An advisor to one of the biggest annual festivals in North Wales has dismissed speculation surrounding this year’s event. The 2025 Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza is pressing ahead as normal and coach operators have begun taking bookings.
The free event endured post-Covid turmoil but it will this year celebrate its 40th anniversary. In the past two years, the event’s signature parade has been cancelled and last November’s Christmas Extravaganza was dropped after only three outings.
To address financial pressures, a new Community Interest Company (CIC) has been set up. Rejecting rumours the May Extravaganza had gone into liquidation, former director and chairman Chris Williams said a new committee had been established and the 2025 event is “100% going ahead”.
In a statement, Mr Williams said the event’s previous committee had agreed the Extravaganza’s business set-up was “no longer sustainable”. He added: “This led to the decision to close it in its current format and build a new committee under a CIC.
“The first steps have been taken and now the new committee and business structure will be put in place. The event is 100% going ahead but under a new committee.
“To be clear, the event did not go into liquidation. An open and frank conversation was had at our last meeting, (when) it was discussed how difficult it was for a volunteer committee to continue running and (how) it would be in the best interest of the event that it was rebuilt under a new business structure.
“Myself and (my wife) Claire also decided to step away from the main role as organisers to focus on our own business and personal lives. We will still help advise and guide the new team to ensure the 2025 event is successful. When the new committee are ready, they will make an official announcement.” Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community
The event’s parade of vehicles, carnival troupes and costumed volunteers has been shelved for the past two years
(Image: North Wales Live)
Last year a GoFundMe fundraiser was set up in the hope of bringing back the Extravaganza’s daily parade of vintage and steam vehicles, brass bands and carnival troupes. This failed to generate momentum and the event’s new organising committee has yet to confirm details of the 40th anniversary event over the Bank Holiday weekend of May 3-5.
The Extravaganza was founded in 1986 by Mayor Cllr Margaret Lyon as a way of boosting early-season tourism in the resort. As it grew, organising it became more onerous and, as entry was free, it was difficult to balance the books.
But the colourful event remains much loved, both by locals and visitors. Avanti West Coast has already begun promoting train trips to Llandudno and coach firms are taking bookings.
In the run-up to last year’s event, Mr Williams spoke about the huge strain placed on organisers as the event’s popularity has grown. Calling for support from Conwy Council, he said he’s been involved in running it for more than 20 years and “it never gets any easier”.
Explaining the need to step away, he added: “We are volunteers, not a paid event company, not town council or county council. All the money to run the event is raised by us, the liability of the event rests on mine and my wife’s Claire shoulders.
“We have to deal with everything and sometimes we simply can’t. Unfortunately the magic has gone, it’s taken too much of our lives and the lack of people’s understanding has taken its toll.” Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
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