In 2010, St David’s Day celebrations in Cardiff will not be limited to Monday 1 March but will feature a whole weekend of Welsh themed entertainment in the capital including landmark concerts, food celebrations, dancing and a celebratory parade.
The celebration of all things Welsh will begin with the 3rd Annual Really Welsh Food Festival in Queen Street on Friday 26 February (10am-6pm), Saturday 27 February (9am-6pm) and Sunday 28 February (9am-5pm), including the very best of Welsh producers.
Over at Cardiff Castle, to honour our patron saint, soldiers from the Royal Welsh Regiment will be changing the guard on the South Gate on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 February. Visitors to the Castle on Monday 1 March will receive a free tube of daffodil bulbs to commemorate the day (whilst stocks last).
On St David’s Day itself, the 7th National St David’s Day Parade will take place in the city supported by Cardiff Council and the National Assembly for Wales. The parade is an opportunity for those who live in Wales, regardless of age, ethnic or social background (as well as those who quite simply want to be Welsh!) to join a dignified and imaginative celebration of Welsh heritage and culture. Parade flags and groups wishing to join the parade must register in advance at [email protected].
To complement the parade, entertainment with a Welsh flavour will be performed from a bandstand in the city centre from 12 noon to 3pm and there will be free Welsh cakes courtesy of our friends at Brace’s Bakery.
From 6.30pm, Cardiff Central Library will provide more free entertainment and food. Look forward to music from Welsh 80s rock band Derec Brown a’r Racaracwyr and youth choir Côr Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal; performances from Welsh harpist Angharad Devonald; traditional Welsh folk dancing by Dawnswyr Caerdydd; and sample a free Welsh cake or two. You can also find out about Welsh culture and heritage, things to do in Cardiff and beyond, and information on learning Welsh at the Library.
St David’s Hall will stage its traditional St David’s Day concert at 7.30pm with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, BBC National Chorus of Wales and Youth Choruses conducted by Adrian Partington. Music will include Hoddinott’s Celebration Dances, Karl Jenkins’ Dewi Sant and a new commission by Gareth Glyn entitled Gwlad y Gan/Land of Song, featuring a medley of favourite Welsh melodies. Catrin Finch will also perform a harp concerto.
In Cardiff Bay, St David’s Day will be celebrated with the re-launching of the Grade One listed Pierhead building following extensive refurbishment. It has been transformed into a unique events and visitor centre, offering an insight into the building’s remarkable history through exhibitions and showcases, as well as complementing the work of the Assembly by providing a number of spaces for use by communities and the wider public.
Cardiff Council in conjunction with Principality Building Society, who are celebrating their 150th anniversary, will be dressing the streets with banners in key areas of the city centre from mid February in celebration of St David’s Day. Daffodil structures will also be displayed on lamp post columns in the city centre from Sunday 28 February.
Councillor Nigel Howells, Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture said: “Whether you like Welsh food, music or entertainment, with so much on offer in the capital city this year, there’s every reason to join in the hwyl and celebrate St David’s Day.”
