Last Friday we were invited* to Llangollen for their International Eisteddfod. Every summer since 1947 Llangollen has staged one of the world’s most inspirational cultural festivals. It is six days of singing, dancing, competitions, performances and international peace and friendship.
We didn’t really know what to expect but were looking forward to seeing Van Morrison in the evening.
During the day there were three stages with various artists on from rock bands to country solo artists.
There was a circus tent where children could go and learn how to do various circus acts such as walking on a tight rope, juggling, plate spinning and diablo. There was also marquee where children could do arts and crafts for free.
There were plenty of stalls including crafts, clothes and gifts. There were also various bars and food trucks.
We watched the Parade of Nations in the afternoon which went from the festival site through the town. The Parade was so lovely to watch and brought me to tears, seeing the various nations marching and singing in their traditional dress.
In the evening we were very lucky to watch Van Morrison. He was absolutely incredible. We watched for an hour but apparently he continued for another two hours! His voice is just magical and he also played various musical instruments. His backing singer and band were also incredibly talented.
I would definitely recommend going to the Eisteddfod next year and making a holiday out of it, there is so much to explore around the Llangollen area that we are planning on returning soon. The scenery is breathtaking and the people very welcoming.
Days out near Llangollen
If you are looking to make a holiday out of the festival, there are some beautiful and adventurous places to visit.
Go Below Wales is the worlds largest underground zip line, situated in Snowdonia, it is about an hour from Llangollen.
Llangollen Railway. We took a trip on the train and the scenery was spectacular. The Llangollen Railway is a volunteer-run heritage railway which operates between Llangollen and Corwen.
Go Karting in Corwen, is about 15 minutes from LLangollen. With 1600m of outdoor track, top of the range Junior karts for children aged 9 upwards, Pro karts for seniors and a computerised timing system, the whole family can experience the exciting world of racing!
