Festivals, Events, Markets, Fairs and Things to Do in Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)
From its remote wilderness, contrasting with sheltered ancient woodlands, reservoirs, breathtaking waterfalls, caves and windswept uplands, there’s something for everyone here. Fresh air, wide open spaces and easy access. This is a beautiful part of Wales, with traditional market towns, stunning landscape, canal paths, castles and plenty of family attractions. The scenery here is both beautiful and diverse – rolling countryside and valleys, wide open spaces to the wild beauty of the waterfalls and caves.
It has become an extremely popular location for staging adventure activity weekends. The park covers almost 520 square miles of natural outdoors heaven. The highest point is Pen y Fan standing just over 2,900 feet above sea level, and there are plenty other high points, as well as low valley points and flat plains too.
Not too far away to the south of Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) are two of the biggest cities in Wales: Swansea and Cardiff. This means that both the weekend activities and the evening nightlife can all take place within a relatively small area, making it ideal for a package weekend of fun.
Not just famous for the stunning landscape and outdoor activities but also for it’s events and festivals. You may want to combine a visit to Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) try some activities and then visit and experience one of the following festivals, events or markets.
Festivals & Events
Hay Festival
Every year, around 80,000 visitors flock to Hay-on-Wye for the town’s annual literary festival. To find out more about the event which attracts some of the world’s top writers visit the Hay Festival website. This years event is on 27th May to 6th June 2010. Past visitors include Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Desmond Tutu and Cherie Booth/Blair, Jeremy Clarkson and Terry Jones to name but a few.
Brecon Jazz Festival
The world famous Brecon Jazz Festival is graced with a wonderful mix of Great Brits and legendary Jazz stars from across the African continent to share the joy of Jazz in 50 concerts over 3 days. What makes Brecon special is the festival audience who are welcomed to the town of Brecon and to the National Park for a weekend of great music and celebration. Come on your own, come with friends, family, lovers or colleagues. Come for fun, and to meet some of the world’s greatest musicians. This is a real party atmosphere weekend and one not be missed. But book early as it is an extremely busy weekend. This year it takes place on 7th to the 10th August 2010.
The Royal Welsh Show
The biggest one of the lot and a must for all visitors. The Royal Welsh Show has become one of the most important events in the Welsh calendar attracting some 230,000 people over the course of the four days and is supported by approximately 15,000 staunch members. This show has something for all the family, mum, dad and the children.
This success has allowed for the extensive development of the permanent showground at Llanelwedd, first used in 1963, which is set in the heart of the scenic Mid Wales countryside
The Green Man Festival
The Green Man Festival is a British alternative music festival which was started in 2003. It has evolved from a one day 300 capacity event to a four day festival with three days of music including indie, psych, dance, Americana, and folk across five stages.
Music is at the heart but aspects of culture and living have become central to Green Man. Literature, film, theatre, ceilidhs, all night bonfires, comedy and secret gigs are all part of the festival. As well as fantastic food and drinks. Green Man takes place in the rolling parkland of Glanusk Park, nestled under Sugar Loaf mountain in Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons); “of all the festivals in all the fields in Britain, probably the best field of all has been bagged by the Green Man Festival. This years festival in 2010 takes place over the weekend of 20th to 22nd August 2010.
Abergavenny Food Festival
The twelfth Abergavenny Food Festival will be held from Saturday 18th September 2010 to Sunday 19th September, 2010. Opening hours: Saturday from 10.00 am until 5.00 pm. It offers visitors a fantastic range of delicious artisan products and an opportunity to meet the wonderful people who make them.
National Eisteddfod
The National Eisteddfod of Wales is one of the great festivals of the world, attracting over 160,000 visitors every year. An eclectic mixture of culture, music, visual arts and all kinds of activities for people of all ages, there’s something for everyone on the Maes during the first week of August every year. The Eisteddfod is the home of literature, music, dance, recitation, theatre, visual arts, science and technology, and all types of culture in Wales. Although not in Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) it is close by at The Blaenau Gwent and Heads of the Valleys National Eisteddfod, The Works, Ebbw Vale from 31 July to 7 August 2010.
The Ryder Cup Wales
Although not in the National Park we can’t let the fact that this global sporting event will be visiting Wales as the host nation for the 2010 Ryder Cup. For those with a passion for golf, there’s only one place to be from Friday 1st October to Sunday 3rd October 2010. The Celtic Manor Resort on the outskirts of Newport in South Wales. Why? The best reason in the golfing calendar of course. The magnificent Ryder Cup.
Celtic Manor is one of Europe’s leading golf and business resorts, with three top class courses, an award winning clubhouse and floodlit golf academy. It’s a fitting home for what is now regarded as one of the world’s largest sporting event and will be a focus for millions of enthusiasts from more than 100 countries around the world.