Children light up Cardiff! Join us on 13 Nov in Canal Quarter as Tredegarville pupils unveil their Christmas light designs exploring identity, place, and women in Cardiff.

Cardiff Kids Xmas Lights Switch-On

📅 Date: Thursday 13 November 2025
📍 Location: Canal Quarter, Cardiff

This winter, Cardiff’s Canal Quarter will be illuminated by the creativity and imagination of its youngest citizens. Join us for the Cardiff Kids Xmas Lights Switch-On, where pupils from Tredegarville CIW Primary School will reveal their own illuminated Christmas light designs — a joyful celebration of children’s voices, creativity, and vision for their local area.

Now in its second year, this inspiring project invites children to explore the themes of lighting, identity of place, and women in Cardiff, with a special focus on the contributions of women to the city’s past and present. Through a series of hands-on design workshops, pupils reflected on their own stories, explored their local area, and imagined how light can express belonging, memory, and transformation.

A highlight of this year’s journey was a visit to the National Museum Cardiff, where the children learned about curation and exhibition design. Inspired by the museum’s displays and curatorial team, they gained a deeper understanding of how their own work would be presented to the public—empowering them to become curators of their own illuminated designs.

The result is a series of bespoke light panels that will illuminate the city with imagination and purpose. Co-produced by Antonio Capelao (Architecture for Kids CIC) and Dr Melina Guirnaldos Diaz (Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University), in collaboration with Cardiff Council, the project also explores how STEAM education can foster creativity, civic engagement, and a stronger connection between young people and their urban environment.

The Cardiff Kids Xmas Lights project is inspired by the Soho Kids Xmas Lights initiative, founded in London by Antonio Capelao in 2021, and informed by Dr Guirnaldos Diaz’s research on post-industrial heritage. Both projects trace their roots to the creative work of primary school pupils in Newburgh, Scotland.

Launched in January 2024 and funded through 2026, the Cardiff project is supported by Councillor Sarah Merry, Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member for Education, Child Friendly City Cardiff Council, Cardiff Commitment, Cardiff Curriculum, the Royal Society of Architects in Wales, National Museum Cardiff, Welsh School of Architecture at Cardiff University, Institute of Education and The Bartlett at UCL, Architecture for Kids CIC, FOR Cardiff, and private partners including Floodlighting & Electrical, AtkinsRéalis Engineering Services, and Grasshopper.

Since its inception, the project has delivered eight design workshops and two curatorial workshops, engaging over 240 pupils from St Cuthbert’s and Tredegarville Primary Schools.

“Cardiff is the first city in the UK to be recognised by UNICEF as a Child Friendly City, so giving our children the chance to literally light up part of the city was irresistible. Working alongside Antonio Capelao, Dr Melina Guirnaldos Diaz, and Cardiff Council, pupils explored the history and character of their local area, including the heritage of the docks and the role of migration in shaping our city. Seeing their ideas transformed into a light show in the heart of Cardiff sends a powerful message: our children are at the centre of the decisions we make.”
Cllr Sarah Merry, Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member for Education

 

Sponsors & Special Thanks

Sponsors Floodlighting & Electrical Ltd Grasshopper Child Friendly City, Cardiff Council Cardiff Curriculum, Cardiff Council Special Thanks Cardiff Commitment, Cardiff Council FOR Cardiff AtkinsRéalis Engineering Services National Museum Cardiff Royal Society of Architects in Wales Architecture for Kids CIC Institute of Education, University College London The Bartlett, University College London Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University

Location

View event location on Google Maps

• Canal Quarter
• Cardiff
• CF10 2HD

Share this event

• Twitter
• Facebook