The organisers of a unique festival held in the Ceredigion countryside are setting up a permanent national celebration to mark the contribution of the quirks to Welsh life.
At the third annual Festival of Quirks and Crafts at Ponrhydfendigaid next Saturday (14 May) it will be announced that the Board of the refurbished village pavilion (Pafiliwn Bont or the National Pavilion of Wales – built to stage the village annual eisteddfod and one of the largest public events venues in Mid Wales) will dedicate a wall within the building as a permanent celebration of the quirks unique contribution to Welsh life.
The National Wall of Fame will contain a list of the winners of the main competitions at the Festival which has a range of activities including ridging, digging a hole and hitting a nail.
The wall will also, in a national context, honour individuals, groups or organisations for quirky contributions to the life of Wales – people and organisations renowned for making a unique and unusual achievement or contribution, and new additional names will be added to the wall annually
The public will be able to nominate suitable candidates for inclusion on the wall by submitting their own suggestions on special cards available at various events at Pafiliwn Bont or on the website.
Selwyn Jones, Chairman of the Festival Committee said the concept of the wall is a natural development for the successful Festival now established as the only one of its type throughout the world.
“The event has grownover the past three years and its appeal reaches a wider audience as new competitions are being introduced.
“The Wall of Fame, with its role in honouring individuals or groups for unique quirky contribution to Wales will put Bont and the Festival on the map and the wall as it evolves over the years could grow into a national attraction.
The Quirk and Craft Festival will be staged at Pafiliwn Bont next Saturday (14 May) from 13.00 – 18.00. Admission is £3.
The programme this year includes a competition to dig the best hole without mechanical assistance in 45 minutes. The judges will award the best hole on the basis of both depth and quality. Hole digging competitions are popular in Japan and attract large crowds.
Another popular attraction is the ridging event and this year S4C TV Gardening presenter Russell Jones will be inaugurated as President of the Ridging Society.
“We aim to celebrate country life in an interesting and quirky way and to feature some of the rural traditions of the past”, said Selwyn Jones.
