It is perhaps unsurprising that the beautiful, rural countryside of mid-Wales hosts the biggest agricultural show in Europe or indeed, that the world sheep shearing championships have been held here in the past. What may surprise you however, is the rich diversity of some of the other events held in the area...celebrating music, sport, food and culture, this region of Wales is now well and truly on the map.
Music festivals such as Brecon Jazz and The Green Man now draw thousands of people to the area, whilst cultural events such as the Hay Literary Festival earn rave reviews. Visitors to the Brecon Beacons are often within easy reach of the international sporting fixtures held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, or the Celtic Manor in Newport, with its 2010 Ryder Cup golf course. We mustn’t overlook the hugely popular Abergavenny Food Festival either. It attracts 40,000 people over one weekend and has recently prompted the Observer to quote “Abergavenny is to food as Cannes is to film”.
There are countless other smaller events held throughout the year and across the area. Why not check out the man vs. horse competition or the globally-televised World Bog Snorkeling Championships? Just two of the many quirky events held in the little town of Llanwrtyd-Wells.
Take a look at our summary of events and festivals being held in and around the Brecon Beacons National Park and don’t forget to tell us if you’ve discovered an event worth noting.
Shows, Festivals etc
Crickhowell Walking Festival - 25th Feb - 4th Mar 2012 - The Crickhowell Walking Festival takes place around the beginning of March each year and lasts nine days. It consists of a number of guided walks of various grades, all led by local experienced guides. There is something for every level of walker, whether you are happy trekking all day across the tops of the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons or would rather keep to paths and the lower slopes.
Telegraph Hay Festival - 31st May - 10th June 2012 - The festival will be celebrating our 25th year in Hay this year, with ten days of music, comedy, argument and literature
Royal Welsh Show- 23rd July - 26th July 2012 - The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society was formed in 1904, and the first show was held in Aberystwyth in the same year. The Society has come a long way since those early days and the Royal Welsh Show has become an important event in the Welsh calendar attracting some 230,000 people over the course of the four days and is supported by approximately 18,146 staunch members.
Brecon Jazz Festival- 12th, 13th and 14th August
The Green Man Festival- August 2012
Abergavenny Food Festival- 15th Sept - 16th Sept 2012
National Eisteddfod- 4th Aug - 11th Aug 2012
Farmers Markets
Abergavenny Farmers Market - 4th Thursday of every month
Brecon Farmers Market - 2nd Saturday of each month
Llangynidr Farmers Market - Last Sunday of each month
Hay-on-Wye Farmers Market - every Thursday
Llandovery Farmers Market - Last Saturday of each month
Usk Farmers Market - First Saturday of every second month
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