This summer marks the great return of one of the biggest cultural festivals in the Welsh calendar after two years absence due to the coronavirus pandemic. The National Eisteddfod is back and thousands of people across Wales will be looking forward to heading over to the Maes.
But many people may still be unfamiliar with the Eisteddfod and everything that it entails. You may have never competed in a singing competition, you may have never heard about Y Gorsedd and you may not be able to speak Welsh, but that doesn't mean that the Eisteddfod is not for you.
The Welsh festival is filled with all kinds of activities, food stalls and sites worth visiting. This year, it's located in Ceredigion and locals have gone above and beyond to make it a memorable one.
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Here's a list of reasons why you should give the National Eisteddfod a go this year.
It's for free for some children
Access to the Eisteddfod is free for every child under five, and recently, organisers announced that children under 12 from Ceredigion could attend the festival for free.
On top of that, free tickets are available for families from underprivileged backgrounds, refugees and asylum seekers in the county. To find out more about free ticketing, click here.
It's located in a beautiful part of Wales
Nestled in the foothills of the Cambrian Mountains and near the source of the River Teifi, Tregaron is a thriving market town at the heart of Ceredigion.
Just two miles north of the town, you could visit the Cors Caron National Nature Reserve or the grand medieval abbey of Strata Florida Abbey where generations of Welsh princes are buried and it's worth a visit.
And it's not too far from these fantastic places
Why not visit Aberystwyth's promenade or Aberaeron's seafront while you are in the area?
You can go shopping on the Maes
From clothes to jewellery, from vinyl records to books, you can find the perfect gift from over 400 unique stalls on the Maes.
Or visit the food and drink stalls
When it comes to food and drink, the Maes has something for everyone. The food village specialises in all kinds of street food, catering for a wide range of tastes, from vegan food, Indian meals, pizzas and much more.
The Syched bar serves Welsh beer, ciders and wines and is close to the Live Stage, so you can enjoy a drink while listening to performances. And for those that don't like any of the options in Syched, there is also a Gin Bar selling Welsh gin and spirits.
You can learn Welsh while you are there
Don't worry if you can't speak the language, by the end of the week, you will be rhugl yn y Gymraeg!
You can watch people compete through singing, dancing and acting
By far the best part of the Eisteddfod, in which competitors from all over Wales and further afield come to take part in the festival. Arguably however, the main event is the Chairing of the Bard (Cadieirio'r Bardd) ceremony, which takes place on Friday afternoon during the week.
Winners are referred to as Y Prifardd (The Chief Bard) and the ceremony includes the chairing of the bard. It is said that the custom is much older than the modern eisteddfod ceremony and is known to have taken place as early as 1176.
It's pretty central in Wales
Tregaron is in mid-Wales, which means you would spend an equal amount of time travelling to the area if you were coming from the north or the south. To find out more on how to travel to the Eisteddfod, click here.
It's a celebration of all things Welsh
The Eisteddfod is one of the largest festivals in Europe, attracts around 160,000 visitors per year and honestly there is nothing quite like it! It's a celebration of Welsh culture, language and identity and so much more.
You'll meet old friends that you haven't seen for years...
Every Dic, Sion and Dafydd will be there, with their wives and their kids, and a pint in hand outside the Syched bar.
...or make new ones
Eisteddfodwyr - the people that go to the festival, are a friendly bunch.
This will be the first time it has been hosted in two years
The last Eisteddfod was in Llanrwst, Conwy in 2019. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the competing element of the festival has all been virtual... until now!
Teens can get their first taste of a music festival
According to its organisers, Maes B is the "official afterdark little brother" of the Eisteddfod. You have to be 16 or over to attend the festival that features late night performances by over 20 of the main Welsh language bands. This year's line up includes Gwilym, Sŵnami, Los Blancos, Papur Wal, Alffa, Eädyth and Adwaith (to name a few).
There is something for everyone
Whether you are a kid or adult, there is something for everyone at the Eisteddfod. Just read all of the reasons above!
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