Summer fete is bustling and busy despite the rain

* The circus skills workshop in full swing.

Despite the patchy weather, today's Llangollen Summer Fete appeared to be one of the best attended in years.

A major focus this year has been widening community involvement across all age groups and this saw a significant contribution from students and young adults at Ysgol Dinas Brân, who helped rebrand the event with a more lively and relevant image. 

Older students from the Sixth Form worked on the branding and social media through March and April, taking time away from the start of May for their exams. 

A popular new feature for 2026 was The Adventure Zone, developed with support from TNR Outdoors, which included climbing, archery and axe throwing.

Following feedback from local residents, organisers significantly expanded the number of stalls, with a much broader range of crafts, activities, food, gifts and local businesses represented.

Visitors were also able to enjoy reduced-price access to Plas Newydd Historic House and Gardens.

The popular Circus Arts School workshop returned and proved a big hit with the children.

Entertainment included performances by Llangollen Silver Band, a number of teenage bands and Llangollen Pantomime Group who trailed their forthcoming 2027 production of Sleeping Beauty by singing a selection of numbers from previous shows.

Details of the entertainment schedule, raffle prizes, talks, workshops and activities were all available on the new fete map.

The programme around The Caban featured wine tasting sessions and wellness talks and walks.

Special thanks were given to Linguassist for their generous support, which helped the fete introduce marquees -  a real asset on a day of intermittent rain showers.

* The town's new Mayor, Damon Richards-Gwilliam, and Deputy Mayor, Charlie Jones, officially open the fete.

* Some opening music comes from Llangollen silver Band.

* Plenty of artwork on display at this stall.

* The Deputy Mayor sings with her backing band.

* North Wales Fire & Rescue Service had an engine on display.

* ... which prompted young Eleanor to take the controls.

* A slimy offering on the Ysgol Y Gwernant stall.

* Llangollen Food Share had a busy time offering their tasty treats.

* Anna of Anna's Cafe offered a selection of delicious delights.

* Karen's Dance Classes pupils go through their paces.

* The Gamelin Band take the stage.

* A selection of songs comes from Llangollen Pantomime Group.

* The fete stayed busy throughout the afternoon despite the regular rain showers.

* The climbing wall was one of the afternoon's big hits.

Hundreds come steaming into Pavilion's garden railway festival

Hundreds of enthusiasts from all parts of the UK came steaming into one of the UK's biggest garden railway festivals which returned to Llangollen Pavilion today (Saturday).

They were able to enjoy some of the finest large-scale model railway layouts in the country along with displays by more than 50 leading retailers and traders packing into the spacious venue. 

Since being launched by Llangollen-based enthusiast Keith Potts in 2021 the event has grown rapidly to become one of the premier events in the garden railway calendar, attracting visitors from Britain and beyond.

 

A major new attraction for 2026 is a partnership with the Llangollen and Corwen Railway, which sees visitors being encouraged to enjoy both attractions during the weekend. As part of the collaboration, festival-goers will receive £3 off travel on the heritage railway on June 6 and 7, while a number of joint activities are planned.

 

Keith Potts said: "Our Garden Railway Festival continues to grow in popularity, and we're having a very busy day so far with the usual high level of interest in all our exhibits."

The festival will be open until 4.30pm today. Tickets are £14, with accompanied children admitted free of charge. 

Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir to sing at railway's classic transport event

* Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir will sing at the railway's Classic Transport Weekend.

Llangollen and Corwen Railway has announced a major boost for its Classic Transport Weekend, with the internationally acclaimed and award-winning Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir set to headline their spectacular “Party in the Park” concert on Saturday, July 4. 

The event will take place in a field right next to Glyndyfrdwy Station in the heart of the Dee Valley, promising an unforgettable evening of music, celebration and community spirit as part of one of North Wales’ biggest heritage events of the summer.

 

The concert starts at 6pm and will be free for all Classic Transport Weekend ticket holders, while stand-alone tickets for the concert are available for just £5. Shuttle train services will operate from both Llangollen and Corwen to allow visitors to travel to and from the event in style.

 

The performance will come exactly one year after the choir famously serenaded Nicoletta Mantovani, wife of the late Luciano Pavarotti, on Llangollen Railway while travelling from Corwen to Llangollen, creating a magical moment that captured international attention. It also takes place just days before the opening of the 2026 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod - the festival the choir was originally formed to support back in 1947.

 

Founded specifically for the International Eisteddfod, the Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir has gone on to become one of Wales’ most celebrated choirs, selling hundreds of thousands of albums worldwide and earning international acclaim for their breathtaking performances, rich harmonies and passionate delivery.

 

Their breakthrough album, Voices of the Valley, became a chart sensation and one of the fastest-selling classical albums in the UK, helping introduce Welsh male voice choir music to a global audience. The choir has since released a string of successful albums and has performed at prestigious venues and events across the UK and internationally.

 

The choir’s story is also forever linked with Luciano Pavarotti himself. In 1955, members of Pavarotti’s father’s choir stayed with families in Froncysyllte while competing at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod - an experience widely credited with inspiring the young Pavarotti’s lifelong love of singing.

 

Simon Atkinson from the Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir said: “We are absolutely delighted to be performing at such a unique and exciting event. The setting at Glyndyfrdwy is truly spectacular and we know it is going to create a very special atmosphere for both the choir and the audience.

 

“This concert feels particularly meaningful for us as it comes exactly one year after our unforgettable performance for Nicoletta Mantovani on the railway and only days before the 2026 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod begins. As a choir formed in 1947 for the Eisteddfod itself, there is something wonderfully fitting about helping to start the celebrations ahead of another incredible summer for music and culture in the Dee Valley. We are looking forward to performing for railway supporters, music lovers and visitors from across the region at what promises to be a fantastic evening.”

 

Tim Hines from the Llangollen and Corwen Railway said: “We are absolutely delighted that the incredible Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir will be headlining our Party in the Park celebration. This is fantastic news for the railway and for everyone attending the Classic Transport Weekend. 

"The setting at Glyndyfrdwy is simply spectacular and having a choir of this quality perform there in a field right next to the station will create something truly magical. We wanted this year’s event to be bigger and better than ever before, and this announcement certainly delivers that.

 

“The fact the concert is included free for all Classic Transport Weekend ticket holders makes it even more special and adds incredible value to what is already shaping up to be one of the biggest heritage events in North Wales this summer. We expect huge interest from visitors across the region and beyond.”

 

The Classic Transport Weekend takes place on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July 2026 and will once again transform Glyndyfrdwy into a celebration of transport heritage featuring classic cars, motorcycles, buses, tractors, trucks and trains.

 

Visitors will also be able to enjoy an intensive timetable of steam, diesel and heritage railcar services throughout the weekend, with unlimited travel available through Day Rover and Two-Day Rover tickets. A free vintage bus service for ticket holders will operate between Glyndyfrdwy and Corwen across both days, helping visitors explore the Dee Valley and enjoy displays at multiple locations.

 

Weekend ticket prices are:

 

Adults

• 1 Day: £36

• 2 Days: £65

 

Children

• 1 Day: £6

• 2 Days: £10

 

Dogs: £3

 

What’s included:

 

• Intensive gala timetable with frequent services between Llangollen, Glyndyfrdwy and Corwen

• A mix of locomotives and rolling stock movements all day

• Massive displays of classic vehicles at Glyndyfrdwy

• FREE vintage bus services for ticket holders

• Party in the Park on Saturday evening

• Shuttle train services to Llangollen and Corwen

• FREE entry to the Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir concert for all event ticket holders

 

Tickets, including standalone tickets for the Fron Choir can be bought from https://llan.hops.org.uk/tickets/special-events-in-2026/classic-transport-weekend

 

 

Future of Ponderosa Café to be decided in weeks, says story

* Ponderosa Café on the Horseshoe Pass (Picture: St David's Commercial)

The future of the once-popular Ponderosa Café on the Horseshoe Pass looks set to be decided in the coming weeks, according to a story in the Denbighshire Free Press.

* For the full story, go to: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/26170015.llangollen---next-ponderosa-cafe/

Healing Prayer drop-in at Penllyn Chapel

 

International flags being fixed on the bridge ahead of Eisteddfod

The annual ritual of installing the flags of the world on the bridge in time for the Eisteddfod has been taking place this morning.

As usual, a team of workmen using a cherry-picker were undertaking the task which is always a sign that the big international festival - this year will be its 79th - is not far off.

Dory Gallery's two special summer events unveiled

* The poster for Dory Gallery's first-ever summer fair on June 20.

Llangollen's Dory Gallery has two special events planned for this summer.

The first is its first-ever summer fair on Saturday June 20 and features both local and visiting artists and makers.

Gallery owner Suzanne Mathieson said: "We will be having our tea, coffee and cake room to sit and relax once you have been around  to visit our 18 makers.

"Our second event is an exhibition which runs throughout July, August and September. It is entitled Between Moss and Myth, is about local myths and legends and the Dee Valley landscape and it shows how they connect to each other. 

"Because of what is going on in the world at the moment we have deliberately chosen myths that are not about war and fighting and concentrate on the more gentle ones.

"We have clay and illustration, photography and weaving, collage and textiles, wood carving and more.

"We also have poetry and story-telling, a harpist and music and a fascinating talk on the medicinal properties of moss from Zoe, the owner of the new Medicine Garden Shop in Bridge Street.

"All in all it's a cultural and historical experience for our community, with a lot of people giving their time, money and effort to show off our town and heritage. 

"We are coordinating with Llangollen Museum to make sure we are factual and we have retired film production members helping us dress the whole gallery.

"Even though this will be a more condensed version of the exhibition than we had planned I can promise the love and enthusiasm of all involved will shine through and it will be an interesting informative exhibition that will keep our legends alive."