Thousands Flock to Penarth for Christmas Tree Festival

The Penarth Ministry Area's Christmas Tree Festival, based at St Augustine's Church, Penarth, attracted 3,000 visitors.

Friday 8th December was reserved for schools' visits only, and approximately 800 children, from most of the Ministry Area's schools, along with many staff and parental volunteers, came to see the trees that their schools had produced out of fantastic materials, or decorated in interesting ways to illustrate a theme, such as care for the environment. They were also able to see the trees of other schools, that they were competing against, for the schools' prize!

On Saturday the 9th , Father Christmas visited the Parish Hall, where children and members of various Ministry Area Tots groups, and others, were having Breakfast with Santa - before walking up to the church with the Revd Mark Jones, Ministry Area Leader, and Mayor of Penarth, Cllr. Melissa Rabaiotti, who cut the ribbon and declared the Festival open.

Well over a thousand visitors streamed through the church that day, admiring over 50 trees, many themed, in what had become a Penarth tradition that grows in strength, year-on-year.

Refreshments were also available from a dedicated team of people at the Parish Hall throughout the weekend, and a large number of stewards also unselfishly gave of their time.

Musical accompaniment was provided throughout by singers from local schools, pre-schools, choirs and a range of musicians- all organised by Mr Robert Court, the Diocesan Organ Advisor and Director of Music & Choir Master at St. Augustine's.

Following the Eucharist on Sunday 11th , the doors were opened for the final time, allowing well over a thousand people to experience the final day of the Penarth Christmas Tree Festival 2023, which raised well over £5000 for a local, a national and an international charity.

Rev'd Mark Jones said, "I want to thank Robert Court and his large, dedicated team for everything they did to make this year's Festival such a success. It keeps going from strength to strength each year. Not only does it showcase the church engaging positively with a large proportion of the community, it also provides a platform for charities and local groups to make themselves better known. The Festival builds community, whilst allowing people to enjoy themselves!"

The large church, which overlooks Cardiff Bay, was also packed out in the days afterwards, as St Augustine's hosted the Nightingales pre-school Nativity Service and the RNLI Carol Service in the organisation's 199th year. St Augustine's will host a 200th anniversary event for the Penarth Lifeboat Station in March 2024, amongst a number of other community events.