Dawn Stephens-Borg
03 April 2019
Summer in Wales brings a variety of music, food and walking events, big-name festivals and of course, the annual World Bog Snorkelling Championships! Fancy doing something a little different? Check out our favourite events in Wales throughout the summer.
June
Herefordshire Walking Festival
Herefordshire Walking Festival: Walking festivals are a great way to get to know a place. The Herefordshire Walking Festival incorporates the stunning Wyche Way, connecting the Offa's Dyke Path and the Cotswold Way. If you're looking for a way of exploring the Welsh borders and love wandering on foot, take a look at one of the festival's 30+ events.
Food Festivals
Food festivals: June is another bumper month for food festivals. With so many to choose from, we've picked three of our favourites! Monmouthshire Food Festival takes place at the magnificent Caldicot Castle and sees producers from Monmouthshire and neighbouring counties bringing the most delicious food and drink. Can you handle the heat? Merthyr Chilli Fiesta sees the best chilli producers from around the country come together to bring spicy snacks, delicious hot curries, chilli beer and plenty more. A truly unique event! Sample the delights of the Welsh coast throughout the week at hundreds of events.
July
The Big Cheese Festival
The Big Cheese Festival: Set in the shadows of one of Europe's largest castles, the pretty town of Caerphilly plays host to The Big Cheese Festival. Enjoy living history, funfairs, falconry and food at this delightful three-day event. Perfect for families, take a break in this beautiful setting to enjoy a little bit of everything there is to love about Wales.
The Monmouth Music Festival
Image credit: monmouthfestival via Instagram
Monmouth Music Festival: With an ever-growing line-up, it's easy to see why Monmouth Music Festival has become so popular. Spread across three days, expect big names that are yet to be officially announced, as well as theatre performances, poetry and art. Keep a beady eye on their website for new info.
August
County Shows
Image credit: breconcountyshow via Instagram
From monster vegetable competitions to rodeos, county shows offer a unique insight into rural life and celebrate Wales in all its glory. We've picked three of our favourites taking place in August. On the first Saturday of the month, The Llanthony Show kicks off in the Llanthony Valley. A visit to the show is like stepping back in time 50 years ago but offers a wholesome day out in the Welsh countryside. Another great find is the Brecon County Show. Perhaps a grander affair than the others, the Brecon show sees stunning farm animals showcased from all over the country, a delicious range of prime locally sourced food and a beautiful selection of art and craft stalls. The Monmouthshire Show dates back to the 17th century and offers everything you could want from a proper Welsh country event! Each year over 20,000 visitors flock to the show, set on the banks of the River Wye.
Jazz Festivals
Image credit: Green Man Festival by kirstymclachlan via Instagram
Green Man Festival and Brecon Jazz festival: Two of the most exciting music events take place in Wales each August, each truly special for their own reasons. The Green Man Festival boasts big-name acts such as Belle and Sebastian, James Blake and Battles, all the while with the stunning Brecon Beacons as a backdrop. While the Brecon Jazz festival is much more low-key, it's a must for jazz enthusiasts and a great reason to head for the hills to enjoy some world-class music.
The World Bog Snorkelling Championships
World Bog Snorkelling Championship: It doesn't get much quirkier than this. The World Bog Snorkelling Championship takes place at the end of August and has been going for 4 decades! Described by Lonely Planet as one of the top 50 "must do" things from around the world, we agree it's well worth checking out.
Now you've sorted your schedule, all that's left to do is book a luxury holiday cottage in Wales to base your selves for a summer of fun. If you're visiting at a different time of the year, you might find our guides to spring events, Christmas markets and food festival handy too!
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.