Swansea's popular and colourful Christmas parade cost £80,000 this year, the council has said. A spokesman said this figure was less than last year's, taking into account inflation. The authority has also spent just under £67,000 on festive city centre lights.
Last month's parade featured some 70 floats, giant lighted reindeers, an array of costumes and a kaleidoscope of colour. The lights include illuminated icicles around building canopies on Oxford Street, Whitewalls and Union Street. The local authority said that overall the costs were lower than in 2021.
"The parade and the festive lights are an amazing, memorable show that’s free to the public and starts the Christmas countdown in Swansea," said a spokesman. You can get more Swansea news and other story updates by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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"The public, retailers, restaurants and bars expect us to showcase our city at this special time and we deliver for them year after year. We’ve had positive feedback from many hundreds of people from among the thousands who attended the event."
He added that its impact on people's spirits, especially during a cost-of-living crisis, could not be under-estimated. The spokesman added that the costs included hiring equipment and the performers who put those watching in the festive mood, among other things.
Meanwhile, many councillors will be contributing to local Christmas events from their £10,000 per year community budget - a sum all councillors receive to put towards events, groups and facilities in their ward.
Carmarthenshire Council coordinated a Llanelli Christmas carnival and lights switch-on with community councils and the private sector, sharing costs and income, said cabinet member for regeneration, leisure, culture and tourism, Cllr Gareth John. This year's event took place on November 18.
"This year, we have budgeted to contribute £6,918.13 to the cost of the festive light display, which is the same amount as in 2021," said Cllr John.
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