YOU’VE just got to love Llanelli this Christmastime.
This year the “I LOVE LLANELLI” township launches the festive season with a three-day Christmas Festival from November 19-21st.
There’s the spectacular fire works Christmas Carnival that has been a huge hit with town folk for more than 30 years.
This year could be one of the biggest ever with 20 floats expected on Friday the 19th November that is expected to attract crowds of more than 20,000 into town.
There is a craft fair in Stepney Street with a lot of interesting Christmas shopping opportunities on Saturday, November 20th.
Then there’s the St Elli Reindeer Parade on Sunday, November 21st has been remodelled to be a day of fun for youngster and more than two hours of opportunity to see the reindeer mixed in with junior fairground rides in Stepney Street and a Santa’s grotto in St Elli Shopping Centre.
The Carnival has been remodelled this year. Floats are being entered by the Scarlets, Academy Theatre, Coedcae School – two; Carmarthenshire Youth Service. Kite Theatre, Ffos Las Racecourse, First Impressions, Lush Model Agency; Felinfoel Youth Club, Llanelli Gym Club, LX Theatre Group, St Paul’s Family Centre, Llanelli Public Library and Wellbeing Regeneration and Lush Model Agency.
It will be the first time the carnival has had a float with a runway for models to parade along.
Their director Amanda Davies said: “This is going to be a wonderful way for us to promote our work with our male and female models adding to the colour of the carnival on a float.
“It is all about having fun and this looks to be one of the biggest and best carnivals in Wales. We pride ourselves in carefully matching experienced models consistent with any kind of assignment and carnival will pose a different challenge.”
Roger Bowen, of carnival organisers - Llanelli Round Table, said: “We have never had such a response and are close to breaking the record number of entries of 24 floats.
He said: “None of this would be possible without the valuable support of Owens Transport and Green’s Transport for the supply of lorries and TAD Builders and Parker Plant Hire for the massive equipment contributions.” 
Another highlight of the carnival run for the first time last year is the Santa dash. Santa in Stilettos to Wellingtons are ready for the taking on a first come first served basis. Any voluntary Santa’s are welcome to enter too by meeting on the steps of Ty Elwyn at 6.15pm. The fun, saucy and colourful Santa Dash will take place from Ty Elwyn up the dual carriageway to the Library and back before the arrival of the carnival. There are so many floats this year there will be a double chance to see spectacle. The floats will travel down the dual carriageway, go down Old Castle Road and wend their way passed the police station up Waunlanyrafon and the lead float will park up the procession close to the bus bays opposite the public library with the rear float expected to stop in Waunlanyrafon.
Following the spectacular fireworks show in the wake of the carnival procession there is a bonus for teenagers with a 45minute stint on stage by battle of the Bands winners the Rooks courtesy of nightclub owner Paul Brookfield. There are fairground rides from 5-11pm and street entertainment from 5pm.