Visit Wales »
Blog »
Latest Entries
Nov
12
Posted on 12/11/12, filed under Christmas, Days Out, Holidays and Breaks, Shopping, Wales | Comments Off
Tags: Christmas Fairs, Christmas Food, Christmas in Wales, Christmas Markets, Christmas Shopping
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… 12 Welsh Christmas events! Hmm, hasn’t got quite the same ring to it. Nevermind, just like the entrants of the Tenby Santa fun run we cant wait for the run into Christmas. With lots of festive food and drink fairs, along with arts and crafts, there’s plenty of Christmas cheer to be had at various locations around Wales:
Tenby Santa Run start by fourcroft, on Flickr
Abergavenny Christmas Food & Drink Fair
9 December
A foodie festival stuffed full of small scale producers who are ‘big on taste’. Experience the festive food as well as picking up tips from top-notch food experts.
Betws-y-Coed Christmas
1-2 December
Betws-y-Coed will be coming alive to celebrate Christmas in style. There’ll be entertainment for all the family, including Father Christmas, a candlelit lantern procession, seasonal music, fireworks and a Santa Dash, along with late night opening in Betws-y-Coed’s unique collection of independent shops and galleries.
Bryngarw House: A Victorian Christmas
15-16 December
Travel back in time and have a Victorian Christmas at Bryngarw House. With traditional Victorian fairground rides including a carousel, swing boats, coconut shy, stalls and barrel organ.
Caerphilly Medieval Christmas Fayre
8-9 December
The Caerphilly Medieval Christmas fayre fills the town centre and castle with stands overflowing with seasonal produce fit for a king’s table. Visitors can browse the medieval market, full with authentic traders, or sup ale in the medieval tavern.
Cardiff Christmas Market
15 November – 23 December
Cardiff Christmas Market offers a number of stalls featuring high quality bespoke gifts with the chance to commission bespoke personalised gifts. Keep warm with a glass of mulled wine or choose from a selection of whisky, wines, fruit and cream liqueurs, fresh hot pancakes and delicious hand made chocolates.
Cardiff: Taste Christmas Fayre
8 – 9 December and 15 – 16 December
Wales Millennium Centre launches its second Taste Christmas Fayre, bringing together creative craft-makers and producers from around Wales. With something for all the family with Welsh food and craft stalls at the Christmas market, free live performances, workshops and children’s activities; plus, food and drink events at ffresh Bar and Restaurant.
Llandeilo Christmas Festival
22 – 25 November
The only reason you need to visit this festival is that it contains the ’Heavenly Chocolate festival’, so prepare yourself for an exciting winter festival in Llandeilo. It will be the first opportunity to try our Christmas “Rudolf” ice cream made with carrots. The Food Hall will be open for delicious tastings of wonderful Welsh dairy, meat, cheese, beer and many other foods that we make so well.
Llandudno Christmas Fayre
15 – 18 November
Following last year’s very successful event which attracted around 20,000 visitors, Llandudno Christmas Fayre (formerly known as Celtic Winter Fayre) will be increasing the number of stalls offering everything you need for that festive cheer! This year’s fayre is hoping to be the biggest Christmas market in North Wales.
National Botanic Garden’s Christmas Craft and Food Fair
10 – 11 December
In the Great Glasshouse you can find something for everyone! From hampers and honey, beef and beer; to leatherwork, lovespoons; painting, pottery and paula shells.
Royal Welsh Winter Fair
26 – 27 November
Packed with livestock showing off the best of British farming in the heart of rural Wales. The Royal Welsh Winter Fair also has hundreds of trade stands tempting you with festive gifts.
Swansea’s Christmas street market
23 November – 16 December
Go along to Swansea’s Christmas street market with plenty of stalls offering food, drink, crafts and much much more! The streets will be lined with traditional wooden cabins, and a speciality German food quarter too!
Wrexham Christmas Market
13 December
Set in the picturesque part of Wrexham, Wrexham Christmas Market overflows with 70 stalls offering a selection of art and crafts and a selection of local produce.
Christmas in Wales
With Christmas only a few weeks away you maybe thinking about a Christmas shopping trip, a day out ice skating in the open air or an evening at the pantomime. We’ve put together a Christmas break guide to help you plan your holiday season.
Nov
07
Posted on 07/11/12, filed under Days Out, Regions | Comments Off
Tags: attractions discounts, getting to wales, trains, transport to wales, welsh railways
If you are planning a holiday in Wales, there could be many advantages to using public transport to get you there, or for getting about once you’ve arrived, and Arriva Wales has many special offers and promotions that could make your trip even better. Taking the train means that your holiday starts as soon as you step on board, as you get to spend quality family time, enjoy the views, probably get there faster, and on the way back after a busy break, take a nap!
For those who want to make the most of the railway and explore what Wales has to offer the Explore Wales Pass is just the thing. The pass gives you the freedom to enjoy unlimited access to all of Wales’ mainline train services and almost every bus service. Ticket holders also receive an amazing range of other benefits, including 2-for-1 entry or discounted admission to many of Wales’ biggest tourist attractions and Youth Hostel Association accommodation. From January 2013 the pass will be priced at £94 and gives you 4 days travel in any 8 days. To find out which attractions and hostels are participating visit the Explore Wales website.
If any of the attractions in Gwynedd are on your to-do list then take the train or bus to get there and you get there get 20% off the admission fee. The attractions included in 20% off Gwynedd attractions are Llanberris Lake Railway, Centre for Alternative Technology, Greenwood Forest Park, Piggery Pottery, Llechwedd Slate Caverns, Talyllyn Railway, Beics Menai, Bala Adventure and Watersports, Inigo Jones Slate Works, King Arthur’s Labyrinth, Portmeirion, Harlech Castle, Criccieth Castle, Caernarfon Castle and Dolgellau Cycles.
Arriva Trains Wales have also teamed up with Mid Wales Tourism to offer a 10% discount at featured hotels when travelling there by train. Train Stay Save offers visitors to Wales a great discount and also helps cut down the number of cars on the roads, make your trip environmentally friendly. At present there are 30 accommodation providers signed up to the scheme and the number is growing. Check out Visit Mid Wales’ website to find featured hotels.
For those 55 years old or over, Club 55 offers travel for £19 per day anywhere on the Arriva Train network for significant parts of the year outside of peak periods. Even better, this goes down to £17 if purchased on the website.
Arriva Wales also has some great offers and tips for those travelling on the Cambrian lines services (Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth, and Machynlleth to Pwllheli). These include Cambrian ALEways, a guide to a wide range of hostelries, from idyllic rural inns to bustling town centre pubs which are easily accessed by the Cambrian rail network and serve real ale; Cambrian FAIRways offers a guide to 12 great golf courses along the rail route; and Cambrian TRAILways, a series of leaflets promoting self guided linear walks between railway stations on the Cambrian network.
Find Out More
Find more about the regions of Wales and places to stay in Wales.
Nov
02
Posted on 02/11/12, filed under Cardiff, Competitions, Sport, Visit Wales, Wales | Comments Off
Tags: competition, rugby, Wales
Dove Men Series 2012
Autumn 2012 sees the return of international rugby to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
After Wales’ Grand Slam victory in this years’ 6 Nations, the team will be eager to continue their winning streak.
Taking on Argentina and Samoa first, followed by the current World Champions, the All Blacks and finally Australia.
The full fixture list
Saturday 10 November – Wales v Argentina - KO 14:30
Friday 16 November – Wales v Samoa - KO 19:30
Saturday 24 November - Wales v New Zealand - KO 17:15
Saturday 1 December - Wales v Australia - KO 14:30
Prize Draw
During the Grand Slam celebrations of this years 6 Nations, we received an official Wales shirt signed by the triumphant Welsh team, to be in with a chance of winning this amazing and exclusive prize just sign up below…
This competition has now closed.
All entries to be received by 12:01 pm on December 7 2012.
Find out more about Cardiff and Events in Wales
Nov
01
Posted on 01/11/12, filed under Festivals, Wales | Comments Off
Tags: bonfire night, family days out, fireworks, guy fawkes
On and around November the 5th the skies across Wales will be full of the sights and sounds of fireworks. Below is just a few of the organised events that will get your Bonfire Night off with a bang!
Caerphilly Castle
Saturday 3rd November
Caerphilly Guy Fawkes Night Fireworks 2011 from Ian Homer on Vimeo.
A free fireworks event with Caerphilly Castle as the backdrop. The best views can be had from Crescent Road and Dafydd Williams Park.
Sparks in the Park (Cardiff)
Saturday 3rd November
In its 32nd year and one of the biggest displays in the UK, Sparks in the Park, Coopers Fields Cardiff with fireworks and funfair. As well as a ‘beast’ of a bonfire.
Sparks in the Dark (Swansea)
Monday 5th November
Lighting up Swansea Bay with spectacular fireworks. Sparks in the Dark is held at St Helen’s Ground, Swansea.
Llandudno Fireworks Display
Monday 5th November
Set off from the Pier at Llandudno, the display starts at 7:30. The pier is closed during the event so the best vantage points are along the Promenade or surrounding areas.
Firework Sky Show (Cyfarthfa Park)
Monday 5th November
Cyfarthfa Park, set in 160 acres of beautiful parkland and home to Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery, it is the perfect location for funfair and fireworks.
Find out more about Seasonal Activities and things to do with the Family in Wales.
Oct
31
Posted on 31/10/12, filed under Bank Holidays Seasonal and Break Ideas, Days Out, Festivals, Food, Music, Shopping | Comments Off
Tags: autumn 2012, couples days out, family days out, Festivals, november 2012, things to do, welsh events
The obvious outing in November is a Bon Fire Night and Fireworks Display, but what about the rest of the month? You may think that there would be less going on this month with the shorter days and the colder weather, but not in Wales! There is not only a whole host of Christmas Fairs starting this month, and the customary switching on of Christmas lights, but a whole lot more too. Take a look at our pick of what to do in Wales this November.
Visit the Ellan Valley for a chance to go into Pen y Garreg Dam and up to the central tower. A team of Rangers will be on hand to direct people and answer any questions. On 3 – 4 November there will also be a Winter Craft Fair with hand made jewellery, wildlife photos, handmade buttons, beads and accessories and a lot more.
A weekend of Jazz will take place in Newtown this month hosted by Denise Lawrence. Known for her rich contralto voice, dry wit, huge musical repertoire and big international following. The line-up includes John Everett’s Red Dragon Jazzmen and The Old Fashioned Love Band, and world-class trombonist, Kevin Grenfell, leads the grand finale on Sunday. There will also be free entry to the venue’s spa for those attending.
The Swansea City Opera have organized a fun day of music, movement and motivation at Theatr Brycheiniog. Learn about the life and work of professional singers from the professionals themselves, and even have a go yourself at singing like an opera singer – no previous experience needed.
The Abertoir Horror Festival, in Aberystwyth, celebrates all aspects of the horror genre. The main focus of the festival is film, but there will also be a variety of other events including music and theatre. Silent film with live accompaniment, talks, shorts, classics and cult screenings. New films are also on offer and this year’s special guests include Cationa MacColl, Steven Sheil and Gavin Baddeley.
Tenby will be filled with the sound of the blues in November when the festival takes place in pubs, clubs, restaurants, cafes and hotels all over the town. There is also Blues Trails of 17 free gigs around the town on Saturday and Sunday.
The 2012 line up includes Todd Sharpville 9with Special Guest Marcus Bonfanti), Oli Brown Band, Rob Tognoni Band (Australia), Grainne Duffy (Ireland), Fingers Del Rey (USA), Arthur Ebeling (Netherlands), and many more acts.
Successful Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert is performing his The Man with the Flaming Battenberg Tattoo tour in Rhyl on 9 November and Aberystwyth on 10 November (and Cardiff in December). A regular on TV screens, this is your chance to see him in person.
The two-day fair is said to be one of the finest livestock stock shows in Europe, with entries increasing each year. As well as the produce show there will also be a handicraft show, floral art show and an antiques section. The Fair’s huge number of trade stands is a big attraction for shoppers looking for Christmas presents. Whilst the food hall is a great place to see and buy some of the best food and drink produced in Wales.
This year at a brand new venue in Pwllhelli, Hard Rock Hell and Hammerfest are the events of choice for the rock and metal community. Acts so far confirmed for this years Hard Rock Hell include Ugly Kid Joe, The Quireboys, Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot, The Dogs D’Amour, LA GUNs, Graveyard, Die So Fluid and many more. This year’s theme will be “Fistful of Rock” where spaghetti western will be the theme, so expect anything from saloon styled fun to can-can girls in Wild-West Wales.
Join in and be entertained with comedy, lively debates, talks, music, cooking and lots of glitter. The 13th Hay Winter Weekend is the perfect opportunity to unwind and get into the Christmas spirit, relax with friends and family, and enjoyment of the finest stories, music, food and company.
Search for more events
Discover what other events and festivals are taking place over the autumn.
