Wales Events

The ISPS Handa Wales Open offers a great chance to see many of The European Tour’s best golfers return to The Celtic Manor Resort to compete for the trophy won in previous years by Ryder Cup stars including Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter and Paul McGinley. With a prize fund of £1.8m and staged on the Twenty Ten Course which hosted a memorable Ryder Cup event in 2010, the ISPS Handa Wales Open is now an established and major European golf event.

Not a big music festival but a very good one that fills the bars and squares of this harbour town on the Pembrokeshire coast with a party atmosphere. Created by a group of local folk musicians, the Fishguard Folk Festival continues to grow in popularity. A variety of singing and instrumental acts go on show, and there are free teaching sessions and dance performances throughout the town. The programme includes concerts, ceilidhs, dance displays in costume, meet-the-artist events, instrument and voice workshops, busking sessions, informal music and song sessions and a real ale bar. The festival office and many events are based in the bar or garden of the Royal Oak Pub, scene of the surrender of the French forces after the failed last-ever invasion of Britain.

Prestigious is hardly the word for it – this world class festival is so highly regarded it has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize (in 2004). Each year the small town of Llangollen welcomes thousands of competitors and visitors from across the world to participate in and to enjoy a diverse mix of competitions, celebrating the best of world music and dance. There is everything in the competitive day sessions from barbershop choruses to choreographed folk dance to junior children's choirs. Then, in the evening, the Royal International Pavilion hosts some of the best known names in music.

Following the sell-out success of last year’s inaugural Elemis Polo at the Manor, this prestigious sporting event and social occasion will return to The Celtic Manor Resort, on Saturday 7 July 2012. Players and ponies from across the UK will compete in a day of professional, fast paced matches on a specially created polo field against the backdrop of the iconic Twenty Ten Ryder Cup course. Having attracted over 2,000 spectators in 2011 Polo at the Manor is set to be the social event of the season. As well as the on-field action and a variety of hospitality packages, guests can also enjoy a visit to the polo village, the delights of the champagne bar, a pampering treat on the Elemis SpaBus and fabulous live entertainment throughout the day. If that is not enough then extend the celebration at the Celtic Manor Resort after party.

Building on the reputation of Llangollen's International Musical Eisteddfod, a fringe festival began in 1997 – A Festival of World Music and the Arts. The fringe has grown in size and scope and now aims to give locals and visitors an insight into the origins, techniques and characteristics of artistic cultures from around the world. To this end the fringe assembles musical and performance talent from home and abroad to reflect the artistic output of different cultures through workshops and concerts. Performances and entertainment in previous years has included everything from Japanese drummers to Turkish belly dancing workshops.

This major shindig is nothing short of the biggest agricultural show in Europe. The sleepy market town on the banks of the River Wye is bursting with visitors during show week and the car parks around the permanent showground run a park-and-ride service to move the crowds. Livestock competitions are the big attraction and there are many categories including hunters, shires and agricultural heavy horses, beef and dairy cattle, sheep, sheep shearing and a whole host of other farming activities. There are also ample opportunities for shopping at the numerous trade stands, and plenty of family entertainment.