With only a couple of days to go until this year’s Gŵyl Fach y Fro, the organisers are very much looking forward to staging a Welsh music festival to celebrate Welsh arts and culture and raise the profile of the Welsh language in the Vale. This annual Welsh festival was established by Menter Bro Morgannwg in 2015, and with continued support from Welsh Government, Wales Arts Council, Mentrau Iaith Cymru and the Vale of Glamorgan Council, this annual family-friendly festival will once again return to Barry Island this Saturday, June 15th.

Performing at Gŵyl Fach y Fro 2019 are Meic Stevens and Band, The Gentle Good, Chroma, Bwncath, Bronwen Lewis, Hana2K, The Welsh Ukulele Orchestra and local artists Canfas (Anni and Begw from Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg) and Dagrau Tân (a band consisting of pupils from Ysgol Sant Barud). The festival will open with a show by S4C’s Cyw for the little ones, on the Main Stage at 11am!

A new addition to this year’s Gŵyl Fach y Fro is Glanfa Gwynfor – a Community Stage – which has been named by Year 6 pupils from Ysgol Sant Curig, as a tribute to the local and national hero, Gwynfor Evans. This stage will be officially opened with a presentation by Sant Curig pupils at 11.30am. Hundreds of children, young poeple and adults will take to the stage to take part throughout the day, with performances by local school children, Cylchoedd Meithrin and community choirs.

As well as the varied musical line-up, there will be lots of other entertainment for people of all ages, with a play area, craft stalls selling local Welsh produce, creative workshops with local artists Michael Goode and Haf Weighton, a pop-up poetry workshop with Gruffudd Owen, a welly walk on the beach, hula hoop workshops, street theatre, a portrait pod with Criw Celf and various activities organised by Welsh language partners in the Vale.

The festival also has a food & drink area – the bar will be run by Vintage Points Events, and will selling a variety of local beers, ciders and spirits, and food will be served by Grazing Shed, The Teifi Toastie, The Queen Pepiada, Puckin Poutine, Handlebar Barista and Fablas.

An important element of Gŵyl Fach y Fro is the fact that entry is free, in this unique, public and popular location on Barry Island, which makes the event completely accessible to all; Welsh speakers, Welsh learners, or those who wish to experience the Welsh language and its culture for the first time. The event starts at 11am and will go on until 7pm.

Visitors can view the programme in full as well as receive the latest news about Gŵyl Fach y Fro from the festival’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, as well as Menter Bro Morgannwg’s website www.menterbromorgannwg.cymru