 

52 

Mistletoe 

Hospital 

13 

11 

Donkey Passage 

Myrrh-maid 

Quay 

Christmas Bay 

45 

Dr Who Xmas Special 

Unwanted Presents Boulevard 

Mistletrowbridge 45 

christmas ad nov19.indd 1 11/11/2019 15:26 



Friday 29th November 

Christmas in Porth 

Porth Town Centre 

www.rctcbc.gov.uk 

3pm - 6:30pm. See Santa in the town centre. 



Late Night Christmas Shopping 

Chepstow Castle 

1 Bridge Street, Chepstow, NP16 5EY 


5pm - 8pm. For some Christmas gift inspiration 

enjoy an exclusive late-night shopping event. 

From books to blankets and pottery to Penderyn, 

there will be plenty of Welsh products available. 

Shoppers can also enjoy festive music and 

complimentary mince pies on arrival. Free 

admission to gift shop only. Tel: 01291 624 065. 


Winter Trail 

Parc Play, Unit 5, Curran Embankment, 



Complete the Winter Trail before enjoying crafts 

in the cosy winter cabin. Winter crafts 11am - 

12pm & 1:30pm - 2:30pm. Tel: 029 2034 5696. 

Storytelling and Fossil handling 

John Lewis & Partners, 

The Hayes, Cardiff, CF10 1EG 

museum.wales/Dippy 

11am - 12pm. Free event. Special dino-events 

at John Lewis & Partners as part of the Dippy 

on Tour exhibition! Suitable for children of all 

ages. To book your space, please email mollie. 

davies@johnlewis.co.uk 

Talk: Meet Dippy 

National Museum Cardiff 

Cathays Park CF10 3NP 


12pm. £2. Enjoy a family friendly talk by Dr 

Caroline Buttler, Head of Palaeontology, all 

about Dippy the Diplodocus! Hear the story of 

how he was discovered and eventually came 

to London, a tale that involves the wild west, a 

king and one of the richest men in the world! You 

will also see where and when Dippy lived and 

how palaeontologists have found out what this 

remarkable animal was like when it was alive. 

Plus: 

Talk: Dinosaurs and Deserts in Wales 

1.30pm. £2. What did South Wales look like at 

the time of the dinosaurs? How many different 

dinosaurs lived here? You’ll also find out 

about the biggest extinction of all time, how 

dinosaurs first evolved, and what we think they 

really looked like! 

Plus: 

Talk: Collecting Dinosaurs 

3pm. £2. Cindy Howells, Curator of 

Palaeontology will give a family friendly talk 

about the entire history of dinosaur collecting 

through the ages, from archaeological times to 

the present day. 

Plus: 

HUSH: Family friendly silent disco 

6pm. £12. Enjoy some prehistoric family fun at 

HUSH’s early evening silent disco! DJs will keep 

your feet moving and your hands in the air 

while you and your little dinosaurs dance away 

under Dippy’s gaze! 0300 111 2 333 

(charged at local rate). 

Blackwood Winter Fair 

Blackwood High Street, NP12 1AB 

www.visitcaerphilly.com 

9am – 5pm, Free event. Experience the fun and 

excitement that only Christmas can bring! 

Tel: 029 2088 0011. 

Tree Walk at Bute Park 

Summer House Café, Bute Park 

Cardiff, CF10 3DX 

www.outdoorcardiff.com 

11am - 12.30pm. Free. Bute Park’s arboretum is 

home to some amazing ornamental trees. Join 

Malcolm Frazer to explore and learn about 

some of the 3,000 trees in the green heart of 

the city. Tel: 029 2044 5903. 

Fair Saturday 

St Davids Hall, Cardiff, CF10 2DP 

www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk 

12pm - 3pm. Free. A multitude of free arts 

activities for all the family including music 

making for under 5s with Bert & Cherry of the 

Tiddly Prom, a Javanese Gamelan experience 

for all and a mixture of arts and crafts and 

visual arts activities throughout the afternoon. 

Tel: 029 2087 8570. 

Festive Film: The Miracle Maker (2000) 

National Waterfront Museum 

Oystermouth Road, Swansea, SA1 3RD 


2.30pm. Free. Celebrating the Cartwn Cymru 

exhibition, enjoy this seasonal animation that 

uses a mix of 3D model and 2D animation to 

tell the story of Christ through the eyes of a 

child. Tel: 029 2057 3600. 

Barbarians Double Header 


www.wru.wales/tickets 

Experience a day of rugby as Wales Women 

and Men’s team take on the Barbarians in this 

double header. Women’s KO: 11:45am; men’s 

KO: 14:45pm. Tickets from only £10! 

Tel: 0844 847 1881. 

Christmas in Treorchy 

Treorchy Town Centre www.rctcbc.gov.uk 

12pm - 5pm. See Santa in the town centre. Plus 

Giant Snow Globe, fun fair rides and more. £2 

to visit Santa in his grotto. 

Saturday 30th November & 


Alternative 12 days of Christmas 

Cyfarthfa Shopping Park 

Swansea Road, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 1HY 

www.cyfarthfashopping.com 

Inspired by the traditional ’12 days of 

Christmas’ but with an alternative spin, 

enjoy some Christmas activities with a blend 

of performance, workshops, artistry and 

tastings! Entertainment from 11am - 4pm with 

performance times varying. Tel: 01685 389410. 

CoedLan – High Ropes at St Fagans 



10.15am – 4.30pm. £12 per person. Climb, 

swing, balance and wobble your way through 

the trees, and see the sights of St Fagans 

from above, before zipping back down to 

earth. Tackle CoedLan’s 18 different obstacles, 

including a balance beam, zig zag bridge, cargo 

net and a zip wire. Height, age and weight 

restrictions apply. Tel 029 2057 3500. 

DECEMBER 


Elf on the Shelf 




Complete the Winter Trail before enjoying winter 

crafts in the cosy cabin. Crafts 11am - 12pm & 

1:30pm - 2:30pm. Then enjoy some fun and 

games with everyones favourite cheeky Elf from 

2:30pm - 4pm. Tel: 029 2034 5696. 

Bird Walk 

Roath Park Lake, Opposite the lighthouse on 

Roath Park Promenade, CF23 5PH 

10am - 12pm. Free. Go in search of winter birds 

and wildfowl around Roath Park Lake with the 

Community Park Ranger. Take bring binoculars 

if you have them. Tel: 029 2044 5903. 

Cardiff Devils vs Glasgow Clan 


www.cardiffdevils.com 

6pm. Tickets from £8 for children & £16 for 

adults. As part of the match night experience, 

enjoy competitions where you can win prizes 

such as player’s shirts. Following the game, 

meet players at the post-game signing or have 

a go at ice skating yourself. Tel: 0800 0842 666. 


Little Mice Club – Santa Special 




10.30am - 12pm. Free. Drop in with your little 

ones to make, play and sing, and meet Morys 

the Museum Mouse. Exclusively for preschool 

children and their parents or carers. 

Tel: 029 2057 3600. 

Christmas in Ferndale 

Ferndale Town Centre 


3pm - 6.30pm. See Santa in the town centre. 




Christmas Tales 

Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths 

High St, Caerleon, Newport, NP18 1AE 


11am - 4pm. Tales at 11am, 1pm & 3pm. 

Caerleon Fortress and Baths will welcome its 

popular storyteller to share festive tales and 

help get families in the Christmas spirit. No 

booking required. Family entry: £12.20 (admits 

2 adults and up to 3 children under 18). 

Tel: 01633 422 518. 

Workshop: Drawing Dinosaurs 

from the Inside-Out. 



1pm. £8. Bob Nicholls is an artist who recreates 

dinosaurs in illustrations and models. He 

recreates animals from the inside out! Under 

Bob’s expert guidance you can go through 

the paleo-reconstruction process yourself and 

bring to life on paper one of these amazing 

animals. 

Plus: 

Talk: No, I Don’t Make it Up! How to 

Build Dinosaurs from the Inside-Out. 

5pm. £4 - £5. Bob Nicholls will be talking about 

the unique and time consuming method, but 

one that produces breath-taking results that 

are used in museums across the world. 

0300 111 2 333 (charged at local rate). 

Yuletide Log and Wreath Making 

Victoria Park Bowls Pavilion, Cardiff Park, CF5 1EY 

10.30am - 3.30pm. Last entry 2.30pm. Table 

decorations £4, wreaths £8. Make your own 

table decorations and wreaths for the festive 

season. Tel: 029 2044 5903. 







12pm & 1:30pm - 2:30pm. Tel: 029 2034 5696. 

Christmas at the Wool Museum 

National Wool Museum 

Dre-fach Felindre, near Newcastle Emlyn, 

SA44 5UP 

www.museum.wales/wool 

10am - 4pm. Free. Enjoy a celebration of all 

things Christmas with festive fun and games 

with cheeky elf Tudur Phillips. Get creative 

in the free craft workshops for children. Plus 

peruse the bespoke selection of local craft stalls 

for all those extra special gifts. Plus Wreath 

Making Workshop - cost TBC - book online. 

Plus: 

Festive Bauble Workshop 

with Gwili Pottery 

10 - 4pm. Cost £16. Create a personalised 

ceramic bauble with Gwili Pottery. Drop in 

session. One bauble per ticket purchased - each 

bauble should take between 5-10 minutes. 

Please note that the baubles will not be 

available to take home on the day as they 

will require firing. Collection can be made 

from the Museum on or after the 17th of 

December. Places are limited so book to avoid 

disappointment. Tel: 029 2057 3030. 

Saturnalia 

National Roman Legion Museum 

Caerleon, NP18 1AE 

www.museum.wales/bigpit 

11am - 4pm. Small charge may apply to some 

activities. Celebrate the festival of Saturnalia, 

with a Roman Soldier posted in the Barrack 

Room, games, demonstrations and a talk about 

festival traditions. Whilst you visit you can 

also take a look around the Caerleon Farmers’ 

Market. Tel: 029 2057 3550. 

Christmas in Mountain Ash 

Mountain Ash Town Centre 


12pm - 5pm. See Santa in the town centre. 














The Great Sleigh Adventure 



Join the newest North Pole division — the 

Arctic Circle — and overcome the disaster that 

has struck Christmas. Pieces of Santa’s sleigh are 

scattered across a snowy Techniquest. You and 

your team are in a race against time to defeat the 

towering snowmen, decipher secret blueprints 

and solve cryptic clues to fix the sleigh before 

Christmas comes around! £3.50 addition to 

admission price, see website for details. 

Plus: 

A Techniquest Christmas Carol 

Get into the festive spirit with a fun show 

for all the family. Discover some alternative 

Christmas gifts, and how to make decorations 

using chemistry. If you’ve already got your 

gifts sorted, we’ll take you on a crash course in 


Plus: 

Arctic Wonder 

Take a journey to the North Pole to explore the 

geography, the weather and the wildlife of this 

icy land in this brand-new immersive dome 

experience. £1.50 addition to admission price, 


A Medieval Christmas 

Caerphilly Castle, 

Castle Street, Caerphilly, CF83 1JD 


10 



© Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol 2019. Elusen gofrestredig rhif. 205846. 

© National Trust 2019. Registered Charity no. 205846. Photography © National Trust Images/John Millar 

Nadolig hudolus 

A magical Christmas 

wedi'i greu yng 

Ngerddi Dyffryn 

made at 

Dyffryn Gardens 

Dewch draw i Erddi Dyffryn 

y Nadolig hwn i ryfeddu at y 

goleuadau gwych yn y gerddi ac i 

fwynhau gemau a gweithgareddau 

lu ar y llwybr O Goeden Nadolig. 

Visit Dyffryn Gardens this 

Christmas, marvel at the winter 

light illuminations in the gardens 

and play lots of games and 

activities on the O Christmas Tree 

trail. 

Dyma’r lleoedd sy’n ein creu. 

These are the places that make us. 

nationaltrust.org.uk/dyffryn-gardens


Sat 10:30am – 4pm, Sun 11am – 4pm. Meet 

the man himself in this medieval setting. Plus 

festive arts and crafts. Booking essential. £5 per 

child to enter the grotto. Normal site admission 


Wooden Reindeer Trail 

Bryngarw Country Park, CF32 8UU 

www.bryngarwcountrypark.co.uk 

11am - 3pm. Santa has lost his reindeer - can 

you help find them? Collect your map from 

the visitor centre, along with your bag of 

reindeer food and then head out onto the trail 

to find the lost reindeer. Collect a sticker for 

each reindeer before heading back to write/ 

post a letter to Santa! Lots of outdoor fun for 

the family… £3.50 per child - pay on the day 

(cash only). Please note the trail takes about 

30 - 40 minutes and is muddy in parts. Due to 

the terrain, parts of the trail are not suitable for 

pushchairs or wheelchairs. Tel: 01656 815995. 

Caerphilly Christmas Market 

Caerphilly Town Centre, CF83 1JL 

www.visitcaerphilly.com 

Sat 9am – 5pm & Sun 10am – 4pm. Free 

event. Experience the sights, sounds and smells 

of a town and Castle preparing for Christmas 

with delicious street food, the smell of mulled 

wine, exciting street theatre and over 100 food, 

craft & gift stalls. Tel: 029 2088 0011. 












Tel 029 2057 3500. 


Talk: Dinosaurs and Deserts in Wales 



12pm, 1.30pm & 3pm. £2. What did South 

Wales look like at the time of the dinosaurs? 

How many different dinosaurs lived here? You’ll 

also find out about the biggest extinction of all 

time, how dinosaurs first evolved, and what we 

think they really looked like! 

Plus: 

Quiet Time with Dippy 

9am - 10am. Free. This quiet session to visit 

Dippy the dinosaur has been designed for visitors 

with autism, learning disabilities or sensory 

and communication disorders, along with their 

families and carers. On this day there will be 

reduced capacity and a quieter atmosphere. 

0300 111 2 333 (charged at local rate). 









2:30pm - 4pm. Tel: 029 2034 5696. 

Santa and Elf Dash in aid of Welsh Hearts 

Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff Bay, CF10 5AL 

www.santadash.wales 

5K walk, jog or dash around Cardiff Bay. 

Festivities begin at 10am. Prizes for best fancy 

dress. Tickets £10 each or £30 group 4. 










2:30pm - 4pm. Tel: 029 2034 5696. 

Christmas Party 


www.techniquest.org/ 

5pm – 8pm. Festive fun-seekers are invited 

to an exciting evening opening at Techniquest 

with access to two floors of hands-on exhibits, 

treats, music and entertainment. Wave hello 

and have a selfie with Santa as he spends 

an hour out of his busy schedule visiting 

Techniquest. Discover some alternative 


using chemistry in our Theatre extravaganza, 

A Techniquest Christmas Carol. Recommended 

for children aged 3 – 8 year. £7 per ticket + 

booking fee. Tel: 029 2047 5475. 







later join him in his cottage for story time. Enjoy 

Christmas Market, and make your own Christmas 

crafts. At 1pm join Blaenavon Ladies Choir and 

Beaufort Male Choir for carol singing. Entry 

to the Museum and Market is free; story time 

with Santa must be pre-booked online. £7 per 

child which includes a gift. There is a small cash 

charge payable on the day for craft making. One 

free adult ticket per child. For any additional 




Cardiff Devils vs Nottingham Panthers 









Christmas in Aberdare 

Aberdare Town Centre 


12pm - 5pm. See Santa in the town centre. Plus 

Giant Snow Globe, fun fair rides and more. £2 

to visit Santa in his grotto. 














Plus: 








Plus: 

Arctic Wonder 






The Snowman: Festive Film Screening 


museum.wales/cardiff 

Screenings at 10.30am, 12pm, 1pm & 3pm. 

Watch this classic Christmas film in the Reardon 

Smith Lecture Theatre. You’ll feel part of the 

film as you walk through a winter wonderland 

entrance and then cuddle down in the theatre 

for the heart-warming tale. After the film 

they will be a chance to meet a snowman 

for a photo opportunity. Tel: 0300 111 2 333 












Dippy the Dinosaur / Natural History 

Adventurers with RSPB 

National Museum of Wales 

Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NP 


Free drop-in sessions: 11am - 12pm & 

2pm - 4pm. Family-friendly activities for all 

ages exploring dinosaurs, cave men and an 

archaeological dig. Tel: 029 2035 3000. 











restrictions apply. 

Plus: 

Carols in the Chapel 

£5 per person. 10.30am - 4pm. Get in the 

mood for the festive season in the Museum’s 

18th century Pen-rhiw Chapel for St Fagans’ 

favourite sing-a-long. There’ll be lots of 

traditional tunes and a few more contemporary 

Christmas classics. Tel 029 2057 3500. 

Wooden Reindeer Trail 

Bryngarw Country Park, CF32 8UU 

www.bryngarwcountrypark.co.uk 

11am - 3pm. Santa has lost his reindeer - can 

you help find them? Collect your map from 

the visitor centre, along with your bag of 

reindeer food and then head out onto the trail 

to find the lost reindeer. Collect a sticker for 

each reindeer before heading back to write/ 

post a letter to Santa! Lots of outdoor fun for 

the family… £3.50 per child - pay on the day 

(cash only). Please note the trail takes about 

30 - 40 minutes and is muddy in parts. Due to 

the terrain, parts of the trail are not suitable for 

pushchairs or wheelchairs. Tel: 01656 815995. 

Elf Me Workshops 

Margam Country Park 

Neath Port Talbot SA13 2TJ 

www.margamcountrypark.co.uk 

Perfect for budding elves ages 3 - 12 years 

who want to help Father Christmas. Expect 

fun, laughter, games, arts and crafts. Sessions 

at 9.15am 11.30am & 1.45pm. Children £15; 

adults £4 (includes a hot drink and mince 

pie and a free ticket to the Sant Deer Feed). 

Workshops last 75 minutes. Please arrive 15 

minutes before session starts. Phone to book. 

Tel: 01639 881635. 








12pm & 1:30pm - 2:30pm. Tel: 029 2034 5696. 








Browse the Christmas Market and make your 

own Christmas crafts. At 1pm join Blaenavon 

Town Band for carol singing. Entry to the 

Museum and Market is free; story time with 

Santa must be pre-booked online. £7 per 

child which includes a gift. There is a small 

cash charge payable on the day for craft 

making. One free adult ticket per child. For 

any additional adults wishing to attend the 

session, and an additional adult ticket must be 

purchased. Limited tickets available. 

Tel: 029 2057 3650. 


Xmas Jumper Party with special guest 




5:15pm - 7:15pm. Start the festive season with 

the Christmas Jumper party. Enjoy a fun filled 

evening. Booking essential. Adults £1; children 

aged 4 - 12 £8; children aged 1 - 3 £6.50 

(children’s prices include hotdog, juice and 

gift). Members pay £3 for hotdog, juice and 

gift. Tel: 029 2034 5696. 

Victorian Christmas 

Aberdulais Falls, SA10 8EU 

www.nationaltrust/aberdulais.org.uk 

5.30pm - 8pm. Join Mr & Mrs Claus to celebrate 

the season with carols, crafts and a candlelit 

walk. Normal admission applies. Free to 

National Trust members. Tel: 01639 636674. 

Toddler Time 

Wales Millennium Centre, 

Bute Place, Cardiff CF10 5AL 

www.wmc.org.uk 

11am - 2.30pm. Free. A monthly favourite for 

new mums, dads and babies where everyone 

can make new friends, express themselves 

and be curious and creative all in one place. 

Take your tots along to sing, dance, play and 

create with a special programme of activities 

especially for you and your little ones. 

Tel: 029 2063 6464. 

Saturday 21st December 

Monthly Nature Ramble 

Forest Farm, Forest Farm Road, 

Whitchurch, Cardiff, CF14 7JJ 

10am - 12pm. Free. Take your binoculars (if you 

have them) and join the Friends of Forest Farm 

on a guided walk to identify the ever changing 

array of birds and wildlife which call Forest 

Farm home. Meet at the Warden Centre. 

Tel: 029 2044 5903. 

Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd December 








12 



cyfarthfashopping.com 

The Alternative 

12 Days of 

CHRISTMAS 

Sat 16 th Nov Stilt Walking Tree Performer* 

Sun 17 th Nov Ballet Dove Performers 

Sat 23 rd Nov French French Fancies Hen Performers Performers * 

Sun 24 th Nov 4-Part Choir 

Sat 30 th Nov Hula Hoop Artist 

Sun 1 st Dec 

Golden Goose Egg Treasure Hunt 

Sat 7 th Dec Giant Swan Puppet Performer 

Sun 8 th Dec Christmas Milk Shakes 

Sat 14 th Dec Dance Workshops 

Sun 15 th Dec Lord Bouncing Performers 

Sat 21 st Dec Piped Cupcakes 

Sun 22 nd Dec Drumming Workshops 

Find us outside River Island 

Between 11am and 4pm 

CHRISTMAS AT ITS BEST 

Performance times may vary. Some performers may roam. 

Any programme changes will be listed at cyfarthfashopping.com 







Christmas season at Cardiff Castle’s 

Underground Cinema 

Cardiff Castle, CF10 3RB 

www.cardiffcastle.com 

Watch family favourite festive films in the 

medieval undercroft with 8 different screens 

including Home Alone, Elf, The Grinch,Gremlins 

and more! Tickets range form £5 - £7. 

Tel: 029 2087 8100. 

Santa’s Wintery Grotto: 

Cwmcarn Forest Drive Visitor Centre 

Crosskeys, NP11 7FA 

www.cwmcarnforest.co.uk 

10am - 3.30pm. (Bookable sessions). Journey 

through Santa’s Wintery Wonderland, enjoy the 

penguins at play and the mischievous elves at 

work in their studio. Meet the big man himself 

and receive a present. Suitable for all ages. 

Please note you must reserve a place to visit 

the grotto. £6 per child (includes gift). 

Tel: 01495 272001. 











Saturday 21st - Monday 23rd December 

Christmas Trail 




Monday - Saturday 10am - 4pm; Sunday 11am 

- 4pm. Families are invited to take part in a fun, 

festive trail around the Castle grounds. Search 

high and low for Christmas clues — there 

may even be a prize on offer for those who are 

successful on their quest! No booking required. 

Family ticket £20 (admits 2 adults and up to 3 

children under 18). Tel: 01291 624 065. 


Techniquest 

Stuart Street, Cardiff, CF10 5BW 











Plus: 








Plus: 

Arctic Wonder 






Santa Deer Feeds 

Margam Country Park, Neath Port Talbot, SA13 2TJ 

www.margamcountrypark.co.uk 

Watch Santa feed his deer. £16 per car. Arrive at 

10.30am for 11am start. Book online. Following 

the deer feed there will be activities in the 

Castle plus the Children’s Village, Adventure 

Playground, Farm Trail and a festive walk. 

Plus: 

Elf Me Workshops 

Perfect for budding elves ages 3 - 12 years 

who want to help Father Christmas. Expect 

fun, laughter, games, arts and crafts. Sessions 

at 9.15am 11.30am & 1.45pm. Children £15; 

adults £4 (includes a hot drink and mince 

pie and a free ticket to the Sant Deer Feed). 

Workshops last 75 minutes. Please arrive 15 

minutes before session starts. Phone to book. 

Tel: 01639 881635. 

Sunday 22nd December 

Cardiff Devils vs Manchester Storm 









Monday 23rd December 

Film: The Muppet Christmas Carol (U) 

Memo Arts Centre 

Gladstone Road, Barry, CF62 8NA 


11am. Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and the 

hilarious Muppets star in this merry, magical 

version of Charles Dickens’ classic tale. One 

fateful Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by the 

Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. 

Together with kind, humble Bob Cratchit and 

his family, the Spirits open Scrooge’s eyes 

— and his heart — to the true meaning of 

Christmas. Advance tickets: £3.50, door tickets: 

£4. Tel: 01446 738622. 


Film: Shaun The Sheep: 

Farmageddon (U) 




2pm. Advance tickets: £3.50, door tickets: £4. 

Tel: 01446 738622. 

Friday 27th - Tuesday 31st December 










Plus: 

Arctic Wonder 










Monday - Saturday 10am - 4pm; Sunday 

11am - 4pm. Families are invited to take part 

in a fun, festive trail around the Castle grounds. 

Search high and low for Christmas clues — 

there may even be a prize on offer for those 

who are successful on their quest! No booking 

required. Family ticket £20 (admits 2 adults 

and up to 3 children under 18). 

Tel: 01291 624 065. 


Cardiff Devils vs Guildford Flames 



7pm. Tickets from £8 for children & £16 for adults. 

As part of the match night experience, enjoy 

competitions where you can win prizes such as 

player’s player’s shirts. Following the game, meet 

players at the post-game signing or have a go at 

ice skating yourself. Tel: 0800 0842 666. 

Shaun The Sheep: Farmageddon (U) 




11am. Advance tickets: £3.50, door tickets: £4. 

Tel: 01446 738622. 


Film: The Aeronauts (PG) 




2pm. Prices from £3.50 - £6.50 (extra 50p on 

the door). Tel: 01446 738622. 

JANUARY 

Wednesday 1st January 

Cardiff Devils vs Coventry Blaze 



4pm. Tickets from £8 for children & £16 for adults. 

As part of the match night experience, enjoy 

competitions where you can win prizes such as 

player’s player’s shirts. Following the game, meet 

players at the post-game signing or have a go at 

ice skating yourself. Tel: 0800 0842 666. 

Thursday 2nd - Sunday 5th January 


Chepstow Castle, 1 Bridge Street, Chepstow, 

NP16 5EY. www.cadw.gov.wales 

Monday - Saturday 10am - 4pm; Sunday 11am 

- 4pm. Families are invited to take part in a fun, 

festive trail around the Castle grounds. Search 

high and low for Christmas clues — there 

may even be a prize on offer for those who are 

successful on their quest! No booking required. 

Family ticket £20 (admits 2 adults and up to 3 

children under 18). Tel: 01291 624 065. 










Plus: 

Arctic Wonder 






Saturday 4th January 

Film: Cats (PG) 



11am & 3pm. Director Tom Hooper transforms 

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-shattering 

stage musical into a breakthrough cinematic 

event starring James Corden, Judi Dench, 

Jason Derulo, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, Ian 

McKellen, Taylor Swift, Rebel Wilson and Royal 

Ballet principal dancer Francesca Hayward. 

The film reimagines the musical for a new 

generation with spectacular production design, 

state-of-the-art technology, and dance styles 

ranging from classical ballet to contemporary, 

hip-hop to jazz, street dance to tap. Prices from 

£3.50 - £6.50 (extra 50p on the door). 

Tel: 01446 738622. 

Sunday 5th January 





11am & 6pm. Prices from £3.50 - £6.50 (extra 

50p on the door). Tel: 01446 738622. 

Garth Mountain Walk 

Meet at Taff’s Well Train Station 

Cardiff, CF15 7RJ 

10am - 1pm. Free. Walk up the nearest 

mountain to Cardiff, ‘The Garth’. Take a flask of 

coffee or soup to enjoy at the top. Wet weather 

clothing and stout walking boots or shoes are 

essential. Meet at Taff’s Well train station 

CF15 7RJ - 11km distance. Tel: 029 2044 5903. 















5.30pm. Prices from £3.50 - £6.50 (extra 50p 

on the door). Tel: 01446 738622. 

Tuesday 7th January 






on the door). Tel: 01446 738622. 

Wednesday 8th January 






on the door). Tel: 01446 738622. 

Thursday 9th January 






on the door). Tel: 01446 738622. 

Friday 10th January 

Toddler Day 



Once a month during term-time, pre-school 

children have their run of the exhibits with 

activities on a special theme. There’ll be story 

time and singalong, something to make to 

take home, and more. Techniquest is buggyfriendly, 

with nappy-changing facilities and 

lockers. Under-3s free, accompanying adults 

£7.20, children (3–15) £4. Tel: 029 2047 5475. 

Saturday 11th January & 


Flight Fantastic 



Chocks away! The intrepid Presenters are trying 

to figure out how to fly like a bird, but are 

having a spot of bother getting off the ground. 

Can you help? Visit the Science Theatre to 

14 



How to make a 

child’s Christmas 

St David’s Toy Appeal is back! 

This festive season, St David’s Cardiff 

annual Toy Appeal is back for its fifth 

year, and after putting smiles on the 

faces of thousands of children facing 

hardship in our communities, they 

need your help. 

The Toy Appeal has supported over 40 

incredible charities and organisations in 

Wales, and St David’s wants to continue 

the success of previous years and make 

this year one to remember yet to ensure 

that every child in South Wales receives 

a Christmas gift. 

From 30th November until Christmas, 

St David’s is asking its customers to buy 

an extra gift for a child in need and drop 

it off at the in-centre Donation Station 

where a team of festive helpers will be 

making sure that gifts are delivered 

safely in time to start the celebrations. 

The appeal, launched in 2015, has 

seen the generosity of shoppers donate 

over 36,000 gifts so far. Charities taking 

part will include Barnardo’s, Noah’s Ark 

Children’s Hospital Charity, Ty Hafan, 

Dreams & Wishes, Valley’s Kids and 

Latch. 

James Waugh, General Manager for 

St David’s Cardiff, commented on the 

appeal: “I’m really looking forward to 

seeing what our Toy Appeal can achieve 

this year. Over the past four years, 

our shoppers have shown incredible 

generosity which has allowed us to 

donate more and more toys to amazing 

charities that provide such vital services 

in the community. 

“As we celebrate our fifth year of the 

initiative, we would love to see that 

continued support from our shoppers 

and local businesses that have helped 

us achieve our mission to ensure more 

children across South Wales have a 

Christmas to remember. All we ask is you 

pick up something extra when buying 

your gifts and help us smash our target 

for another year!” 

Shoppers who want to take part can 

head to the Donation Station in the 

centre, located near the Clogau store. 

For more information on the Toy 

Appeal, visit stdavidscardiff.com/ 

ToyAppeal or join in the conversation 

on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram 

using #SDToyAppeal 

TOY APPEAL 


CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS 

Exploring Christmas 

Around 

the World 

Primary Times takes a festive trip, exploring different Christmas traditions from around the world 

Whether it be an 

afternoon walk 

on Christmas Day, 

making mince pies 

on Christmas Eve, or lighting up the figgy 

pudding with brandy, most families have 

their own December traditions. Even when 

we grow up and form our own families 

we naturally merge our new traditions 

with some of the old. It seems that 

traditions, new or old have a strong 

place in our hearts, and these play 

a particularly important part of how 

we celebrate Christmas. But have 

you ever wondered what these 

traditions look like around 

the world? And how we can 

incorporate some of these 

into our own Christmases 

with the kids? 

Christmas celebrations in France 

begin on December 5, which is St. 

Nicholas Eve. On St. Nicholas Day in France, 

bakeries and home kitchens are hives of 

activity as spiced gingerbread biscuits and 

mannala (a brioche shaped like a saint) are 

baked. In schools, children learn songs and 

poems and create arts and crafts about St. 

Nicholas, while in nursery schools, a man 

portraying St. Nicholas gives away chocolates 

and sometimes little presents. A great way to 

incorporate this French tradition yourself is 

to try baking some St. Nicholas Day mannala 

in your own home with your children, take a 

look at our recipe to give it a go. 

In Australia, December 25 falls during the 

height of the summer heat, so many of the 

country’s Christmas festivities take place 

outdoors. Rather than wrapping up warm by 

the fire, the Aussies come together at night 

to light candles and sing Christmas carols 

outdoors. The stars shining above add to 

the sights and sounds of this wonderful 

outdoor concert. 

Most of us will have a twinkling tree in the 

corner of our living rooms for the month 

of December, and this tradition is believed 

to have started in Germany back in the 

16th Century. A more unusual of these tree 

traditions is to hide a pickle somewhere 

within the branches, and give a gift to 

whichever child in the household finds it 

first. Alternatively in Ukraine, baubles and 

bows are swapped for spiders and 

spider webs as a token of good 

luck. By decorating the tree 

with spiders, the people in the 

household hope it will bring them 

positivity and good fortune in the 

coming year. A simple way to make 

your own Christmas traditions with 

your children more international 

could be to incorporate some more 

alternative tree decorations - whether 

that be bows, pickles or spider webs! No 

matter how you and your family decide 

to celebrate Christmas, or whether you 

celebrate a different festival altogether, 

incorporating some simple festive fun from 

all around the globe is sure to make for a 

very Merry Christmas. 

French-Inspired Mannala 

• Sprinkle the yeast over the warm milk. In a separate bowl, 

Ingredients 

• 600g/21.16 oz. 

plain flour 

• 1 sachet active 

dry yeast (10g) 

• 330ml warm milk 

• 55g sugar 

• 1 tsp salt 

• 60g softened butter 

• 1 egg 

• Chocolate Chips 

or Sultanas 

• 1 egg yolk 

• 1 tbsp. Milk 

• Sprinkle the yeast over the warm milk. In a separate bowl, 

combine the flour, sugar and salt. Rub in the softened 

butter until you get a crumb-like consistency. 

• Mix in the egg, then slowly add the milk. Knead the 

dough until smooth and cover with cling-film. Allow 

to rest until the dough has doubled in size (1h30). 

• Once your dough has risen, tip it onto your working 

surface and knock the air out. Roll out the dough with 

a rolling pin and use a gingerbread man cookie cutter 

to shape the Mannala (approx. 14cm). 

• Place them on a baking sheet lined with baking paper 

(no more than 6 per sheet), cover with a towel and leave 

to rise for one hour. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180°C. 

• Beat the egg yolk with 1 tablespoon milk and brush over 

the Mannala. 

• Pin the chocolate chips/sultanas onto the dough for 

the eyes, buttons and any other decorations. Bake for 15 

minutes or until golden and leave to cool on a wire rack. 

16

1a_CIWW_xmas_Primary Times half page.indd 1 30/10/2019 09:57 

We’re celebrating the most wonderful time of the year with a festive menu packed full of traditional 

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yule log and so much more - it’s time to let the festive feasting begin! 

With over 100 dishes from around the world, we’ll make it a Christmas to remember, so enjoy a great 

night out with friends, family, colleagues and everyone in between – all for one set price! 

BOOK YOUR TABLE NOW AT JRC-GLOBALBUFFET.COM 

JRCGlobalBuffet 

JRC_Buffet 



explore how humans are harnessing the forces 

of the natural world to overcome the many 

problems of flight. 

Plus: 

The Moon 

Visit the Planetarium and experience all things 

Moon. Explore its myths and legends and find 

out why it’s so important to all of us on Earth. 

Look at our missions to the Moon, focusing on 

the amazing journey into the unknown as well 

as what mankind has planned for the future. 

So, sit back, relax and enjoy the Moon! Suitable 

for ages 7+. £1.50 addition to admission price, 

see website for details. 

Plus: 

Space Hunters 

Nan’s garden shed is no ordinary shed — it is a 

spaceship in disguise! Go with the children on 

a treasure hunt in space to meet an astronaut, 

ride on a comet’s tail, look for an exploding star 

and much more! Suitable for under-7s. £1.50 

addition to admission price, see website for 

details. Tel: 029 2047 5475. 





Get some fresh air by visiting this indoor park. 

Complete the Winter Trail and then warm up 

in the heated winter cabin. 10am - 5pm (Last 

entry 4pm). NEW Winter Passes now available. 

Tel: 029 2034 5696. 


Cardiff Devils vs Dundee Stars 










Talk: Meet Dippy 


Cathays Park CF10 3NP 


12pm, 1.30pm & 3pm. £2. Enjoy a family 

friendly talk by Dr Caroline Buttler, Head of 

Palaeontology, all about Dippy the Diplodocus! 

Hear the story of how he was discovered and 

eventually came to London, a tale that involves 

the wild west, a king and one of the richest 

men in the world! You will also see where and 

when Dippy lived and how palaeontologists 

have found out what this remarkable animal 

was like when it was alive. 0300 111 2 333 


Dippy the Dinosaur / Natural History 

Adventurers with RSPB 

National Museum of Wales 

Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NP 


Free drop-in sessions: 11am - 12pm & 2 - 4pm. 

Family-friendly activities for all ages exploring 

dinosaurs, cave men and an archaeological dig. 

Tel: 029 2035 3000. 

Big Garden Birdwatch 

Whitchurch Library 

Park Rd, Cardiff CF14 7XA 


Free family drop-in session 10.am - 3pm. 

Bird box workshops 11am - 1pm & 1.30pm - 

2.30pm. Use telescopes and binoculars to spot 

and record as many birds as possible. Make a 

bird box and feeder for your garden. Booking 

required for bird boxes only. Tel: 029 2035 3000. 

Monthly Nature Ramble 

Forest Farm, Warden Centre 

Forest Farm Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff, CF14 7JJ 

10am - 12pm. Free. Take binoculars (if you have 

them) and join the Friends of Forest Farm on a 

guided walk to identify the ever changing array 

of birds and wildlife which call Forest Farm 

home. Meet at the Warden Centre. 

Tel: 029 2044 5903. 

Cardiff Devils vs Sheffield Steelers 









Amazing Astronomy Afternoon 




12pm – 4pm. Free. Embrace the time of year 

when our skies are at their darkest, with a 

full family programme to inspire, inform and 

celebrate all things astronomical. 

Plus: 

Star Dome 

12pm, 1pm, 2pm & 3pm. Age 7+. £3.50pp. 

Book online. An awe inspiring whistle-stop 

tour of the stars in an inflatable planetarium. 

Tel: 029 2057 3600. 

Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th January 









Tel: 029 2034 5696. 











Plus: 

The Moon 










Plus: 

Space Hunters 







details. Tel: 029 2047 5475. 


Big Garden Birdwatch 

Roath Park, Lake Rd W, Cardiff CF23 5PA 


Free event 10am - 3pm. Bird box workshops 

11am - 1pm & 1.30pm - 2.30pm. Use 

telescopes and binoculars to spot and record 

as many birds as possible. Make a bird box and 

feeder for your garden. Booking required for 

bird boxes only. Tel: 029 2035 3000. 


Beach Buddies 

Rest Bay, Porthcawl CF36 3UP 

www.beachacademywales.com 

10.30am - 11.30am. £5 per child 

(accompanying adult free). Take your little 

sponges aged 5 and under to Beach Academy 

for coastal learning. Year round. Meet at Beach 

Academy, Rest Bay Watersports Centre. To book 

Txt/WhatsApp 07966 572273. Pay on the day. 


Shark Eggcase Hunt 

Rest Bay, Porthcawl CF36 3UP 

www.beachacademywales.com 

11.30am - 1pm. £3pp (children to be 

accompanied by an adult). Shark and Ray egg 

searching. Learn about these amazing welsh 

sea creatures! Meet at Beach Academy, Rest 

Bay Watersports Centre. To book Txt/WhatsApp 

07966 572273. Places limited. Pay on the day. 

Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th January 

RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch 

As the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch celebrates 

its 40th anniversary, it’s time to turn your 

eyes to the skies and count the wildlife that is 

counting on you! You can join in at home or at a 

local RSPB Cymru event. More details to follow 

on the RSPB website. Tel: 029 2044 5903. 









Tel: 029 2034 5696. 











Plus: 

The Moon 










Plus: 

Space Hunters 







details. Tel: 029 2047 5475. 











Make and Take – Cwtch Crafts 




12.30pm – 3.30pm. Free. Drop in to make a 

cute cwtch craft for someone you love. 

Plus: 

Lap Harps Workshop 

12:30pm. Free. Places limited – book on arrival 

at the museum. Try the national instrument of 

Wales, with harpist Shelley Fairplay. 

Plus: 

Santes Dwynwen Stories 

1pm, 2pm & 3pm. Free. Listen to the tale of 

Santes Dwynwen, the Welsh Patron Saint of 

lovers. Tel: 029 2057 3600. 

Friday 31st January 

Welsh Wrestling 

Blackwood Miners’ Institute, NP12 1BB 

www.blackwoodminersinstitute.com 

7pm. An evening of glitz, glamour and body 

slam mayhem! See the over the top stars 

of the wrestling world collide in a night of 

super slamming action at this fun, crazy, 

family entertainment show. Adults £12.75; 

concessions £9.75; family ticket £38. 

Tel: 01495 227206. 

FEBRUARY 

Saturday 1st February 

Wales v Italy 


www.wru.wales/tickets 

See the defending Grand Slam Champions take 

on the Azzuri at the inaugural game of the 

2020 Six Nations and the home of Welsh rugby! 

Tickets are on sale now and only £20 U16s. 

Adults from £30. Limited tickets remaining. 

Tel: 0844 847 1881. 

Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd February 









Tel: 029 2034 5696. 


Techniquest 

Stuart Street, Cardiff, CF10 5BW 









Plus: 

The Moon 










Plus: 

Space Hunters 







details. Tel: 029 2047 5475. 

18 



TOP TIPS 

TOP TIPS 

Visit Santa and support 

Noah's Arc Charity 

Take your little ones to visit Santa in his magical grotto at IKEA 

Cardiff this Christmas and you’ll be helping to support the 

Noah’s Ark Charity’s new appeal at the same time. All funds 

from this year’s grotto will go to help transform the experience and care of more than 1,000 

young patients treated at Wales’ children’s hospital each year. The Jungle Ward Appeal will 

fund new equipment and facilities for children with chronic and long terms term conditions, 

patients recovering from neurological injuries and young people in mental health crisis. All 

grotto visitors this year will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win £300 in IKEA 

vouchers - so what have you got to lose? Open 30 November to 23 December, 11am – 5pm 

daily. No booking required. Visit www.noahsarkcharity.org for more information. 

National Assembly’s 

20th anniversary! 

Byddwch yn rhan o ddathliadau 20 mlynedd y 

Cynulliad Cenedlaethol! Dewch i ddweud wrthym 

am beth rydych chi’n ddiolchgar ac i adael neges 

fer am eich rhanbarth yn y Senedd y Nadolig 

hwn. Bydd y Senedd ar agor bob dydd tan 24 

Rhagfyr ac yn barod i chi ddod i’n helpu i addurno 

â diolch y gaeaf hwn. Wedi i chi roi eich addurn 

ar ein coeden, gallwch fwynhau bwydydd hyfryd yr ŵyl yn y caffi neu bori drwy’r siop 

wrth i’r plant gadw’n brysur yn y man chwarae. Mae’ch ymweliad am ddim. I gael rhagor o 

wybodaeth, ewch i’n gwefan www.cynulliad.cymru / senedd neu ffoniwch 0300 200 6565. 

Be part of the National Assembly’s 20th anniversary celebrations! Come and tell us what 

you’re thankful for and leave a little message about your region in the Senedd this Christmas. 

Open every day until the 24th December, the Senedd will be ready and waiting for you to 

help us decorate with thanks this Winter. Once you’ve fixed your gift tag decoration onto our 

tree, enjoy the festive treats in the café or have a browse around the shop while the children 

are busy in the play area. It’s free to visit. For more information visit our website 

www.assembly.wales / senedd or call 0300 200 6565 


We’re bringing festive cheer to shoppers this Christmas at Cyfarthfa 

Shopping Park! Inspired by the traditional ’12 days of Christmas’ 

but with an alternative spin, we’re hosting on-park entertainment 

each weekend from 16th November through to 22nd December! 

This collective of Christmas activities offers a unique blend of 

performance, workshops, artistry and tastings! 

There’s something for everyone to experience and enjoy with our ‘Alternative 12 days 

of Christmas’! For more information visit www.cyfarthfashopping.com 

Cyfarthfa Shopping Park – Christmas at its best! 

Travel easily with Cardiff Bus 

There’s plenty to do in and around Cardiff this festive season, so hop on a 

Cardiff Bus to join in with the fun. Families of up to 5 people (maximum 

of 2 adults) can travel all day for just £5.50 in Cardiff and Penarth, and 

£8 across the entire Cardiff Bus network on weekends and during local 

school holidays. With regular buses in Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan and 

to and from Newport, there are plenty of places to explore by bus. 

View routes and times online at www.cardiffbus.com 

Follow @cardiffbus on Twitter or ‘like’ their Facebook page for the latest 

news and updates. Terms and conditions apply. 

Struggling for 

Christmas gift ideas? 

Ice skate at Wales’s biggest castle 

Tickets make fantastic gifts for children and the memories last longer than a pair 

of socks. Need some ideas? In February, magician Tom Brace brings a brand-new 

comedy magic show for the whole family. Morgan & West present captivating 

chemistry, physics and bonkers biology in this fun for all science extravaganza in 

May. Expect explosive thrills, chemical spills and a risk assessment that gives their 

stage manager chills! Join The Noise Next Door, masters of off-the-cuff comedy 

for a side-splitting time-travelling adventure. Where do they go next? It’s up to 

you - your suggestions are transformed into funny scenes and songs through 

history. Visit www.memoartscentre.co.uk for full event details and more ideas. 

From 06 December until 06 January, Caerphilly Castle will see the return of 

its ice rink – even bigger and better than before. The majestic setting 

will be transformed into a Christmas wonderland, complete with indulgent 

treats from the pop-up café. The real-ice rink will be open from 

12pm - 9pm Wednesday – Friday and 10am – 9pm Saturday – Sunday, 

with additional dates and times bookable during school holidays - offering 

wintery fun for school trips and families alike. Each slot lasts 45 minutes, 

with penguin-shaped ‘ice walkers’ available on a first-come first-served 

basis. Autism friendly sessions will also take place, and accompanied visitors 

in wheelchairs are welcome. To skate within the walls of the magical 

Caerphilly Castle, pre-book tickets at: 

ticketsource.co.uk/caerphilly-castle-ice-rink. To see Cadw’s full Christmas 

events programme, visit gov.wales/cadw, find Cadw on Facebook or follow 

@CadwWales on Twitter. For more information on becoming a Cadw 

member visit https://www.cadwmembership.service.gov.wales/ 

Welsh Hearts 

festive fun run 

Wales' biggest festive fun run is returning to Cardiff Bay on 

Sunday 8th December. The event, which is run by the Welsh 

Hearts charity, is sponsored this year by Western Power 

Distribution and Princes Gate water. The 5K fun run has 

become a firm favourite with families in Cardiff. All proceeds 

from the event will go towards placing defibrillators into 

communities, providing free CPR training and screening the 

hearts of young people for undiagnosed heart conditions. 

Fancy dress isn't compulsory but participants are encouraged 

to dress in their best fancy dress to get into the Christmas 

spirit this December! For more information please 

visit: www.santadash.wales or call: 02922 402 67 

20 


Amgueddfa Genedlaethol 

Caerdydd 


19.10.2019 – 26.01.2020 

amgueddfa.cymru/dippy 

museum.wales/dippy 

Am ddim | Free 

Dippy ar Daith 

Antur Hanes Natur 

Dippy on Tour 

A Natural History Adventure 

Mewn partneriaeth â 

In partnership with 

Cefnogir gan / Supported by 

Debbie Powell ar gyfer NHM / Debbie Powell for NHM 

Noddwr Cymru / Wales Sponsor 

Cefnogwr Teithio Trên Cymru /Wales Rail Travel Supporter 

Cyfaill Cymru / Wales Friend 

Great Western Railway John Lewis & Partners nhm.ac.uk/dippyontour 

Experience 

The Beagle 

has landed at 

The Royal Mint 

Experience! 

Available to view now, sets from The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and Wallace 

& Gromit’s World of Invention are on display in our exhibition hall. 

Alongside the sets, you will be able to trace their progress to superstardom, 

watch an interview with Merlin Crossingham, Wallace & Gromit Creative 

Director, as well as footage of Aardman animators working on models of 

the inseparable duo. 

For more information and to book your place, visit 

royalmint.com/experience or call us on 0333 241 2223 

For full terms and conditions please visit royalmint.com/terms. 

© The Royal Mint Limited 2019.© and Aardman/W&G Ltd. All rights reserved. 

Winner of 

Visit Wales’ 

gold quality 

assurance 

award 


BOX OFFICE 

BoxOffice 

Your family theatre guide... 

0231512 

0231513 

TICKET 

TICKET 

WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE 

CARDIFF BAY, CF10 5AL 

www.wmc.org.uk 

Box Office: 029 2063 6464 

26th November - 4th January 

Les Misérables 

Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed Broadway 

production of Boublil and Schönberg’s musical 

returns to the Centre. With scenery inspired by 

the paintings of Victor Hugo, the magnificent 

score of Les Misérables includes the songs, I 

Dreamed A Dream, On My Own, Bring Him 

Home, One Day More , Master Of The House , 

and many more. Age guidance: 8+, no under 

2s). Tickets: £23 - £75. Performance: 7.30pm. 

Matinees 2.30pm on Thurs & Sat. 

5th – 7th December 

The Curious Muchness of 

Stuff and Nonsense 

When Alys follows the White Rabbit into 

Wonderland, a world of silliness and surprises 

awaits. Followed by her overprotective mam 

and faithful cat, Alys discovers the magical 

delights and darkest depths of a Wonderland 

full of colourful, comical and curious characters. 

A new show reimagining Lewis Carroll’s Alice 

in Wonderland, made by Hijinx’ community 

theatre group Odyssey, written by Hefin 

Robinson and performed a large cast of 

disabled and non-disabled performers from 

Odyssey and Woodlands High School. A 

dazzling reimagining of Lewis Carroll’s famous 

tale. It’s Wonderland, but not as you know it! 

Tickets: £9. Performance: 7pm; Sat 3pm & 7pm. 

14th – 29th December 

RED 

Bringing all the festive fun you need this 

Christmas, enjoy a raucous journey to a fairy 

tale wood where trees whisper, strange 

creatures lurk and wolves run wild. Meet 

a dream beaver and a talking bush under 

a moon-lit sky… Inspired by Little Red 

Riding Hood, RED is a hilarious tale for all 

the family. A group of unlikely heroes find 

themselves in an enchanted misadventure 

with Grandma Red; a raucous old lady on 

a spirited mission to bring back near lost 

stories. Suitable for age 7+, this is the story 

of Red Riding Hood but with a modern twist. 

Tickets: £10. Performance: 10.30 & 4.30pm. 

20th – 22nd December 

The Christmas Clock 

Tick tock, tick tock…the clock ticks on, but 

Christmas never seems to arrive. But what 

if the magic of Christmas is hidden inside 

the waiting? If you don’t do some really 

excellent waiting, you may miss out on all 

the sounds, smells, tastes, textures and 

sparkles as you count down towards the big 

day. Join the spirits of Christmas exploring 

traditions of the festive season, plus plenty 

of great tips for helping children cope with 

excitement and anticipation. Suitable for 0 - 7 

year-olds, a new, multi-sensory show on the 

anticipation of the festive season. Tickets: £7. 

Performance: 11.30am & 1.30pm. 

NEW THEATRE 

PARK PLACE, CARDIFF, CF10 3LN 

Box Office: 029 2087 8889 

www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk 

7th December - 12th January 

Cinderella 

See Gok Wan as The Fairy Gokmother, Mike 

Doyle and Ceri Dupree as The Ugly Sisters and 

Phil Butler as Buttons. Cinderella will feature 

laugh-out-loud comedy, jaw-dropping special 

effects, stunning song and dance and plenty 

of boos and hisses as the ultimate pantomime 

is brought magically to life. Ticket prices and 

performance times vary. 

16th - 19th January 

Room on the Broom 

From the best-selling picture book by Julia 

Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Jump on 

board the broom with the witch and her 

cat in Tall Stories’ fun-filled adaptation of 

Room on the Broom. The witch and her cat 

are travelling on their broomstick when they 

pick up some hitch-hikers - a friendly dog, a 

beautiful green bird and a frantic frog. But 

this broomstick’s not meant for five and - 

CRACK - it snaps in two... just as the hungry 

dragon appears! Will there ever be room 

on the broom for everyone? For everyone 

aged 3 and up. Running time: 60 minutes 

(no interval). Tickets: £12 - £17. Standard 

reductions: £2 off. Performance: Thu 

4.30pm; Fri, Sat & Sun 10.30am & 1.30pm. 

ST DAVID’S HALL 

THE HAYES, CARDIFF CF10 1AH 

Box Office 029 2087 8444 

www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk 

13th December 

Christmas Celebrations 

BBC National Orchestra of Wales 

Pete Harrison conductor 

Start your festive countdown with BBC NOW’s 

Christmas Celebrations, full of sparkle and 

seasonal cheer. A selection box of musical 

treats including Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride; 

Troika from Lieutenant Kijй by Prokofiev; 

Trepak from The Nutcracker Suite by 

Tchaikovsky, plus the chance for a singalong 

medley of Christmas favourites for all the 

family! Age Restrictions: Please note that all 

BBC NOW concerts are recorded live for BBC 

Radio broadcast. Patrons are encouraged to 

bring along children and take advantage of 

Family Tickets, but please be aware that any 

noise can be picked up on the broadcast. No 

content is unsuitable for children, but there 

may be extended periods of loud music. 

BBC NOW concerts are generally suitable for 

ages 7+, but parents will be the best judge 

of whether their children are able to sit 

quietly for a long time. Tickets: Prices vary. 

Performance: 7.30pm. 

14th & 16th December 

Bert & Cherry’s Christmas Plum Pudding 

Featuring songs from Bert’s three popular 

Tiddly Proms alongside festive favourites, 

this interactive live musical show is ideal for 

the under 5s. Bert is in a festive mood; the 

Christmas tree is up and he’s wrapped up 

everything ready for the big day. Cherry is 

coming to help put the finishing touches to 

the decorations and all their friends will be 

popping in too. As usual expect a lively story, 

lots of silly songs to sing along to and a large 

helping of musical plum pudding. Tickets: 

£8. Performance: 10.30am & 12.30pm. 

19th - 31st December 

Three Magical Ballets: 

Performed by The Russian State Ballet of 

Siberia and accompanied by The Russian 

State Ballet Orchestra 


Coppelia 

Every toy has a story, especially in 

this charming comedy of errors, a 

witty combination of antics and abracadabra, 

set in a doll maker’s workshop. This 

light-hearted tale of mistaken identity 

and confused lovers follows mischievous 

Swanilda, her impetuous suitor Franz and 

the eccentric toymaker Dr.Coppelius as they 

are brought to life by sparkling choreography 

and the animated score of Delibes. Coppélia 

is perfect for first-time ballet goers, families 

and everyone in between. 

21st - 24th December 

The Nutcracker 

This most famous of fantasy ballets for all the 

family begins as night falls on Christmas Eve. 

As snowflakes fall outside, the warm glow of 

the open fire sends flickering shadows across 

the boughs of the Christmas tree and all the 

presents beneath. When midnight strikes we 

are swept away to a fairy-tale world where 

nothing is quite as it seems, toy dolls spring 

to life literally off the set, the Mouse-king and 

his mouse-army battle with the Nutcracker 

Prince and we travel through the Land of 

Snow to an enchanted place where the magic 

really begins… 


Swan Lake 

The greatest romantic ballet of all time is 

brought to life by Tchaikovsky’s haunting 

and unforgettable score. From the 

impressive splendour of the Palace ballroom 

to the moon-lit lake where swans glide 

in perfect formation, this compelling tale 

of tragic romance has it all. From Odile, 

the temptress in black tutu as she seduces 

the Prince by spinning with captivating 

precision to the spellbound purity of the 

swan queen, Odette as she flutters with 

emotional intensity, the dual role of Odette/ 

Odile is one of ballet’s most unmissable 

technical challenges. Tickets £10 - £50. 

17th & 18th February 

Zog 

Large in size, and keen in nature, Zog is 

so eager to win a golden star at Madam 

Dragon’s school, where dragons learn all 

the things that dragons need to know. Zog 

tries so very hard, perhaps too hard, and he 

bumps, burns and roars his way through 

years one, two and three. Luckily, the 

plucky Princess Pearl patches him up ready 

to face his biggest challenge yet…a duel 

with knight, Sir Gadabout the Great! Tickets: 

Adult £15.50; children £13.50. Performance: 

Monday 4.30pm & Tuesday 11am & 2pm. 

MEMO ARTS CENTRE 

GLADSTONE ROAD, BARRY, 

CF62 8NA 

Box Office: 01446 738622 


2nd & 3rd December 

The Scarecrow’s Wedding 

Betty O’Barley and Harry O’Hay are excellent 

scarecrows. Their wedding plans are all 

coming together until Harry leaves Betty’s 

side and the devilishly smooth Reginald 

Rake tries to take Harry’s place. Will Harry 

make it back in time to save their special day? 

This heart-warming and award-winning 

adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel 

Scheffler’s bestselling book is bursting at the 

seams with Scamp Theatre’s inimitable style. 

This epic love story promises wit, drama and 

wedding bells! Packed with live music and 

laughter, this is one hour’s magic that you and 

your children will never forget! Suitable for 

ages 3+. Tickets: Adults £14; children £10. 

Performance: Mon 5:30pm (family show); 

Tues 11am & 1:30pm (school shows). 

11th December 

Santa’s Christmas Countdown 

Join Dotty the Elf, Dasher the Reindeer, 

Jack Frost and Pompom the Penguin in a 

fun, festive, musical adventure to help fix 

22 


49305-46 Cinderella 2019 ADVERT [90x135mm].qxp_Layout 1 24/10/2019 16:07 Page 1 

Rhagfyr 6 -15 December 

Y Colisëwm 

Aberdâr 

The Coliseum 

Aberdare 

Rhagfyr 20-24 December 

Y Parc a’r Dâr The Park & Dare 

Treorci Treorchy 

£16/£13 | £49 Tocyn Teulu/Family Ticket | £9.50 Grwpiau o 20+/Groups of 20+ 

A’R 

CANOLFAN MILENIWM CYMRU A LIKELY STORY YN CYFLWYNO 

WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE AND LIKELY STORY PRESENT 

ANTUR WYLLT I’R TEULU 

A WILD ADVENTURE FOR THE FAMILY 

RHAG 14 – 29 DEC 

wmc.org.uk/red 


BOX OFFICE 

the Christmas calendar and get Santa’s 

Christmas Countdown started. This a 45 

minute, interactive show, particularly 

suitable for 2 - 7 year olds, with a gift from 

Santa after the show! Tickets: £8.50. 

Performance: 10.30am & 1pm. 


Llygoden yr Eira 

Welsh language production. Winter has 

arrived and the woods are covered white. A 

child wraps up warm and runs outside to play 

in a sparkling new world. But what’s hiding 

under the snow? A little mouse, fast asleep. 

Sliding, tumbling and laughing, the two 

new friends explore the winter wonderland 

together. Enjoy an adventure in a magical 

forest, filled with play, puppetry and music, 

this is an enchanting winter’s tale for the very 

young. In association with the Welsh Drama 

Society, Swansea. Tickets: Adults £8; children 

£7. Group (4) £28. Performance: Thurs 1:30pm 

(school show), 4:30pm (family show). Fri 

10am & 1pm (school show). 

SHERMAN THEATRE 

SENGHENNYDD ROAD, 

CARDIFF, CF24 4YE 

Box Office: 029 2064 6900 

www.shermantheatre.co.uk 


The Snow Queen 

Kai and Gerda are the best friends in the 

world. No friends could be closer than these 

two. They’ve grown up together, hung out 

together and played together. But one day 

that all changes when Kai’s heart is frozen 

with splinters of an enchanted mirror. Kai 

turns angry, bitter and can only see the 

bad. The sinister Snow Queen seizes this 

opportunity to steal him away from Gerda, his 

family and everything he holds dear. It seems 

that all is lost, but the bond of true friendship 

can’t be broken that easily. Gerda, determined 

to find her constant companion sets out on a 

daring journey to save Kai from the clutches of 

the cold-hearted queen. Age 7+. Tickets: £16 

- £26. Concessions £2 off. Under 25 half price. 

Schools £7.50. Performance: Times vary. 

2nd - 31st December 

The Ugly Duckling 

A warm and fluffy tale of friendship and 

belonging. Join the brave Ugly Duckling as 

he waddles his way through the changing 

seasons on an exciting journey to a place 

he can call home; meeting a whole host of 

charming farmyard friends on the way. Full 

of enchanting music and playful characters 

The Ugly Duckling is the perfect heartwarming 

treat for ages 3 – 6. Tickets: £9.50. 

Schools £6.50. Performance: Times vary. 

GRAND PAVILION 

THE ESPLANADE PORTHCAWL, 

CF36 3YW 

Box Office: 01656 815995 

www.grandpavilion.co.uk 

14th December - 5th January 

Snow White 

After the Magic Mirror declares Snow White 

to be the fairest in all the land the Wicked 

Queen is sent into a jealous rage. Will her 

friends be able to save Snow White from the 

Queen’s wrath and will they all be able to live 

happily ever after? All the ingredients for a 

perfect family panto, with a dastardly villain, 

a hapless comic and a hilarious panto dame, 

as well as spectacular sets and costumes, 

fabulous songs and dances and bags of 

slapstick fun! Times and performance vary. 

ROYAL WELSH COLLEGE OF 

MUSIC AND DRAMA 

CARDIFF, CF10 3ER 

www.rwcmd.ac.uk 

Box Office: 029 2039 1391 

30th December - 2nd January 

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. Film: 

live in concert 

Watch the hand-drawn animated film 

adaptation of the bestselling children’s book 

accompanied by a live orchestral soundtrack 

composed & conducted by Stuart Hancock 

and performed by the Royal Welsh College 

Chamber Orchestra. Age: 3+. Running time: 

1 hour. Tickets £10. Schools £5. Performance: 

Sat & Sun 2pm. Mon 10am & 12pm. 

BLACKWOOD MINERS 

INSTITUTE, HIGH ST, 

BLACKWOOD NP12 1AA 

www.caerphilly.gov.uk/bmi 

Box Office: 01495 227206 

6th - 30th December 

Aladdin 

Starring Owen Money. Between the jokes 

& japes, witty wordplay and silly slapstick, 

there’ll also be enough singing, dancing, 

romance, magic, mystery and excitement to 

entertain audiences of all ages. Please note 

that Owen Money will not be performing 

in the school performances. Tickets: £10 - 

£19.50. Performance: Times vary. (relaxed 

performance - 11th December 6pm). 

RCT THEATRES: COLISEUM 

THEATRE, MOUNT PLEASANT 

STREET, TRECYNON 

ABERDARE CF44 8NG 

Box Office: 03000 040 444 

www.rct-theatres.co.uk 


Cinderella 

Starring Gareth John Bale, Jemima Nicolas & 

Richard Tunely. Tickets: £16; conc £13; 

family (4) £49. Performance: Times vary. 

PARK & DARE 

STATION ROAD 

TREORCHY CF42 6NL 

www.rct-theatres.co.uk 

Box Office: 03000 040 444 


Cinderella 

Starring Gareth John Bale, Jemima Nicolas & 

Richard Tunely. Tickets: £16; conc £13; 

family (4) £49. Performance: Times vary. 

The Scarecrow’s Wedding 

Mon 2 - Tues 3 Dec Live Show 

Santa’s Christmas Countdown 

Wed 11 Dec Live Show 

Llygoden yr Eira 

Thur 12 - Fri 13 Dec 

Sioe Byw 

The Muppet Christmas Carol 

Mon 23 Dec 11am (U) 

Christmas & New Year Cinema 

Tickets from £3.50, full listings online 

An Evening with Shane Williams 

Thur 23 Jan 7:30pm 

Tom Brace: Brace of Spades 

Thur 20 Feb 4:00pm Live Magic Show 

Watch all the 2020 Six Nation Wales games on the biggest screen in the Vale 

Tickets £2 adults, £1 children Free Hot Dog Family Friendly Bar & Refreshments 

Welsh Wrestling 

Sat 18 Apr 7:00pm 

The Noise Next Door: Through Time 

Sat 16 May 4:00pm Family Comedy 

Morgan & West: Unbelievable Science 

Sun 31 May 2:00pm Science & Silliness 

Book tickets now: www.memoartscentre.co.uk / 01446 738622 

@BarryMemo Gladstone Road Barry CF62 8NA 

Registered Charity 

(CIO) No: 1155291 

24 


BRIGHTER 

BIGGER,AND MORE 

O 

A OME 

R R 

- THAN EVER! 

S 

FRECKLE PRODUCTIONS AND ROSE THEATRE KINGSTON PRESENT 

Written and Directed by 

Richard Gauntlett 

28 November - 4 January 

BOOK NOW 

01633 656 757 newportlive.co.uk/riverfront 

#RiverfrontPanto 

Zog © 2010 Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Published by Alison Green Books, an imprint of Scholastic Children’s Books 

L I V E 

ON STAGE 

MON 17 & 

TUE 18 FEB 

HHHH 

SUPERBLY 

FUN, 

COLOURFUL AND 

HEARTWARMING 

MY THEATRE MATES 

(ON THE 2019 PRODUCTION) 

WITH BRAND NEW SONGS FROM JOE STILGOE · DIRECTED BY EMMA KILBEY 

CHRISTMAS AT 

THE SHERMAN 

NADOLIG YN 

Y SHERMAN 

3-6 7+ 

2 MINUTES 

from Cathays train station 

2 FUNUD 

o orsaf drenau Cathays 

SHERMANTHEATRE.CO.UK 

029 2064 6900 

THE UGLY 

DUCKLING 

YR HWYADEN 

FACH HYLL 

8 & 9 Nov / Tach & 

2 – 31 Dec / Rhag 

By / Gan Hans Christian Andersen 

Adaptation by / Addasiad gan 

Katherine Chandler 

Welsh translation by / Cyfieithiad 

Cymraeg gan Mererid Hopwood 

Director / Cyfarwyddwr Sara Lloyd 

THE SNOW 

QUEEN 

29 Nov / Tach – 

31 Dec / Rhag 

By / Gan Hans Christian Andersen 

Writer, Lyricist, Composer & 

Musical Director / Awdur, Telynegwr, 

Cyfansoddwr a Chyfarwyddwr Cerdd 

Conor Mitchell 

Director / Cyfarwyddwr 

Tessa Walker 

Sherman Cymru Productions Ltd 

Registered Charity Number / Rhif Elusen Cofrestredig 1118364 

TICKETS / TOCYNNAU £9.50 

CHILDREN & UNDER 25s HALF PRICE 

PLANT A DAN 25 HANNER PRIS 


PINBOARD 

Pinboard 

The Beagle 

has landed 

at The 

Royal Mint 

Experience 

Twenty years after man landed on the moon, man and dog popped up for a picnic. Wallace 

and Gromit rocketed moonwards in A Grand Day Out in November 1989 and our world was 

never the same again. To celebrate 30 years of these beloved British characters, a special 

exhibition has arrived at The Royal Mint Experience. Available to view now, sets from The 

Curse of the Were-Rabbit and Wallace & Gromit’s World of Invention are on display in our 

exhibition hall. Alongside the sets, you will be able to trace their progress to superstardom, 

watch an interview with Merlin Crossingham, Wallace & Gromit Creative Director, as well as 

footage of Aardman animators working on models of the inseparable duo. The exhibition is 

available as a part of The Royal Mint Experience tour and is only here for a limited time. 

Book your tickets today before Wallace and Gromit blast off on their next adventure! 

Call us on 0333 241 2223 or email us on experience@royalmint.com 

Study part-time with courses for 

Adults ran by Cardiff University 

Cardiff University’s Continuing and Professional Education department provides 

part-time courses for adults which run in the evening and in the daytime. Courses 

usually run over ten weeks 

and there is a wide variety 

of subjects to choose from. 

Also, for those who have 

always wanted to study a 

degree, take a look at our 

pathways. Visit 

www.cardiff.ac.uk/learn to 

find out more. 

Kiwi's Independent Day Service 

The aim of Kiwi’s Independent Day Service is to provide a safe, nurturing 

and learning environment for children to learn and expand as children. 

We are running a day service based upon the foundation phase curriculum 

for children aged between 21/2 to 5 years old, we also run an outstanding 

before and after school wrap around care which is accessible to children from 

the age of 2 ½ to 11 years old. It is important that parents know that their 

child are not only safe and well cared for 

physically but emotionally as well. As a day 

care service we are all about group building, 

and boosting team spirit as well as that of the 

individual, also giving children the choice of 

which activities to participate in and making 

decisions for themselves, giving your child a 

sense of ownership in their environment. For 

more information please call 07772 161567 

Out of School Academy 

Toadhall Montessori Nurseries offers the highest quality care 

and Montessori education for all 0 to 5 year olds, including wrap 

around care and the childcare offer for all eligible 3 and 4 year olds. 

New for January 2020, is our out of school academy for children 

aged 4 - 12 years, which includes after school and holiday care and 

Montessori education. Located 100 metres from Hailey Park, Llandaff North and led by 

highly qualified /experienced outdoor education teachers/ play workers, your child’s 

‘call to adventure’, can be experienced through an extensive fun packed and exciting 

indoor and outdoor activity programme. Further details and booking call Sandy on 

02920 561356 or email: toadhallnursery@btconnect.com 

JRC Global Buffet Gets Festive 

Love food? Then you’ll love JRC. At this time of year, JRC’s international 

dining experience really comes into its own. With colder days and longer 

nights, catching up with friends and family over a delicious meal is a must. 

JRC’s chefs cook hundreds of dishes from all over the world from India and 

China to Italy and Japan. There’s something for everyone, even the fussiest 

of eaters. Kids and adults alike love the desserts section, especially the 

chocolate fountain. With live cooking stations where you can watch chefs 

freshly prepare your meal, not to mention the fact you can enjoy as much as 

you like for one set price, no one will leave disappointed. Christmas at JRC is 

an extra special treat. Festive starters include prawn cocktail and chicken liver 

pâté as well as the Christmas special canapé and vol-au-vents. There is a wide 

selection of meats available with the mains including the traditional turkey, 

pigs in blankets, roast pork belly, honey glazed gammon, salmon and a wintery 

turkey, ham and mushroom pie. Of course, no Christmas would be complete 

without Christmas pudding, but JRC are adding their own festive specials 

including a chocolate and Oreo log and Christmas Eton mess. JRC’s stylish yet 

casual restaurants are the perfect location for a festive meal to remember, so 

book your table today. For more information and to see their Christmas offers, 

please visit www.jrc-globalbuffet.com 

A Confi dent Start with 

Jigsaw Performing Arts 

We are currently taking bookings for the 

Spring term! Our popular dance, singing and 

drama weekend classes for 3-18-year-olds are 

designed to develop children's confidence, 

self-expression, focus and social skills, while 

they have fun and make lots of new friends. Parents share in the excitement and their children's 

progress with regular presentations, shows and reports from our team of highly experienced 

teachers. For more information or to book a two-week trial, search for your nearest school on our 

website www.jigsaw-arts.co.uk or call us on 020 8447 4530 

An International Dining Experience 

Why not give the gift of music this Christmas by purchasing your 

son/daughter/niece/nephew a guitar and 4 lesson Christmas package 

deal at unbeatable prices! Cardiff Music School at Chapter Arts Centre 

is an expert training provider in delivering music tuition to children. 

With over 20 years experience in our field, you can be sure of the 

very best start to your child's musical education. Also, 50% off piano 

lessons! (4 x 30 mins individual lessons normally £64 - now only £32 

for a limited time only! Register before 31st January 2020 and quote 

reference PTimesDISCOUNT. 

Contact Cardiff Music School on 02920 638059 

or email office@cardiffmusicschool.com to place your order now. 

26 

Primary Times WINTER 2019 | www.primarytimes.co.uk/cardiff

Discotots 

Discotots has continued to go from 

strength to strength since winning 

the Netmums award for ‘Best Party 

Entertainer Category in Wales’ and 

the Mums In The Know award for 

‘Best Class for 2-4yr olds’! Disco 

lights, bubbles, exciting props, 

dancing, games and lots more! 

Bilingual Discotots parties 

are also now available to book! 

For more information about our 

funky, action packed birthday 

parties (up to 8yrs), or our baby and 

preschool class (0-4yrs) contact us 

now: W: www.discotots.com 

E: info@discotots.com. 

For parties T: 07870626318 

For classes T: 07876177017 

Jigsaw Performing Arts Schools 

drama 

singing 

dance 

Schools in: 

Cardiff 

Cardiff West 

3–18 years 

NEW! 

TWO WEEK TRIAL AVAILABLE. BOOK NOW! 

. 

T: 020 8447 4530 W: J igsaw-arts.co.uk 


City Sightseeing 

Cardiff/ Caerdydd 

20% off all tickets 

on production of this voucher* 

Hop On - 

Hop Off 

11 Stops Including 

Cardiff Castle 

National Museum Wales 

Norwegian Church 

Cardiff Bay 

Principality Stadium 

LOCAL MANAGER: 07808 713 928 www.bathbuscompany.com 

* This voucher is not valid in conjunction with any other offer. 

ENTRIES ARE OPEN FOR THE 2020 DREAM CAR ART COMPETITION! 

Toyota invites children to use their boundless imaginations to 

design fantastic vehicles for the future – not just cars, but any 

form of transport or technology that can give people the 

freedom of movement, on land, sea or air, while protecting 

and sustaining the world’s natural environment. 

The age categories are: 

under-eight, eight to 11 and 12 to 15 years old. 

Prizes include winning an iPad and the 

chance of a trip of a lifetime to Japan! 

To enter and for full details, including T&Cs, please visit 

www.toyota.co.uk/dreamcar 

Entries close 20 January 2020 

Do you miss 

being a nurse? 

Our 15 week Return to Practice 

programme will enable you to return to 

the nursing career you once loved. 

‘I chose this time to return to 

practice because my youngest 

son is beginning full time 

education.’ – Sarah Gray 

Apply now 

for April 

2020 

Ydych chi’n hiraethu 

am fod yn nyrs? 

Bydd ein rhaglen Dychwelyd i Ymarfer 

15 wythnos yn eich galluogi i ailafael yn yr 

yrfa nyrsio oedd mor agos at eich calon. 

‘Fe wnes i ddewis ailddechrau 

ymarfer nawr gan fod fy mab ar 

fin dechrau addysg amser 

llawn. ’– Sarah Gray 

Gwnewch gais 

nawr ar gyfer 

mis Ebrill 2020 

Open days/ 

Diwrnodau agored: 

Cardiff/ Caerdydd: rtpcardiff.eventbrite.co.uk 

Newport/ Casnewydd: rtpcardiff.eventbrite.co.uk 

029 2068 7823 

www.cardiff.ac.uk/returntopractice 

28 


Kumon’s maths and English study 

programmes are tailored to your 

child’s individual needs, nurturing their 

independence and enthusiasm for learning. 

Contact your local Instructor for a free assessment. 

Cyncoed 02920 639195 

Grangetown 07539 468030 

Llandaff 02920 214396 

Llanishen 02920 485647 

Penarth 02920 704961 

Radyr 02922 362639 

Roath 02920 498829 

Rumney 02920 509010 

Whitchurch 02920 626256 

kumon.co.uk 

Fees vary. Please refer to your local study centre. 

Cardiff Steiner School 

learning to love learning 

Outstanding School for Girls 

and Boys aged 3-18 

‘Excellent’ in all five inspection areas. Estyn 2018 

Ignite the spark 

PRIMARY OPEN MORNING 

Wednesday 12th February, 9:30-12:30, Nursery to Year 6 

Visit www.cathedral-school.co.uk/opendays to book 

029 2083 8504 

registrar@cathedral-school.co.uk 

www.cathedral-school.co.uk 

Thinking about School options?... 

Rethink what’s possible for your child 

The international Steiner curriculum integrates arts and 

academics into a rich, rounded education that ignites a passion 

for learning. Find out about our ground-breaking Upper 

www.cardiffsteiner.org.uk 

School for age 14-18. 

Independent, non-selective school for girls & boys age 3 to 18 

(029) 2056 7986 www.cardiffsteiner.org.uk 

Hawthorn Rd West, Llandaff North, Cardiff CF14 2FL 

Visit 

Mornings 

11 Dec, 15 Jan 

12 Feb 


Continuing and 

Professional Education 

Addysg Barhaus 

a Phroffesiynol 

Cyrsiau rhan-amser ar gyfer 

oedolion 

2019-20 

Part-time courses 

for adults 

2019-20 

Cyrsiau newydd 

sy’n dechrau 

ym mis Ionawr 

www.caerdydd.ac.uk/dysgu 

ffôn: 029 2087 0000 

New courses 

starting in 

January 

www.cardiff.ac.uk/learn 

tel: 029 2087 0000

WIN! 

WIN! 

A Family Ticket for ice skating 

at Caerphilly Castle 

Cadw is giving one 

lucky family the 

chance to win a 

Family Ticket for ice 

skating at Wales’s 

biggest castle. 

For one month (06 

December – 06 

January), Caerphilly 

Castle will become 

a Christmas 

wonderland, 

complete with a 

pop-up café. The 

Family Ticket includes 

two adults and two 

children. For more information 

about the event, please visit: 

ticketsource.co.uk/caerphilly-castle-ice-rink. 

To enter these fantastic competitions * 

and more please go to... 

www.primarytimes.co.uk/cardiff/competitions or 

Like us on Facebook at Primary Times Club-Cardiff 

*Closing dates may vary 

WIN! 

A Family Ticket For Cinderella 

At New Theatre Cardiff 

You and your 

family shall go 

to the ball with 

yet another 

spectacular 

family panto, 

packed with all 

of the traditional 

pantomime 

ingredients 

you have come 

to expect from Cardiff’s biggest festive production. Starring TV 

favourite Gok Wan as the Fairy GOKmother, New Theatre regular 

Mike Doyle, joining Ceri DuPree as the Ugly Sisters, and comedian 

Phil Butler as Buttons, we guarantee you a traditional Christmas 

night out. * A family ticket is for 2A &2C and for any 

performance between Wednesday 2nd January to 

Sunday 12th (subject to availability) 

www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk 

COMPETITIONS 

WIN! 

A ticket for four people to see 

The Snow Queen at Sherman Theatre 

at any performance subject to availability 

The Snow Queen is the story of Gerda who sets off an epic 

adventure to find her friend Kai. It’s a journey which will ultimately 

lead her to the Snow Queen’s palace. On her way she will meet 

extraordinary characters and visit magical places. Join Sherman 

Theatre this Christmas for this enchanting and glittering new 

theatre adventure based on 

Hans Christian Andersen’s 

classic story performed by 

an exceptional cast of actor 

musicians. It’s the perfect 

Christmas outing for everyone 

aged 7+. The Snow Queen runs 

from 29 Nov – 31 Dec. 

* maximum three children 

WIN! 

Four tickets to see RED at 

Wales Millennium Centre on 

14 December at 10.30am 

Full of festive fun and inspired by Little Red Riding Hood, RED 

follows a group of unlikely heroes as they venture into an 

enchanted wood and stray off the path in search of wolves. See 

this raucous tale for 

all the family at Wales 

Millennium Centre from 

14 – 29 December. 

wmc.org.uk 


2019-20 TICKETS ON SALE NOW 

FOR A FULL LIST OF FIXTURES, HEAD TO CARDIFFDEVILS.COM 

CALL 0800 0842 666 NOW FOR TICKETS

PTCardiff Winter 2019 Digital

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