Daniel Meadows @ Ffotogallery

words: ELSIE BROCKWAY

Firstly, situated in the magnificent grounds of St. Fagans, Wales’s most popular heritage attraction, there’s a new outdoor production of Twelfth Night taking place this week (Wed 1-Sat 4 Aug, 8pm, tickets: £13). As part of the Everyman Open Air Theatre Festival this evergreen comedy is a darkly romantic tale of desire, infatuation and yellow stockings.

Swansea Cricket Festival 2012 (Wed 1-Sat 5 Aug, 11am, tickets: £3/£10) is held at St. Helens’ famous grounds by the sea. The atmosphere provided is pretty unique and is possibly the most child-friendly ground on the county circuit. Visitors in the County Championship will be rivals Gloucestershire; while there will also be a one-day game against Nottinghamshire taking place.

The Autobiography Of A Super-Tramp (Wed 6 June-Sat 25 Aug, admission: free) is the first exhibition at G39’s recent relocation to Oxford Street in Roath. Artists include Peter Finnemore, Simon Proffitt and Paul R Jones and Owen Martell. The exhibition looks at two different approaches to pursuing our goals and ambitions as the artists adopt a position of romantic outsider.

Daniel Meadows: Early Photographic Works (Until Sat 8 Sept, admission: free) showcases work from Daniel Meadows; a documentary photographer who spent his early career creating a social snapshot of Britain. Showing his work from the 1970s, the exhibition includes his extensive portrait project. Hosted at Ffotogallery, this is Meadows’ first exhibition in Wales.

If you feel in the mood for celebrating Welsh culture, The National Eisteddfod Of Wales (Sat 4-Sat 11 Aug, tickets: £15 (adults), concessions vary) is for you. Held at the old Llandow airfield near Cowbridge, this great festival is jam packed with music, dance, visual arts, original performances and family activities. There’s something for everyone.

15 Die A Day (Sat 4 Aug, 12pm, Admission: £10) is an all-day event raising money for the Mines Advisory Group that guarantees down-tuned guitar riffs by the shed load. The lineup ranges from metal band Chaos Trigger to punk-rock band Bring To Ruin. Prepare for a mixture of fundraising and head banging.

The first ever Carnival Ball (Sat 4 Aug, 8pm, tickets £5) is coming to The Coal Exchange in Cardiff Bay following the annual Cardiff Carnival in Cardiff’s city centre. Expect style, colour and flamboyant flair as energetic performances from SWICA’s carnival crew feature alongside Thabani Band and the headliner Kasaï Masaï that guarantee the true taste of the carnival.

Fans of Backroom, Cool House and Delete will enjoy SWADE, the new house and techno night (Sat 4 Aug, tickets: £6). This inside and outdoor 12-hour event at Six Feet Under in Newport showcases some of Wales’ most influential DJs; including The Organ Grinder, Owain K, Clare James, Matt Owen and many more.

Got a dog? Free on Sunday? Hounds For Pounds (Sun 5 Aug, Admission: £5) is a treat for the furry members of your family. Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice are fundraising a sponsored walk for you and your pooch in Margam Park, Port Talbot. There will be fun competitions and stalls along the route as you soak up the sun and enjoy a day out.

And if you can only do one thing…

Big Welsh Bite (Fri 3 Aug-Sun 5 Aug, 11am, admission: free) is a three-day free and fun family event held in the beautiful Ynysangharad War Memorial Park in Pontypridd. There will be food, craft stalls, cookery lessons, arena shows, farm animals and children’s games and rides. Guests include top television chefs Tom and Henry Herbert.