Are you both a foodie and a festival goer? We’ve got you covered. Explore some of the best celebrations that Wales has to offer with our comprehensive round up of the food and drink festival season.
CHEESE & CIDER FESTIVAL
Gower Heritage Centre, Swansea
Sat 5 + Sun 6 May
Love cheese? Love cider? Then you’re in luck, because this is the food festival for you! Back for its seventh year with a huge selection of locally produced, award-winning cheeses, ciders and perries,the Cheese & Cider Festival at Gower Heritage Centre is a must for any foodie. Visitors will also be entertained by live music and open mic sessions, demonstrations, Punch & Judy puppet shows, craft workshops and more, making it a fun day out for all the family.
Admission: TBC
www.gowerheritagecentre.co.uk
CAERNARFON FOOD FESTIVAL
Various locations, Caernarfon
Sat 12 May
The north Wales town’s annual food festival kicks off in May with an expanded location due to the rapidly growing amount of visitors. With over 70 local food stalls drawn from the regions of Gwynedd, Clwyd and Ynys Mon, live cooking demonstrations, freshly cooked food and various shows will also make the day even better.
Admission: free
Info: www.gwylfwydcaernarfon.cymru
RAIL ALE 2018
Welsh Highland Railway Station, Caernarfon
Fri 18-Sun 20 May
In what will be its 14th year, the Welsh Highland Railway Society’s Rail Ale Festival promises a selection of over 100 real ales, ciders and craft beers, making it one of the largest and most popular beer fests in north Wales. The best ales will be located in the Goods Shed at the railway station at Dinas, which will be unrecognisable as it’s transformed into a bar. There’s also a variety of live music, fine foods and – given the location – a display of steam trains for the highly identifiable trainspotter/real ale buff crossover market.
Admission: £10 for the weekend
Info: www.rail-ale.com
WELSH PERRY & CIDER FESTIVAL
Caldicot Castle, Monmouthshire
Fri 25-Mon 28 May
As with most ideas encompassing cider or beer, this thought was born in a pub, 16 years ago. Since then, the festival has only grown bigger and bigger, making attendees happier and happier. This May, the festival returns to Caldicot Castle, for another awesome celebration. If you haven’t been there yet, I suggest you make this the year you visit. The castle grounds look resplendent on a warm summer’s day, and the atmosphere is always relaxed and friendly. Along with hundreds of ciders and perries of different strengths for you to try, you can kick back and relax on the castle grounds as you listen to the sounds of musical performers. 2018 is the year for you to experience it yourself.
Admission: £5-£12.50/free under-18s
Info: welshciderfestival.wordpress.com
GOWER GOOD FOOD FESTIVAL
Gower Heritage Centre, Swansea
Sun 28 + Mon 29 May
Set in the heart of Gower, some of the best local food producers will convene to celebrate some of the best food Wales has to offer, with the likes of Dusty Knuckle Pizza making appearances. Back by popular demand for its third year, the festival continues to gain popularity and earn praise year on year. The Gower Heritage Centre, which was set up in 1990, makes for a perfect setting to grab a bite to eat in the sun.
Admission: free
Info: www.gowerheritagecentre.co.uk
CARDIFF INTERNATIONAL FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL
Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff Bay
Fri 6-Sun 8 July
Soak in the summer sun with a visit to the largest free food festival in Wales. With over 100 national and international stalls, bring out your inner foodie with the Producers’ Fayre – delicious light samples galore – and the Farmer’s Market, where visitors can buy fresh produce including artisan breads and organic cheeses. Another guaranteed crowd-pleaser are the festival’s street snacks, some of the best in Wales, and the opportunity to bask in the (optimistically anticipated) July sun with a glass of bubbly… or jug of farmhouse cider.
Admission: free
Info: www.visitcardiff.com / www.mermaidquay.co.uk/events/cardiff-international-food-drink-festival-2018/
CARDIGAN BAY SEAFOOD FESTIVAL
Aberaeron Harbour
Sun 8 July
This festival came into existence through an intention to demystify fish and shellfish and increase demand for produce found and caught locally, yet increasingly rarely sampled by Aberaeron’s denizens. Did it take off? Well, this year the Cardigan Bay Seafood Festival celebrates its 21st birthday. Offering several thousand marine-nibblers the chance both to watch chefs prepare local fish and sample their wares, the already picturesque harbour front of Aberaeron is going to be extra attractive on 8 July.
Admission: free
Info: www.aberaeronfishfest.com
MERTHYR FOOD FESTIVAL
Town centre, Merthyr Tydfil
Sun 22 July
With a wonderful selection of food stalls, chef’s demonstrations, live entertainment, children’s activities and much more, Merthyr Food Festival returns with a fabulous day out. There’s also plenty of foodie-themed entertainment, coming from the likes of French Fancies, the Crazy Waiters and Balloonatic, as well as a programme of chef demos with an Italian theme. All these things are guaranteed to keep visitors to the festival enthralled.
Admission: free
Info: www.welovemerthyr.co.uk
GOWER CHILLI COOL HEAT FESTIVAL
South Gower Sports Club, Port Eynon, Swansea
Sat 27-Sun 29 July
A coastally-located celebration of spice with a wealth of chilli-inspired food and drinks: tasty snacks from chocolates to cheeses, and tongue-tingling street food. Head to the infamous Chilli Cocktail bar and unwind with chilli-infused spirits and mixers; if this isn’t hot enough for you, take part in the newly introduced Chilli Eating Competition or the Great Gower Cookoff. There’s also some surprises lined up for this year’s instalment. You’ll need a quick way to cool off after this.
Admission: TBC
Info: www.gowerchillis.com
CAERPHILLY FOOD FESTIVAL
Caerphilly Town Centre
Sat 12 May
Is there a better way to enjoy the spring than with the freshly-picked produce and refreshing flavours on offer at the Caerphilly Food Festival? We at Buzz don’t think so. Returning once more with over 100 stalls, Caerphilly offers a range of professional cooking demonstrations, homemade treats and delicious made-to-order dishes. The festival is also joining forces with the town’s monthly Farmers Market and Caerphilly Craft Fair. This one only lasts for a day, so be sure to get yourselves down there before it’s over.
Admission: free
Info: www.caerphilly.gov.uk/foodfestival
THE BIG CHEESE
Owain Glyndwr Playing Fields, Caerphilly
Fri 27-Sun 29 July
Crumbly white cheese serves as a metaphorical springboard for an eclectic mix of different activities including street entertainers, living history, music, dance, a funfair, folk dancing and fire-eating. Taking place in its established slot of the last July weekend, near to the imposing Caerphilly Castle, over 80,000 people are expected to flock to enjoy The Big Cheese’s different activities.
Admission: free
Info: your.caerphilly.gov.uk/bigcheese
LAMPETER FOOD FESTIVAL
Various locations, Lampeter
Sat 28 July
Lampeter Food Festival is a great day for families with many activities for everyone. Cookery demonstrations for the adults, accompanied with food, wine, beer and cider and donkey rides and many more activities for children are waiting to entertain visitors.
Admission: free
Info: www.lampeterfoodfestival.org.uk
COWBRIDGE FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL
Various locations, Cowbridge
Sun 27 + Mon 28 May
Over 80 stalls of locally-grown produce and homemade delicacies in the cosy town of Cowbridge, surrounded by beautiful countryside and coastline and home to generous hospitality. For those who wish to taste more of what Cowbridge has to offer, nearby accommodation is also available. This year’s exhibitors are yet to be finalised at press time, but will include a healthy proportion of the high impressive crop of 2017.
Admission: £5 per day/£8 both days/free under-12s
Info: cowbridgefoodanddrink.org
SEA 2 SHORE FOOD FESTIVAL
Aberystwyth Promenade
Sun 12 Aug
Annual festival held on the town’s lush, expansive promenade and boasting all kinds of stalls and activities, cookery demonstrations and sample tasters by fish experts and local hotel chefs. With delicious seafood, local cheeses, wines, organic vegetables and even paella, pizza and desserts, there’s no excuse to leave hungry.
Admission: free
Info: www.visitmidwales.co.uk
CARDIGAN RIVER AND FOOD FESTIVAL
Quay Street Car Park, Cardigan
Sat 18 Aug
The Cardigan River and Food festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, but after all that time the festival organisers’ objectives haven’t changed in the slightest, with the celebration of the quality and diversity of the local independent food producers here in Wales remaining central to its driving ethos.
Admission: free
Info: www.cardigan-food-festival.co.uk
ABERGAVENNY FOOD FESTIVAL
Various locations, Abergavenny
Sat 15 + Sun 16 Sept
Established in 1999 by two local farmers after the devastating BSE crisis in order to restore faith in British farmed foods, the Abergavenny Food Festival has more than proven its point and continues to grow, now attracting some 30,000 visitors each year to one of the biggest events in the Welsh foodie calendar. With everything from organic cheeses and international drinks to pizza, noodles and venison, there’s bound to be something to satisfy your taste buds in the beautiful town. The rich history and reputation of the festival has attracted previous visits from top chefs like Raymond Blanc and Rick Stein, and with the festival spread out throughout the entire town, the walking from stall to stall will more than make up for the amount of food you eat.
Admission: £9 Sat 15/£7 Sun 16/£14 both days/free kids
Info: www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com
MOLD FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL
New Street Car Park, Mold
Sat 15 + Sun 16 Sept
Mold Food & Drink Festival will be returning for its 13th year, bringing with it the very best exhibitors, cookery theatres, produce, and leading names in the culinary world. Besides the outstanding chefs and their menus, this year will see the reutrn of the ever-popular children’s cookery school. Also on offer is live music, competitions and many interactive zones to entertain visitors of all ages.
Admission: £7/£3 4-13-year-olds/free under-4s
Info: www.moldfoodfestival.co.uk
MONMOUTHSHIRE FOOD FESTIVAL
Caldicot Castle
Sat 2-Sun 3 June
A wide range of food-based entertainment from some of the best chefs in Monmouthshire, as well as stalls from local food producers, the children’s quarter and a cooking demonstration and tasting area. All set within the stunning surroundings of Caldicot Castle.
Admission: £5/free under-12s
Info: monmouthshirefoodfestival.co.uk
NARBERTH FOOD FESTIVAL
Moorfield Road, Narberth
Sat 22 + Sun 23 Sept
With food stalls, live music, street theatre, chef demonstrations and a licensed bar, all in the centre of this genial Pembrokeshire town, Narberth Food Festival is perfect for a family day out. The festival will see foodies celebrating all that is good about Welsh, British and international food and drink in a charming environment.
Admission: free
Info: www.narberthfoodfestival.com
NEATH FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL
Town centre, Neath
Fri 5-Sun 7 Oct
Having started in 2009 as a small celebration of local food and drink, the Neath Food & Drink Festival is now one of the main fixtures in the town’s calendar. With a street food zone and real ale hall, the festival has a wide range of food and drink choices to choose from.
Admission: free
Info: www.neathfoodfestival.co.uk
words Tom Owen
