Eisteddfod says it with flowers at their Daffodil Festival

* Members of the Floral Committee after their bulb planting event in October.

The celebrated floral committee of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod are branching out in 2024 with their very own Daffodil Flower Festival. 

The events will be hosted at St Collen’s Church in Llangollen from April 5-7 and will feature an Evening Choral Concert with Lleisiau’r Afon Ladies Choir, conducted by Leigh Mason, renowned local soloist Clare Harrison, accompanied by Owen Roberts and a musical theatre performance from Shea Ferron. 

There will also be a special Songs of Praise concert led by popular Llangollen vicar Father Lee Taylor. 

The festival will raise money for the Llangollen Eisteddfod’s charity, which helps to attract hundreds of people from across the world to its annual peace festival. 

The event will also feature daffodil wave and floral displays, with daffodils of all shapes, sizes and material crafted by the community including local schools. 

These will displayed in the church and in St Collen’s Community Hall, which will be hosting stalls, workshops, refreshments, and a raffle on Saturday, April 6. 

Michelle Davies, Chair of the Floral Committee of the Llangollen Eisteddfod, said: “Our daffodil is a recognisable symbol of Wales and a beloved fixture of our gardens and countryside so why not hold a festival in honour of our favourite flower? 

"We have been busy preparing for this for months and our team have already planted hundreds of bulbs in the grounds of our beautiful 6th Century church. 

"We have two wonderful concerts planned, all in celebration of the national flower of Wales. All of the money raised will go towards the Llangollen Eisteddfod charity to help us continue welcoming the World to Wales.” 

The tradition of decorating the main stage at the International Eisteddfod with flowers began at the first festival in 1947 when a few blooms were placed in jam jars to hide the tent poles that held up the stage’s awning. Over the past 76 years, the tradition – and the quantities of flowers – has grown, with the displays as iconic as the festival itself.

Father Lee Taylor, the vicar in charge of St Collen's Church, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the Llangollen Eisteddfod’s floral committee’s celebration of the daffodil. The Eisteddfod is synonymous with flowers. 

"Each year, our town welcomes competitors from around the world to perform on a stage splendidly decked out in flowers. As well as a symbol of Wales, the daffodil symbolises new beginnings, so we’re delighted to host Llangollen’s first ever festival dedicated to the daffodil.”

* Tickets at £10 are available from Dee Valley Produce, Oak Street (cash only) and online at www.llangollen.net where a small booking fee applies.

Saturday April 6 at 10-4pm

Stalls, Refreshments and Prize Raffle at the adjacent St Collen’s Community Hall, Llangollen. Free Entry. 

Sunday April 7 at 4pm

Songs of Praise Concert at St Collen’s Church, Llangollen. Free entry.

Tickets on sale here - https://international-eisteddfod.co.uk/events/daffodil-festival/  *Use discount code LIVE24 to remove online booking fee.  Discount will be applied at check out.