On March 1st Cardiff Centre will be awash with Welsh flags, traditional dress, music and proud parades.
The annual National Saint David’s Day Parade will take the popular celebration through the heart of the city. Starting from the civic centre at 12.30, adjacent to City Hall, the parade will make its way past Boulevard De Nantes, along St Mary Street and will then go through Mill Lane and end at The Hayes.
The civilian parade has grown in colour and entertainment year by year and has featured marching bands, jumping stiltsters and folk dancing groups in traditional Welsh and Breton costumes.
The bells of St David, ‘St David’ himself and the massed flags of Wales and Saint David create an unforgettable spectacle.
Parade organisers, National St David’s Day parade are also calling on paraders to ‘dress to impress’ and for the first time are offering people the chance to win £100 for their chosen good cause. See the competition rules and conditions at www.stdavidsday.org
Along with the parade there are many other events planned to celebrate St David’s Day. 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).
From 6.30pm, on March 1st, 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 and much more.
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.
Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells, Said: “There are so many ways to celebrate St David in Cardiff, and I am delighted to see events are not just limited to March 1st.
“The annual parade continues to go from strength to strength and I would call on shoppers, visitors and all those in the city to take part in the lunchtime event. I would like also like to thank parade organisers, National St David’s parade and everyone who helps make the parade a success”
This year’s Arweinydd (Parade leader) David Petersen said “There’s a warm welcome for all to join the lunchtime parade or just cheer us on. We particularly look forward to community groups and schools registering to take part
“We’re very grateful for the tremendous support we’re getting once more from Cardiff City Council and from the National Assembly for Wales.We want to see this event grow and grow, so the world can see how proud we are of St. David and of Wales.”
