This year’s Lantern Parade, organised by the Saundersfoot Chamber for Tourism, was the biggest to date, with over 90 lanterns being paraded through the village on Saturday evening.

The parade this year took on a sea theme with a giant fish, a huge lighthouse, blue puffer fish and dainty jellyfish, as well as white pyramid and cone lanterns being displayed high above the procession.

Samba Doc added a Christmas carnival feel with rhythmic music and lights leading a sea of lantern bearers all swaying to the beat of the drums.

Father Christmas, along with his head elf, was kind enough to take time out of his busy schedule to visit Saundersfoot and help Samba Doc lead the procession along The Strand, past the Community Council’s beautifully lit up Christmas tree and onto the National Events Deck at Saunderfoot Harbour.

The crowds gathered around the Wales International Coastal Centre Christmas tree where the chair of the Chamber for Tourism, Dilys Hackett, aided by Samba Doc, led the crowd in a countdown to lighting the tree, which was kindly donated by David Lewis, of the Hean Castle Estate.

Ollie Nixon from Tenby Escape Music Theatre finished the evening with a performance of ‘Buddy the Elf’ which saw many other children appear from the crowd to join him in a surprise ‘flashmob’.

The event was a huge success and the Chamber wanted to thank the community and visitors to Saundersfoot who took part in the parade with their own homemade lanterns, all those who attended the free lantern making workshops run by Chamber members and helped make the lanterns for the parade and to the Chamber members who organised and marshalled the event. Special thank you to Samba Doc, Father Christmas and his Elf, Saunderfoot Harbour for the use of the National Events Deck and the Tenby Escape Music Theatre.

We are already looking forward to seeing everyone again at next year’s lantern parade as part of Saundersfoot’s Coastal Christmas.