WITH many events taking place, the festive season is in full swing in Gwent. ESTEL FARELL-ROIG has put together a round-up of some events

NEWPORT

- THE Newport Wetlands are holding a wildlife workshop and Santa's Grotto on Saturday, December 9.

Take a trail around the Wetlands and find clues that will help you discover what happens to wildlife over winter.

These will lead you to Santa's grotto for nature, where you will need to give the password from the trail to get your present! You can then finish off the event by making a bird feeder to take home to make sure that the wildlife in your garden has a feast on Christmas Day too.

The event will run from 10.30 to noon and from 2pm to 3.30pm. Cost is £3 for RSPB members, £5 for non-members.

- THE Share Centre, in Stow Hill, Newport, is holding a Christmas fair from 10am on Sunday, December 10.

It will include a Santa's Grotto, Christmas refreshments and a raffle.

All funds raised will go directly to the Share Centre, a registered charity. Admission to the party will be free.

- THE Celtic Manor’s Christmas Kingdom will be open until January 7.

The festive attraction includes an outdoor ice rink as well as food and drink.

As children wait anxiously to meet Santa they enjoy the Santa’s Grotto experience, beginning with a video message from Santa’s Chief Elf.

Children will then decorate tasty Christmas treats, write a letter to Santa and post it in his North Pole postbox, before meeting Santa themselves.

£13 per child.

To find out more, visit celtic-manor.com/christmas-kingdom-santas-grotto

- CAERLEON will be holding a big Christmas event on Saturday, December 9 from 10am to 5pm.

There will be a farmers’ market in the town hall, storytelling in the Roman baths and carols on the Common with Santa Claus, amongst others.

Food available from the market will include mulled wine, honey products, and marshmallows.

To find out more and for exact timings of the event, visit caerleon-arts.org/2017/11/christmas-coming-caerleon

- CHILDREN will be able to meet Father Christmas in his grotto based at the Kingsway Shopping Centre in Newport.

Organised by the Hospice of the Valleys, the grotto is open from 11am to 6pm on most days from now until Christmas Eve.

Children will receive a gift and can also have their photo taken in the grotto. A visit to Santa's Grotto and gift is £3, with a photograph too £5.

For more information and a full list of dates for the grotto visit bit.ly/2z59yUV

- GAER community centre, in Gaer Road, Newport, is holding a Christmas event on Saturday, December 23 from 9.30am to 11.30am.

Father Christmas will be joining them for breakfast on the day.

Tickets will be £5 per child - this will include breakfast with the main man himself plus a visit to his grotto.

Tickets will be available at the centre. There will be limited spaces for this event.

- FATHER Christmas will be visiting the Fourteen Locks Canal Centre, in Cwm Lane, in the Rogerstone area of Newport, on several occasions throughout December.

Father Christmas will be at the centre from 10.30am to 3.30pm on Saturday, December 9 and 16 as well as Sunday, December 10 and 17.

Each child will receive a craft gift, a letter from Santa and a professional digital image in a studio set up, emailed to you by the end of the day.

This event is £6 per child and pre-booking is essential. To book, ring 01633 892 167.

TORFAEN

- On Saturday, December 9, the stage is set for this year’s Blaenavon's Christmas Cracker - a one-day street festival featuring music and dance performances, festive food and drink, unique craft stalls and a host of activities for children.

As well as a Santa’s Grotto, there will also be go-kart rides, petting donkeys and goats, children’s activities including circus skills and traditional games like roll a penny, lucky dip, hook a duck, giant bubbles and name the rocking horse.

Grotto are £1 and all the other children's activities are either free or 30p to make sure they’re affordable for people and their families

- MEET Santa Claus at a festive event at Blaenavon Ironworks this weekend.

The event will take place in the site's grotto on Saturday, December 9 and Sunday, December 10 between 11am-4pm.

Entry into the site will be free for all visitors but there will be a £3 charge per child to enter the grotto.

For more information, call 01495 792615 or email BlaenavonIronworks@wales.gsi.gov.uk

MONMOUTHSHIRE

- SANTA will be taking a break from his busy schedule to have tea at Usk Garden Centre, in Llanbadoc.

Enjoy afternoon tea with sandwiches and cakes and get a gift from Santa too.

This event will run on Saturday, December 16 and on Thursday, December 21, from 3.30pm to 5.30pm

£9.99 per child (including gift).

- Visiting Santa at The Angel, in Cross Street,

Abergavenny, is another option.

On the weekends leading up to Christmas, Santa will be in his grotto outside the front of the hotel from 1.00pm - 5.00pm.

Entry is £5 per child (to be accompanied by one adult, £5 per additional adult).

This price includes an edible gift and a Golden Ticket to ride through the streets of Abergavenny in Santa’s horse-drawn ‘sleigh’ (subject to weather conditions).

Find out more here angelabergavenny.com/christmas-2017/father-christmas-at-the-angel

CAERPHILLY

There will be a special event at Caerphilly Castle on Saturday, December 9 and Sunday, December 10.

Guests can expect an exhilarating Christmas extravaganza featuring an ice rink and an inflatable slide – ideal for those wanting to burn off the mince pies.

There will be a special visit from Father Christmas, or ‘Siôn Corn’ in Welsh, allowing lucky young visitors to fit in some last-minute Christmas wishes — only to be granted to those on the ‘good’ list, of course.

The event at the castle is on from 9am to 5pm on Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

Entry to the castle is free, with charged activities. Those who would like to meet Santa or book a skating slot can contact Cadw to book in advance by visiting http://cadw.gov.wales

BLAENAU GWENT

CHILDREN will be able to meet Father Christmas on the second week of December in Abertillery Emergency Station.

On Thursday, December 14, the big man himself will be giving out gifts from 3.30pm to 5.30pm at the station on Station Hill.

Entry is free and children 11 and under will also receive a free gift.

For more information follow @gpabertillery on Twitter.