Events in Wales

January

• New Year’s Day (Calennig): Celebrated across Wales with traditions like Calennig (children singing for gifts) and the Nos Galan road race in Mountain Ash.

• Dydd Santes Dwynwen (St Dwynwen’s Day): January 25th. The Welsh equivalent of Valentine’s Day, celebrating the Welsh patron saint of lovers.

February

• Welsh Language Music Day (Dydd Miwsig Cymru): Early February. A nationwide celebration of Welsh-language music across all genres, with gigs and events.

• Half Term Activities: Various family-friendly events, often at castles, museums, and attractions across Wales, coinciding with school holidays.

March

• St. David’s Day (Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant): March 1st. Wales’ national day, celebrated with parades, concerts, and traditional dress (leeks and daffodils).

• Six Nations Rugby: Throughout February and March, rugby matches involving the Welsh national team are a major cultural event, with passionate support.

April

• Easter Celebrations: Various events, often including Easter egg hunts and family activities at National Trust and Cadw sites.

• Cardiff Bay Run: A popular 10K road race around Cardiff Bay.

• Porthcawl Jazz Festival: An annual festival bringing jazz music to the coastal town of Porthcawl.

May

• Urdd National Eisteddfod: Late May/Early June. Europe’s largest youth festival, celebrating Welsh language and culture with competitions in music, dance, and drama. It moves to a different location each year.

• Hay Festival of Literature & Arts: Late May/Early June. Held in Hay-on-Wye, this internationally renowned festival brings together writers, poets, and thinkers for a celebration of literature.

• Royal Welsh Spring Festival: Mid-May. Held at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd, a celebration of rural life, smallholding, and the Welsh countryside.

June

• Unearthed Festival: Mid-June. A music, arts, and community festival held in the Pembrokeshire countryside, focusing on sustainability and connection.

• Gŵyl Ifan (St. John’s Day): June 24th. Traditional midsummer celebrations, sometimes including folk dancing and bonfires.

• Armed Forces Day (National Event): Often hosted in a Welsh town, celebrating the armed forces with parades and displays.

July

• International Musical Eisteddfod (Llangollen): Early July. A world-renowned festival of music, song, and dance, bringing performers from across the globe to Llangollen.

• Royal Welsh Show: Mid-July. The largest agricultural show in Wales, held at Llanelwedd, showcasing livestock, rural crafts, and Welsh produce.

• Cardiff Summer Concerts: Throughout July and August, Cardiff Castle often hosts major outdoor concerts with international artists.

August

• Green Man Festival: Mid-August. An independent music and arts festival held in the Brecon Beacons, known for its diverse lineup and family-friendly atmosphere.

• Brecon Jazz Festival: Mid-August. A long-running jazz festival in the historic market town of Brecon.

• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Early August (alternates with Urdd Eisteddfod). The main adult Eisteddfod, a major cultural event celebrating Welsh language, literature, and arts, moving location annually.

September

• Food Festivals: Autumn is a prime season for food festivals across Wales, celebrating local produce. Examples include Newtown Food Festival.

• Welshpool 1940s Weekend: A nostalgic festival transforming Welshpool into a vibrant snapshot of wartime Britain.

• Cardiff Half Marathon: Early October (sometimes late September). A major road running event attracting thousands of participants to the capital.

October

• Aberystwyth Comedy Festival: A popular festival bringing over 100 comedy shows to the university town.

• Brecon Baroque Festival: An annual festival celebrating Baroque music.

• Other Voices Cardigan: Late October/Early November. A music festival showcasing diverse musical talent in Cardigan.

• Halloween (Nos Calan Gaeaf): Traditional Welsh customs for Halloween, often including storytelling and bonfires.

November

• Royal Welsh Winter Fair: Late November. Held at Llanelwedd, a premier agricultural event focusing on livestock, food, and crafts, marking the start of the festive season.

• Christmas Market Season Begins: Various towns and cities, particularly Cardiff, begin their Christmas markets.

December

• Christmas Celebrations: Towns and cities light up with festive decorations, and various events, carols, and pantomimes take place.

• Mari Lwyd: A unique pre-Christian tradition, particularly in South Wales, involving a horse skull carried on a pole, accompanied by singing and revelry around New Year.

• Boxing Day (Gŵyl San Steffan): December 26th. Traditional celebrations and often local sporting events.

This diary provides a general overview, and specific event details should always be verified closer to the time of travel.