Christmas has officially arrived in Brecon as the town hosted its hybrid Brecon With Bells On event to celebrate the beginning of the festive season.

This year Brecon With Bells On, which took place on Saturday, November 20, included a Christmas Fayre at the Guildhall while hosting Santa’s Grotto at the Market Vaults.

Its second year using a hybrid model due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Brecon With Bells On also featured a variety of online entertainment before the town’s lights were switched on.

As well as snippets of festive ballet, drama groups and musicians, the online celebration also featured virtual Christmas concert from the primary schools around Brecon including Ysgol Y Bannau, Priory Church in Wales Primary School, Mount Street Junior School.

The Guildhall welcomed 21 different sellers of festive treats, gifts and foodies.

The Mayor, Cllr John Powell, raised funds for his charities by selling mulled wine to guests.

Meanwhile at Santa’s Grotto, Father Christmas was visited by lots of local children who could also enjoy the “Dinky Donkeys’ who were outside waiting to meet guests.

A spokeswoman from Brecon Town Council said: “A street collection took place to raise funds for the Mayor’s Charities which raised £130.99.

“Local entertainment consisting of Christmas messages from townsfolk and singing by Brecon schools was enjoyed online before the Christmas lights were switched on at 6pm.

“Brecon is looking very festive thanks to the businesses that have taken part in this year’s Christmas Window Competition.”

The theme of this year’s window competition is “pantomime” and the winners were announced ahead of the lights switch on.

The overall winner of the competition for 2021 is Beacons Wholefoods with its “Westenders through the Years” window.

The spokeswoman said: “The theme this year is ‘Pantomime’ and the winners were announced ahead of the lights switch on. In third place is Flowers by Becca Jane with ‘Sleeping Beauty’, in second place is Buttons Nursery with Jack and the Beanstalk, and this year’s winner is Beacons Wholefoods with ‘Westenders through the Years’. Congratulations to the winners and thank you to all those taking part.

“The Mayor is encouraging everyone to go and have a look around at the fantastic Christmas Window displays in Brecon, and to send in a list of the businesses that have decorated their window in a Panto theme, along with the name of the theme, to be in with a chance to win a prize.”

Anybody who wants to take part in trying to name all the businesses with their decorated windows should email their entries to [email protected] by Thursday, December 23.

Posting to its Facebook page before announcing the window competition winners, Brecon Town Council said that choosing a winner had been difficult.

It said: “The Christmas Window competition theme this year is ‘Pantomime’. The judges have had a very difficult task in choosing three winners as the standard is so high.

“Thank you to everyone who has decorated their window. It really adds to the festive feel in town and is much appreciated.”

Tree decorating at y Gaer

As part of the Brecon With Bells On celebrations, the cultural hub y Gaer also decorated its tree last Saturday.

The tree was donated by Davina and Gavin Hogg of Penpont Estate - local children helped to put the finishing touches to its decorations on the weekend.

Participants in y Gaer’s free Christmas Crafts event were invited to paint one wooden decoration for the y Gaer the and one to take home.

Education & Access Officer, Martine Woodcock, said: “We are really grateful to the Penpont Estate for donating the Christmas tree and to all the families who came along on Saturday to help us decorate it. We hope that our tree will help to put y Gaer visitors and staff in a festive mood in the lead up to Christmas!”

Martine will be running another free, drop-in family Christmas Crafts event at y Gaer from 11am to 3.30pm on Saturday, December 18.