There was plenty of festive fun in Tenby on Saturday as the town’s Christmas festivities committee, Tenby Round Table and Tenby RNLI joined forces to ‘launch’ the start of the Yuletide season in the seaside resort.

The Christmas cracker of a day began with the ever-popular Santa Run. Organised for the second year by Tenby Round Table, the run saw over 100 Santa bedecked runners of all ages enjoy a 3k fun run route through the streets of the town

Top local DJ Steve Briers was on hand throughout the afternoon keeping the Christmas atmosphere swinging with plenty of festive favourites, while up and coming young soloist Connor Adams entranced all with an acoustic performance of well-loved hits

Chase and Marshall, of Paw Patrol, arrived to the delight of their young - and not so young - fans before the Salvation Army band and Tenby Friendship Group led community carol singing in Tudor Square

Seren School of Irish Dancing and the Kelly Williams School of Dance joined forces with a very popular dance-off mash up of their two differing dancing styles before Town Crier, Jim Cornwell, announced that Mayor of Tenby, Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane, Mayoress Charley Reohorn and Sergeant at Mace, Mrs. Denise Cousins, were setting off down to Tenby Lifeboat Station to join the lifeboat crew as they launched to meet Father Christmas.

On arrival back on shore, they made their way to the inshore lifeboat for the RNLI, escorted by Tenby Coastguard Search and Rescue team, to wind their way through a festive flurry of snow from the roof of Tenby House Hotel to meet the hundreds of families gathered in Tudor Square.

After distributing sweets to the children, Father Christmas turned on the lights on the town Christmas tree in the grounds of St. Mary’s Church, before Tenby Fire Brigade arrived to transport him and the Mayoral party past another festive flurry provided by D. Fecci and Sons chip shop to the De Valence, where Father Christmas welcomed in his grotto and the evening rounded off with a family party night.

Children kept a sharp look-out for Christmas puddings hidden in shop windows as part of a Christmas Pudding Hunt organised by the Chamber of Trade and Tourism. Those who spotted all 40 were: Josh and Sophie Morgan, of Swansea, Alfie, Callum and Macie Prater; Lily and Tommy Williams, of Martletwy; Jesse, Catrin and Ben Craig, of Tenby, and Elijah-Blue, of Tenby. Those winners who were unable to collect their prizes - generously donated by Tenby and District Lions - during the family night can collect them from Tenby Town Council offices in the De Valence Pavilion during working hours.

During the afternoon, the Mayor also inspected the 17 shops who had entered the best dressed window competition, with The Nook winning the Percy Howells Best Dressed Window Shield.

The Christmas festivities committee would particularly like to thank everyone who helped with the events, particularly Tenby Round Table, Tenby RNLI, Tenby Coastguard Search and Rescue team, Tenby Fire Brigade, Connor Adams, The Salvation Army, Tenby Friendship Group, Steve Briers, Eric and Lesley, of Tenby House Hotel, Seren School of Irish Dancing, Kelly Williams School of Dance, Chloe and Jasmin, D. Fecci and Sons, Tenby, and District Lions, PRE Electrics, G and I Roofing, St. Mary’s Church, Tenby Chamber of Trade and Tourism, Sue Roberts, and the Tenby DVP Trust and their volunteers.

Of course, the festive fun does not stop on December 25 either, as it wouldn’t be the Christmas season without the annual braving of the briny at the Boxing Day Swim from the North Beach on the 26th.

The De Valence Trust will also be hosting a professional touring pantomime company’s production of the classic family favourite Aladdin in the De Valence on January 4 to round off the season in style.

Pics. Gareth Davies Photography