* All pictures by Mandy Jones
The spectacular pageant of the Parade of Nations has made its long-awaited return to the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
The colourful cavalcade, sponsored by Everbright, included competitors from 19 countries on five different continents who were given a joyous welcome by delighted spectators who lined the streets in the picturesque town where Wales meets the world.
It was the first time parade has
been held since 2019 with Covid taking its toll on the event for three years before this its triumphant
return.
Nisha Guy, from Trinidad and
Tobago, a cultural ambassador with the Soul Oasis group among a party of 40
from the West Indian islands.
She said: “I’ve just been blown
away by the music and dance performances – everyone just really giving their
all.
“It’s just been great to have some
normalcy brought back to our lives after Covid and it’s been so emotional and
so lovely as well, backstage and in the audience as well.
“The Parade is something special
and I was singing as part of that and in the town square as well.”
Kiki Dari has been bringing groups
of competitors from Djakarta, in Indonesia, for over 20 years and this year is
with Labschool Kebayoran and she said: “I feel like Llangollen is my second
home and I have missed it .
“I even came here two weeks before
the festival to make sure everything was fine and it’s so nice to be back and
be part of it all, especially the Parade.
“We have some traditional dancers
with us and they have performed as part of the parade today.
“I hope to come many more times in
future. I enjoy so much bringing Indonesian people here.”
Gurnoor Kaur, a young dancer from
the Punjab, in India, was here for the first time in 2019, the last time the
Eisteddfod was held as a full event and she said: “There have been lots of
changes from last time but it is such an amazing event.
“It’s just such a great experience
and so amazing, even the weather, and the people are so caring, respectful and
show lots of love. They have really made us feel at home.
“It’s great to get to know about
other cultures and other nations. That’s what makes Llangollen so special – I’d
love to come again.”
It was a special moment for the
Eisteddfod’s mastermind, Executive Producer Camilla King, who took over last
year and hadn’t see it make its colourful way down Abbey Road from the
International Pavilion to the town and back again in a kaleidoscopic river of
colour.
She said: “It’s been fantastic and
the Parade has been wonderful. It’s the first time it has been held since 2019
and the first time I’ve seen and experienced it and it has just been
spectacular.
“Having no restrictions to worry
about is absolutely wonderful and we’ve had lots of competitors from all over
the world taking part, from the West Indies to the East Indies with groups from
Trinidad and Tobago to Indonesia.
“We were a bit worried after Covid
whether people would come back to the Eisteddfod, particularly from overseas
but the response has been magnificent and seeing so many happy faces with
people having fun is what the Eisteddfod is all about.
“Events like ours need support and
so it’s been wonderful to see so many people along the route because Llangollen
is unique. We have a wonderful message of peace and friendship.
“You see things here you won’t see
anywhere else, meeting people you wouldn’t meet anywhere else and I’m very
proud of that and most of the work is done to make all this happen is done by
our volunteers who are phenomenal.”
Among those volunteers are Bill
Kong and his wife, Solana, who have settled in the town after Bill first
visited the Eisteddfod in 2013 and started volunteering two years later even
though he had to fly 6,000 miles to do it.
He has now been here three years
and is delighted to see the Eisteddfod back and he said: “I love the people
here, the hwyl, the friendliness, the music and the countryside.
“The Parade is back now and that
was really important because it really seals the whole connection between the
festival and the town and that’s really important.
“It’s been going 76 years now and that not something to be taken lightly.”
* For more on Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and its competitions and concerts as well as how to get to it and where to stay go to http://international-eisteddfod.co.uk/ or check out https://www.facebook.com/llangollen
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