Cardiff Christmas Market

Cardiff Christmas is here and this is why you need to visit.

‘What’s Christmas without a Christmas tree?’

Like Kevin Mcallister, I enjoy the Christmas festivities. Enjoying Christmas, for instance, could mean getting lost in New York, home alone putting up the decorations or exploring the Cardiff Christmas Market.

Cardiff at Christmas

From the middle of November to Christmas Eve, Cardiff transforms from the usual Capital City to a Winter Wonderland that looks like it was created by sugarplum fairies. Wherever you go, the seasonal spirit is alive. Following is all about the Christmas Market in Cardiff and what there is to do, whether you live locally or here on your travels!

Opening times:

Thursday 15th November – Monday 24th December 2018.

Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm.

Sunday 10am to 5pm.

Plus Late Nights in December:

10am to 7pm on Thursday 13, Friday 14, Saturday 15, Thursday 20, Friday 21 & Saturday 22.

For all information visit the website http://www.cardiffchristmasmarket.com/.

The Atmosphere

Walking through the centre of Cardiff, the glowing streets feel enchanted as the frosty air hits your cheeks and the warm, delicious smell of cooking drifts to your nose. The stalls that are lined up across the Hayes, St John Street, Working Street, Hills Street and Trinity Street are a showcase of incredible talent. Approaching the Hayes, you’re met by the sound of a lovely street singer who sets the mood for the market ahead.

Supporting Welsh Businesses

With over 70 stalls in cute wooden huts, there is so much opportunity to support small and local businesses as well as purchase unique gifts for Christmas. Welcomed with laughter and joy, the stall holders are happy to answer questions and assist you with your buying. With this comes the chance to learn new information, whether it be what a Raclette is, the variations of Welsh cheese, how items are made, where the raw materials come from or maybe a few Welsh words! On your visit, take the time to speak to the stall holders because they each have a story to tell along with their great produce. Happy Days!

 

Selection of Stalls

Unless you’re looking for Frankincense and Myrrh, this curation of Welsh stalls holds everything you will adore. The Elves have been working super hard ready for this market! Huts include items such as old photographs of Wales, wired ornaments, framed pictures made of Welsh pebbles, personalised Christmas decorations, worry worts, pillows, plaques and much more.

Your senses are confused between the sweet whiff of scented soap and the tasty smell of food. Come on an empty stomach because your choice is endless such as vegan chocolate, Snowdonia cheese and cider bottles. That’s all before you each the Cardiff Festive Quarter.

Cardiff Festive Quarter

You’ll know you’ve got to the quarter when you hear the jingles of Christmas songs and the reflection of the lights sparkling in the puddles. Replicating a German Christmas Market, there’s inside seats to eat and a separate place to drink steins of beer. You can post a letter to send straight to the North Pole and take a selfie with Polar bears! The jewel, however, is when you detect the gorgeous German BBQ smell.

Special Mentions

You cannot visit a Welsh market without getting a Welsh cake to keep you going. The stall for Welsh cakes sold the most perfect, warm, small and delicious Welsh cakes. You could get one for 40p but why bother when you can get six for £2. Thank me later.

My personal recommendation if you only visit one stall this Christmas, would be CJB Art because of the wonderful talent displayed. As I strolled past, the friendly stall holder of CJB Art greeted me and his items stole my gaze immediately. There was, what I assumed, photographs of a variety of celebrities in black and white. In fact, they were pencil drawings created solely by the owners’ Autistic son. The impressive talent oozed through the drawings. If you want to look at them, visit their website at https://www.cjbart.com/.

Beyond the Market

There’s more to Cardiff at Christmas than the Christmas Market. The city is bursting with hope, fun, mistletoe and kindness. The following is also available:

In Cardiff Bay, you’ll find Santa and his reindeers made completely out of lego. As a result, you get a great selfie!

One step further, you can meet him at Santa’s grotto in the city centre.

A fun day or night out is at Winter Wonderland where you can eat, visit the fairground and after that, go ice-skating. See all information here – http://cardiffswinterwonderland.com/en/.

Cardiff is home to the EXCLUSIVE postbox. This diamond is only one of four and found only in Cardiff, Belfast, London and Edinburgh! It gives you a surprise once you post a letter!

You’ll find Christmas in the Castle, with impressive reindeers and a Christmas tree surrounding Cardiff Castle.

Capitol Centre are putting on Indoor Creative Christmas.

Visit St. Fagans. Always a great trip and Christmas is no exception.

Give to Cardiff this Christmas

Not everyone is as lucky to have a Christmas that most of us are looking forward to. For instance, some have no home to go to. There is a lot of homelessness in Cardiff and this doesn’t change at Christmas. There is an opportunity to donate to the homeless with a Gingerbread setup by For Cardiff, found outside Cardiff library. The #gingerbreadmun house is surrounded by street fun and on particular days there will be festive giveaways. For the full programme and information, visit the website – http://www.visitcardiff.com/christmas/gingerbreadmun/.

There it is. Cardiff at Christmas! Encourage your family and friends to visit somewhere this month by sharing this post!

Nadolig Llawen pawb!