From opera and West End stars to Christmas markets, a Santa Dash and even a night at the Moulin Rouge, heart charity Calon Hearts is inviting people to have a great time for a lifesaving cause.
Calon Hearts has unveiled a packed programme of more than 20 fundraising events taking place over the coming months, with events across Wales and beyond offering everything from live music and fine dining to fashion, festive celebrations and outdoor challenges.
And behind every ticket sold is a serious purpose.
Funds raised through Calon Hearts events help the charity continue its work providing heart screenings, CPR training and defibrillators – giving people the knowledge, equipment and opportunities that can ultimately help save lives.
The programme begins in September and continues through Christmas and into the New Year, giving supporters plenty of opportunities to turn a night out, a family day or a festive celebration into something that can make a real difference.
The way people fundraise and support charities has changed in recent years. While people still want to give to causes that matter to them, increasingly they also want to get involved, enjoy an experience and make memories with family and friends along the way.
For Calon Hearts, that means creating fundraising events that people genuinely want to be part of – whether that's dressing up for a glamorous night out, enjoying live music over dinner, taking on a challenge or getting the whole family involved.
And while supporters are having a great time, every ticket sold and every event attended helps Calon Hearts continue its lifesaving work.
Sharon Owen, Founder and CEO of Calon Hearts, said:
“People want to support causes they care about, but they also want to enjoy themselves while they're doing it – and why shouldn't they? We want our events to be things people look forward to, whether that's a fantastic night out with friends, an incredible performance or climbing Pen y Fan dressed as Santa.”
“Every screening we can provide, every person we can teach CPR and every defibrillator we can help place in a community matters. We simply couldn't do what we do without people supporting us.
“There really is something for everyone in this programme, so we'd love people to take a look, choose an event – or two! – and come and join us.”
Something for everyone
The season gets under way on 23 September with A Taste of Opera at Stefano's Italian Restaurant in Pontcanna, Cardiff, combining live opera with prosecco and a three-course Italian dinner.
Opera then heads to the coast on 1 October, with Opera By The Sea at Romeo's By The Sea in Penarth, before a very different evening on 15 October, when Nataly Churchill hosts a special Psychic Night at De Courceys Manor in Pentyrch.
November sees the programme move into full swing.
Musical theatre fans can experience The Three Phantoms in Abergavenny on 6 November, before The Sound of Musicals brings West End performers to the spectacular surroundings of Llandaff Cathedral on 11 November.
The following evening, 12 November, De Courceys Manor hosts a Fashion Show & Christmas Shopping event, combining a night out with the chance to get ahead on Christmas shopping.
The Three Phantoms then take their show on the road, visiting Clifton, Bristol on 14 November and Aberystwyth on 16 November, with further performances to follow in Hereford, Llandrindod Wells and Chester during December.
Christmas with a Calon
As Christmas approaches, the calendar becomes even busier.
Supporters can head to Bath Christmas Market on 27 November for a special Calon Hearts coach trip, while Baubles, Bubbles & Bublé comes to The Cliff Hotel in Gwbert, Cardigan on 28 November.
For those who prefer walking boots to bubbles, 29 November brings the Santa Trail Pen y Fan, inviting supporters to pull on their festive gear and take on one of Wales’ best-known peaks for Calon Hearts.
December begins with The Three Phantoms at Hereford Cathedral on 2 December, followed by two very different celebrations on 4 December – the glamorous Snow Queen Ladies Lunch at Park Plaza Cardiff and another Baubles, Bubbles & Bublé at Cardiff Masonic Hall.
On 6 December, Cardiff becomes the focus of a bumper day of Calon Hearts fundraising.
The Calon Hearts Santa Dash 5K, now in its fifteenth year, will bring runners, joggers and walkers together at Ronald Dahl Plass in Cardiff Bay for a family-friendly celebration of Christmas, while later that day A West End Christmas in Cardiff will bring stars from the West End stage to The Coal Exchange for a magical evening of musical theatre.
The festive programme continues with The Three Phantoms in Llandrindod Wells on 9 December and Chester on 15 December.
Demand has already been strong for the charity's festive events, with the Baubles, Bubbles & Bublé event at Cardiff's Hilton Hotel on 12 December already sold out.
The year then ends in style with The Mistletoe Ball at Penarth Masonic Hall on 19 December.
And it doesn't stop at Christmas
The fundraising continues into 2027.
To celebrate St Dwynwen's Day, Calon Hearts will hold two special A Taste of Opera evenings – at The Cliff Hotel & Spa in Gwbert on 25 January, followed by Stefano's in Cardiff on 27 January.
Then, on 13 February, supporters are invited to step into a world of glamour and sparkle for A Night at the Moulin Rouge, a Valentine's weekend charity ball at Wolfscastle Country Hotel near Haverfordwest.
Sharon added:
“When somebody buys a ticket to one of our events, they become part of what Calon Hearts is trying to achieve.
“They might come because they love opera, because they want a Christmas night out, because they fancy walking up Pen y Fan dressed as Santa or simply because they want to spend an evening with friends. But their support goes much further.
“It helps us reach more people with heart screening, CPR training and access to defibrillators. So come along, have a fantastic time and help us save lives while you're doing it.”
Dates for the diary
Calon Hearts' forthcoming fundraising programme includes:
- 23 September 2026 – A Taste of Opera, Stefano's, Cardiff – £55
- 1 October 2026 – Opera By The Sea, Romeo's By The Sea, Penarth – £55
- 15 October 2026 – Psychic Night with Nataly Churchill, De Courceys Manor, Cardiff – £19
- 6 November 2026 – The Three Phantoms, Abergavenny – from £29.50
- 11 November 2026 – The Sound of Musicals, Llandaff Cathedral – £29.50
- 12 November 2026 – Fashion Show & Christmas Shopping, De Courceys Manor – £15
- 14 November 2026 – The Three Phantoms, Clifton, Bristol – £29.50
- 16 November 2026 – The Three Phantoms, Aberystwyth – £29.50
- 27 November 2026 – Bath Christmas Market Coach Trip – £35
- 28 November 2026 – Baubles, Bubbles & Bublé, Gwbert – £54
- 29 November 2026 – Santa Trail Pen y Fan – £10
- 2 December 2026 – The Three Phantoms, Hereford – £29.50
- 4 December 2026 – Snow Queen Ladies Lunch, Cardiff – £56
- 4 December 2026 – Baubles, Bubbles & Bublé, Cardiff – £65
- 6 December 2026 – Santa Dash 5K, Cardiff Bay – from £12
- 6 December 2026 – A West End Christmas in Cardiff, The Coal Exchange – from £24.50
- 9 December 2026 – The Three Phantoms, Llandrindod Wells – £29.50
- 12 December 2026 – Baubles, Bubbles & Bublé, Hilton Cardiff – SOLD OUT
- 15 December 2026 – The Three Phantoms, Chester – £29.50
- 19 December 2026 – The Mistletoe Ball, Penarth – £65
- 25 January 2027 – A Taste of Opera, Gwbert – £55
- 27 January 2027 – A Taste of Opera, Cardiff – £55
- 13 February 2027 – A Night at the Moulin Rouge, Wolfscastle – £59.50
Full details and tickets for Calon Hearts fundraising events are available from Events | Calon Hearts.
