Discover the best of Welsh culture this April with our guide to the most unique events and festivals taking place across the country. From the opening of the country’s first broadcast archive to the Folk Awards to Big Pit turning 40, and much more, here’s What’s On in Wales, April 2023.

FOREST FEASTIVAL

Street Food Circus’ spring pop-up is now an annual happening, the event makes that long walk even more rewarding by setting up a woodland clearing by a sand dune beach. Chow down on Bao Selecta’s steamed Asian buns, Fire & Flank steak Argentinian-style and a selection of treats such as Rouge Welsh Cakes, Church of Churros and Loco Tequilas.

Candleston Campsite, Merthyr Mawr, Fri 10 Apr-Sun 14 May (Fri-Sun and bank holidays).

Tickets: £5. Info: forestfeastival.com

THE CIRCUS VILLAGE FESTIVAL

Long-running Cardiff-based circus folk NoFit State pitch up in Swansea for their inaugural festival event. Visitors to the festival grounds you can catch performances such as recent flagship production Sabotage and The Wing Scuffle Spectacular from creator friends The Revel Puck Circus. If that’s not up your street, Kitsch & Sync will be performing their comedy and dance production Bitchcraft.

Recreation Ground, Swansea, Thurs 13-Sun 16 Apr.

Tickets: Prices vary up to £18. Info: here

WALES FOLK AWARDS

Returning for its annual slot, the Wales Folk Awards celebrate and promote the world of Welsh folk music. The awards were launched in 2019, and this year’s 10 categories include Best Group, Best Emerging Act, and Best Album. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in the Wales Millennium Centre, with live performances and broadcasting by BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru.

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Thurs 20 Apr.

Tickets: £5.26. Info: here

BIG PIT’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY

Big Pit, once the most important colliery in its town, produced over a quarter of a million tons of coal annually and employed over 1,300 people at its peak. On closing in 1980, it reopened as a museum three years later, and this year Big Pit celebrates its 40th anniversary with music, children’s crafts, speeches and a birthday cake.

Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenavon, Sat 22 Apr.

Admission: FREE. Info: here

IN THE BLOOD

Taliesin Films are producing a documentary film exploring how sports shape our sense of belonging in the local community and similarly how sports can become a lifelong passion for some. The production received support from Swansea University, The Heritage Lottery Fund, The Welsh Innovation Fund, and the likes of Elysium Gallery and Swansea Museum.

Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea, Fri 28 Apr.

Tickets: FREE. Info: here

WALES BROADCAST ARCHIVE CENTRE

With the BBC celebrating a century of broadcasting in Wales across 2023, that goldmine of radio and TV content forms part of what you’ll find in the Wales Broadcast Archive Centre, which has just opened in Aberystwyth’s National Library Of Wales. By no means all, though, with ITV Wales, HTV and S4C also offering items from their vaults. Expect to find video and audio footage of many pivotal moments from nearly 100 years of Welsh history, and if Aberystwyth isn’t exactly on your doorstep the archive will also be accessible remotely, in 12 libraries across Wales.

Info: here

CORLAN

Small World Theatre introduces a fresh initiative to west Wales aimed at assisting neurodiverse and disabled individuals, as well as young people struggling with mental health issues. The project, named Corlan, provides activities focused on performance and supportive sessions that will foster the growth of new abilities and encourage individuals to express themselves through artistic means.

Small World Theatre, Cardigan, Apr-July; interested people can email regarding dates and times via the link below.

FREE to take part. Info: here

POCA

Located in a spot of confounding is-it-Canton-or-Pontcanna liminality, Poca is a new restaurant that will set up shop in the space recently and sadly vacated by Spanish joint La Cuina. It’s a sibling establishment to Dinas Powys’ Humble Onion and Barry’s Alium, with Cardiff-born chef Antonio Simon at the helm, and ahead of its imminent opening the sample menu prioritises seasonal small plates, with pork belly hash browns and lamb sweetbreads in hazelnut butter among the standout dishes.

Kings Road, Cardiff, opening in spring TBC.

Info: pocarestaurant.co.uk

GŴYL CRIME CYMRU FESTIVAL 

Wales’ first international crime literature festival is in its third year, technically, the previous two being online during lockdown. The festival takes place across Aberystwyth venues and hopes to celebrate crime writing by strengthening networks between Wales’ farflung Welsh crime writers.

Various locations, Aberystwyth, Fri 21-Sun 23 Apr.

Tickets priced individually. Info: gwylcrimecymrufestival.co.uk

MACHYNLLETH COMEDY FESTIVAL

Set in the beautiful small market town of Machynlleth in the heart of mid-Wales, this might seem like an odd place for a comedy festival, however the location allows for experimentation with a different, more relaxed approach to comedy overhead. Expect to witness your favourite comedians including Mike Wozniak, Phil Wang and James Acaster performing in intimate spaces. 

Various venues, Machynlleth, Fri 28-Sun 30 Apr.

Tickets priced individually. Info: machcomedyfest.co.uk

CAERPHILLY FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL

With over 70 traders flocking to the heart of Caerphilly to tempt foodies with their produce, Caerphilly Food & Drink Festival has it all no matter the appetite: stalls, live demonstrations, an Artisan market, craft fair and street entertainment. The annual culinary event promises to be a food lover’s paradise.

Caerphilly town centre, Sat 29 Apr.

Admission: FREE. Info: caerphillyfoodfestival.co.uk

SWANSEA BOOKFEST

Get ready for a literary treat at 2023’s Swansea Bookfest, presented by the city’s independent bookshop Upstart Crow. Promising a jam-packed day of readings, writing exercises, poetry and writing competitions, immerse yourself in the world of literature in the company of Rachel Morris, Jasper Fforde and Howard David Ingham.

Elysium Gallery, Swansea, Sat 29 Apr.

Tickets: £3. Info: here

SWANSEA PRIDE

The National Waterfront Museum is joining Swansea Pride 2023 in hosting the community zone for the annual celebration of LGBTQ people’s achievements. The event includes information stalls, a speakers corner, and input from the Museum’s GRAFT garden. Swansea Pride is a volunteer-led charity advocating for the elimination of discrimination and raises awareness of equality and diversity.

National Waterfront Museum, Swansea, Sat 29 Apr.

Admission: FREE. Info: swanseapride.co.uk

MINI PRIDE

Similar to Swansea Pride, Mini Pride is a family-friendly programme which celebrates you being your most authentic self. Expect all kinds of child-oriented activities such as face painting, crafts, storytelling and a mini parade.

National Waterfront Museum, Swansea, Sun 30 Apr.

Admission: FREE. Info: swanseapride.co.uk

words EMMA WAY