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Find a taste of Wales at the National Eisteddfod 2010
Will Young will be playing the Pink Pavillion on Sunday 8th August
The National Eisteddfod 2010 is on its way to the Heads of The Valleys this weekend 31st July – 7th August and you can already feel the buzz surrounding the event as The Works, in Ebbw Vale, becomes more and more packed with marquees and displays to celebrate the largest cultural event on the Welsh calendar.
Vicki Spencer from The Valleys, Heart and Soul Campaign has been working hard with the Eisteddfod to encourage more and more people to attend the event which, to some, is a bit scary if you don’t speak Welsh.
Here she tells us what you can expect to see at the Eisteddfod from a beach in the middle of the Valleys to male voice choirs, oh and you can also decide which new ice cream flavour best represents the Valleys!
“I speak a tiny bit of Welsh and the Eisteddfod organisers tell me that’s absolutely fine (fingers crossed!) If you like music, art, dancing and general merriment, it’s just the place to come and spend a couple of days.
There will be a huge amount of events and activities taking place across the site, including the host county’s stand where you can taste local Welsh produce, including Pwll Mawr cheddar which is matured underground in the pits, washed down with some Welsh whiskey. When you’re filled up with local produce, you can lounge around (weather permitting) on the beach. Yes, you did read correctly…a beach…in the middle of Ebbw Vale (bucket and spade not included).
With sand between your toes, head underground to the huge basement rooms hosting art competitions, gardens and adventure activities. But don’t forget to see what the wider Valleys area has to offer too. I think you will be surprised, a lot of work has gone into the area of late, the valleys really are green again, and more beautiful than you can imagine. Be inspired by all the things to do in the South Wales Valleys.
The Eisteddfod will be opened on the 30th July by Only Men Aloud, a whole host of Male Voice Choirs from The Valleys and also, Only Boys Aloud – a project set up in March to encourage boys between the ages of 14 and 19 to come together in Rugby Clubs across the region and sing. The project has been going amazingly well with over 200 boys taking part across The Valleys. Watch their progress on BBC Two Wales on the 27th, 28th and 29th July in a special documentary about it. The opening night at the Eisteddfod is their first gig… we’re wishing them the best of luck.
If you see a group of people coming towards you with green or red t-shirts on, don’t panic. It will be the Heart and Soul campaign team asking you to pick your favourite ice cream flavour. Over the last few weeks, the Heart and Soul team have been asking you to come up with ice cream flavours you think most represent The Valleys. And the three winning flavours are:
Pice ar y Maen – Welsh cake with caramelised sugar and nutmeg
Taffi Afal – Apple ice cream with toffee ripple and apple pieces
Black Gold – Chocolate ripple with caramel
We will be roaming the Eisteddfod Maes throughout the festival with small tasters to find out which is the fav. flav or you can vote by emailing your fav flav to icecream@thevalleys.co.uk. The winner will win a years sample of said fav flav along with the accolade of getting their ice cream stocked in the shops! (big thank you to SubZero for agreeing to work with us on this one.)
One more thing… after the festival leaves town the Eisteddod’s Pink Pavillion isn’t being taken down straight away, but being put to excellent use to host Will Young in concert on August 8th.
Be quick though as there are limited tickets still available”.
Find out about all the evetns taking place at the Eisteddfod 2010.
Search for accommodation in South Wales.
Discover more about the Valleys on facebook.com/lovethevalleys and twitter @LoveTheValleys.
