WHAT’S ON

WHAT’S From 28 November onwardsON

The Festive Quarter on Working Street will get you in the Christmas spirit

Always check Covid-19 restrictions and instructions with venues before your visit

TALKS AND AUDIO SERIES

Until 7 January, 2021

HEART OF CARDIFF The Sherman Theatre’s audio series Heart of Cardiff, is inspired by the people and communities of the city. Following a search across Cardiff for writers with stories to tell about their community, pitches were selected to be developed into original audio theatre experiences, which will be made available on the website on a weekly basis. www.shermantheatre.co.uk / www.heartofcardiff.co.uk

ART/ PHOTOGRAPHY/ EXHIBITIONS

Until 24 December

CHRISTMAS EXHIBITION Featuring fine art and Christmas gifts by Welsh artists and makers. Victoria Fearn Gallery; www.victoriafearngallery.wales

Until 11 April, 2021

BECOMING RICHARD BURTON This exhibition follows the remarkable story of how Richard Jenkins became Richard Burton, the international star of stage and screen. It will feature Burton’s diaries, papers and personal objects – displayed for the first time – from the Richard Burton Archives held at Swansea University. National Museum Cardiff; www.museum.wales

FOOD AND DRINK

Until the end of November

HOME SUPPER CLUB Sharing global culinary delights from the comfort of your own home, each week Oasis Cardiff gives you the opportunity to sample some of the finest traditional dishes from around the world. Each dish is freshly prepared by their chefs and is ready to be collected from the centre every Saturday until the end of November. Order lines open every Mondayat 9am until Thursday 5 pm via Facebook. Oasis Cardiff; www.oasiscardiff.org

Until 20 December

DEPOT PRESENTS: WINTER WUNDERGARTEN Christmas is meant to be a time to enjoy a few beers or mulled wines with friends and family, and this year will be no different at DEPOT. Nothing will get in the way of their festive spirit, and so they’ve transform DEPOT into a huge Bavarian-inspired Christmas experience for all. DEPOT, Cardiff; www.depotcardiff.com

Until 3 January

ALPINE FOOD AND DRINK Find Alpine Food and Drink on Castle Street. Bring your bubble and take a seat in your own alpine ski hut or picnic table. Order from your favourite on-site food stall using the app, and your fare will be delivered to your table. www.visitcardiff.com

From 28November – 24December

FESTIVE AFTERNOON TEA Enjoy afternoon tea in the Christmasthemed restaurant at Celtic Manor Resort where Santa will be back with a virtual twist. This special ‘meet and greet’ is sure to help get children in good spirits; Santa himself will dial in for a fun interactive group video call while his helpful elves will be there in person throughout the afternoon with magic tricks and a gift for everyone. Celtic Manor Resort; www.celtic-manor.com

above: Cardiff’s Christmas Market will rival that of any European city left and below: Christmas at the Castle features fairground rides, games and a big wheel

4 – 20 December

CHRISTMAS PARTY NIGHTS Expect a three-course festive feast, plus Dr Bev Ballcrusher and Jolene Dover will be taking it in turns to entertain you all night. Clayton Hotel Cardiff; www.claytonhotelcardiff.com

CHRISTMAS MARKETS, POP-UPS AND EVENTS

Until 24 December

CARDIFF CHRISTMAS MARKET A visit to Cardiff’s Christmas Market will rival that of any European city, with rows of beautifully decorated wooden stalls laid out in the pedestrian heart of the city centre and all within walking distance of the main transport hubs and festive attractions. City centre; www.cardiffchristmasmarket.com

Until 24 December

MAKERS ARCADE POP UP Local makers will unite at this independent pop-up market, where you’ll find high-quality, sustainable, locally made and hand-crafted gifts for Christmas. Morgan Arcade; @makersarcadepopup

Until 24 December

CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND Gileston Manor Estate is bringing a little Christmas magic to families this year. Their nine acres will become a festive wonderland where you’ll find a fairy grotto with Elsa from Frozen and a mini fairground, and you’ll be able to feed the resident animals, visit Santa’s grotto and indulge in the street food offering. Gileston Manor Estate; www.gilestonmanor.co.uk

Until 31 December

FESTIVE QUARTER Shopping can be exhausting, so once you’ve worked up your thirst and appetite, stop by the Germanstyle Bierkeller and Bratwurst Grill, which offers a choice of ales, mulled wine and speciality sausages, for a Bavarian feast. Working Street; www.visitcardiff.com

Until the end of December

MAGIC MOMENTS At The Red Dragon Centre, the festive offering includes Blizzard the Snow Dragon – a state-of-the-art augmented reality (AR) creation – which will be visible and ‘come alive’ to anyone with a smart phone. Plus the centre’s giant Christmas tree, twinkling decorations and light projections are back. Guests are being encouraged to share their #RDCMagicMoments on social media for the chance to win an extra special treat. The Red Dragon Centre; www.thereddragoncentre.co.uk

29 November – 23 December

SANTA’S PRIVATE CHRISTMAS TOURS Santa will be returning to Cardiff Castle for private tours this year, but with a lot of Covid-friendly measures in place. This year, tours will be for single-family/bubble groups, ending in a private meeting with Santa. A personal, costumed guide will show you around the Castle’s lavish apartments, all beautifully decorated, and tell you about Christmas in Victorian times. After the tour, stop and see Santa in the drawing room and there’s sure to be a gift for all good boys and girls. www.cardiffcastle.com

4 – 6 December

BYW’S VIRTUAL CHRISTMAS FAIR Not only will you be able to get your Christmas shopping done (using lots of special discounts) and support small independents, but you’ll also get to tune into some fun, festive sessions throughout the weekend too. www.bywcommunity.co.uk

5 & 6 December

CHRISTMAS POP UP This one is a collab between The Green Frog Vegan Store, Lisa Valentine Home and Spencer & Spencer antiques, all based in Cardiff. At the pop-up – in Y Stordy, the lanes between Werfa Street and Pen-Y-Wain Place – they will be selling their wares as well as wreaths, trees and mulled wine. Y Stordy, Roath; www.thegreenfrogveganstore.com

10 December

FLOWERS AND CHOCOLATE POP-UP Floral company Forbesfield will be popping up at chocolate shop Cocoa Therapy in Barry. When food and flowers collide, good things happen. Cocoa Therapy; www.forbesfield.co.uk / www.cocoatherapy.co.uk

Sherman Theatre has revealed a star-studded Christmas line-up including Michael Sheen, Ruth Jones and Rhys Ifans (all pictured)

15 December

FLORAL WORKSHOP Create your very own festive table centrepiece to decorate your Christmas table. Flower Lodge; www.flowerlodge.co.uk

PLAYS/ SHOWS / PERFORMANCES

1 – 24 December

DIGITAL ADVENT CALENDAR Sherman Theatre’s festive season isn’t cancelled despite its doors remaining temporarily closed, and has revealed a star-studded Christmas line-up including Rhys Ifans, Ruth Jones and Michael Sheen. The internationallyacclaimed actors will be appearing in the Sherman’s digital Advent Calendar, each making their own special appearance emailed directly to audience inboxes. Alongside these performances, there will be festive treats including serialised audiobooks – such as Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol – for the whole family to enjoy. www.shermantheatre.co.uk

3 December

DRAGGED TO CHURCH An annual Christmas fundraiser like no other. Three years ago, St Andrews Church in Roath needed restoration work, so Dragged to Church was put together and the first ever drag show in a Welsh church was held. It’s now back for its third year. This year, due to Covid restrictions, the show will be pre-recorded and streamed on YouTube. uk.gofundme.com/f/dragged-to-church

9 December

KATE RUSBY AT CHRISTMAS Kate’s Christmas Tour has, for many, become as much a part of the festivities as Christmas pudding itself. Warm and inviting, spicy and sparkly she and her band embody the joyous spirit of Christmas. St David’s Hall; www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

17 December

LUCY SPRAGGAN The former X Factor star’s socially distanced UK tour is still going ahead. Tramshed; www.tramshedcardiff.com

20 December

THE CAR PARK PANTO Lots of pantomimes may be cancelled, but there’s a new way of enjoying that traditional festive pastime: from your own car. You will get to see Horrible Christmas as a drive-in experience. Cardiff Airport; www.carparkparty.com

OUTDOORS

Until 3 January

CHRISTMAS AT THE CASTLE There will be no Winter Wonderland in Cardiff this year but the annual festive event will be replaced by Christmas at the Castle. You will be able to enjoy a spin on the 33m big wheel, fairground rides and games. Cardiff Castle; www.cardiffcastle.co.uk

Until 3 January

FESTIVE FUNFAIR RIDES Enjoy the family-friendly funfair on Castle Street which includes a wide range of games and rides. You can expect to see familiar favourites such as the santacoaster and dodgems. Castle Street; www.visitcardiff.com

Until 3 January

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS Although there will be no official Christmas lights switch on in Cardiff for 2020, the lights will still be twinkling in the city centre. www.visitcardiff.com

28 November onwards

EXPLORE DYFFRYN GARDENS Dyffryn Gardens will offer its 55 acres to the public to explore freely. While away hours in nature and discover large open lawns, an arboretum, intimate garden rooms and a tropical glasshouse. Dyffryn Gardens; www.nationaltrust.org.uk

28 November, and 5, 12, 19 December

SANTA’S GROTTO Visit the fabulous grotto set up by our very own Cardiff Life columnists Wyburn and Wayne, raising money for St Andrew’s URC. St Andrew’s, Roath; www.wyburnwayne.wordpress.com

13 December

THE SANTA DASH The annual event will be going ahead as normal but there are additional measures in place to ensure safety, including a staggered start to the race to ensure no one is running too close to each other. Roald Dahl Plass; www.santadash.wales n

WYBURN & WAYNE Move over Ant & Dec. Make way Edina & Patsy. Stand aside Batman & Robin. Our dynamic duo are in town and they’re here to give us the low down on the Cardiff high life

Just when you thought 2020 couldn’t get any more bizarre, we got dressed up to sip cocktails in a greenhouse! The Botanist was already fast becoming that staple, Instagrammable venue in Cardiff , but now, well...

We were invited along to have some drinks in their new rooftop Winter Garden Houses. There are six of them in total, essentially quaint green houses, beautifully decorated and, most importantly, heated for your enjoyment. You can book them out for yourself and your ‘bubble’ to enjoy a Covid-safe and unique dining or drinking experience. They’ve been created alongside Bombay Sapphire, and the special menu of cocktails is something else.

Nath even aptly had edible blue paint in his. As always, The Botanist is one step ahead of the game and if we were wearing a hat right now, it would be coming off for them.

Busy fi lming Dragged to Church for a special online event on 3 December

In other news, we’ve been keeping busy by recording a new song! We always try to record a fun charity single around Christmas and our annual Dragged to Church event. However, this year, it’s not so much a fun, silly Christmas song... it’s Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Yes The Power of Love.

We had a wonderful time with Luxury on the rooftop of Lynise recording at Earl Lane The Botanist Cardiff Studios in Grangetown. We’ve recorded with him on several projects now and he’s just Recording at Early Land Studios awesome. The track will be the opening of this year’s online Dragged to Church event on 3 December. You can watch it from the comfort of your own home or streamed live on the big screens throughout the city’s LGBTQ+ venues, The Golden Cross, Mary’s and Mainstage Bar. Also as part of our ongoing fundraising for St Andrews URC, we are bringing Santa to Roath. It took some convincing, of course, as he’s a very busy man this time of year, but he’s kindly off ered to help us bring some festive joy for a small donation of £3 per family, for a photo in his grotto. Socially distant with some camera angle magic, it will be wonderful. How exciting is that? He will be at St Andrew’s in the corner of Wellfi eld Road for four Saturdays from 28 November.

We’re super thrilled that Cardiff Castle is hosting Christmas at The Castle this year in place of Winter Wonderland; the castle is iconic and we just know it’s going to be breath-taking.

Radio Cardiff is back recording live shows. We are still currently recording our Friday show from home because Wayne works in the hospital, but we can’t wait to be back – nothing beats live radio. Big shout-out to all the team at Radio Cardiff and congratulations on the latest news of going DAB, reaching so many more people. Wonderful for our beautiful city and beyond. To keep up to date with the Radio Cardiff DJs Wyburn & Wayne follow them on Facebook, Twitter @WyburnWayne and Instagram @wyburnandwayne