24 Hour Culture Survey – Fri 21-Sat 22 Oct
24 Hour Culture, a major survey focusing on the inhabitants of South East Wales, wants to capture a 24-hour period of the cultural activities people enjoy as part of their daily lives. It doesn’t have to be anything particularly high brow either, it could be getting caught up in a good book, curling up with a new film or TV show, or performing on stage. Whatever form of cultural activity you do within the 24 hours from 12 noon on Fri 21 Oct to 12 noon on Sat 22 Oct, they want to know.
WOW Circus – Fri 21st – Wed 26th Oct
Gerry Cottle did what many children threaten their parents with when nagged to do something they don’t like – he literally ran away from home to join the circus. He started small, cleaning out the elephants and becoming a juggler, until eventually he would host his own show and tour the world with some of the most incredible people to ever live. And now, you can watch Cottle’s daredevils perform live at Cardiff City FC – but beware of your overly ambitious children badgering to join too.
Tickets are £10 – £25, plus a £1.95 booking fee.
Oktoberfest Swansea – Fri 21st – Sat 22nd Oct
Our lederhosen-clad Bavarian friends have brought over their epic two night long drinking fest to Swansea, where you can listen to the UK’s best Oompah band, overdose on Bratwursts, and chug back countless ales as your own personal waitress addresses your table individually. Just remember to make yourself a fry-up the day after – a classic technique to cure that first heavy German hangover.
Tickets are £12 – £20 per person, plus a £1.20 booking fee.
The Great Vegan Bake Off – Sun 23rd Oct
Hosted by the Swansea Vegfest, a team of vegan volunteers who want to change the world, this Sunday will be filled with tea, treats, and fun for the whole family. You can enter the competition with a gorgeous homemade sweet or savoury bake, or decorate a cookie to try and win a prize, or even just watch and judge – whilst stuffing your face with goodies, of course. The bake off is a perfect opportunity to try good food, educate your children about where food comes from, and support local business.
Tickets are £1 for adults, free for children.
Brecon Baroque Tea Dance – Fri 21st – Mon 24th Oct
If you’ve ever felt an undying urge to travel back in time, this Baroque Tea Dance at Theatr Brycheiniog Studio is the perfect opportunity for you to pull out your jig shoes and dance, with the temptation of the gorgeous tea and cakes to keep you going. Peter Brock, dance icon, will show you how it’s done on the floor, as a trio of musicians play classic 16th – 18th century songs.
Tickets are £10, plus a 50p booking fee.
Ghost the Musical – Mon 17th – Sat 22nd Oct
Based on the romantic fantasy movie, Ghost returns as a hit musical, starring Sarah Harding from Girls Aloud and Andrew Moss from Hollyoaks. The heartbreaking love story is recaptured in live verse, starting from the night Sam is murdered, to when he becomes a ghost (who would have thought?), to when he manages to save her and prove just how much he adores her, dead or alive.
Tickets are £12 – £192, plus a £3.95 booking fee.
Poetry Evening – Thurs 20th Oct
Hosted by the poet and playwright Clare E. Potter, storyteller Eric Ngalle, poet and short-story writer Ric Hool, and poet and novelist Mike Jenkins at the Cardiff Central Library, this event is not to be missed by budding writers and poetry enthusiasts alike. In celebration of National Poetry Month and Black History Month, these speakers will teach you about how to spill histories and use language to break down barriers – along with the very topics that inspired them to write in the first place.
Free admission.
Sŵn Festival – Fri 21st – Sun 23rd Oct
Celebrating the 10th year anniversary of this festival, some of Wales’ favourite indie bands are being showcased, such as Ani Glass, Bad Breeding, Field Studies, Garden Centre, and Matt Maltese. If you want to show off to your friends just how hip and alternative you are, then this is one festival you don’t want to miss out on.
Tickets are £10 – £55, plus a 50p – £5 booking fee.
Concert of the Unexpected – Fri 21st Oct
This celebration tells the story of the life of the well-loved writer. It opens with a Marvellous Mind of Mr Dahl talk, before introducing the Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra, and then launching into this magical family-orientated concert. It stars Michael Sheen, famed Welsh actor and OBE winner.
Tickets are £5 – £26.50, plus a £3.95 booking fee.
If you’ve decided that actually, you do not want to dress up as a werewolf and take your nine year old sister trick-or-treating this year, thank you very much, then this ghost walk has arrived in perfect time for Halloween. You will be told spooky stories about sightings and tales, whilst huddling together in dark corners of the buildings – in what’s allegedly the most haunted country in the world.
Tickets are £15 – £17.50.
words AMY-ANNE WILLIAMS