We’ve found the best events, festivals and things to do across the Brecon Beacons during May, so head outside and enjoy everything we have to offer!!
Crickhowell Music Festival-3rd-7th May
Crickhowell’ 24th Music Festival aims to promote refreshing performances of exiting repertoire amidst the beautiful scenery of the Usk Valley. The Festival takes you straight to the heart of the matter: that is: why does music mean so much to us? Find out the schedule here.
Mad Hatter’s Tea Parties at The Angel Hotel-5th-7th May
The Angel Hotels hugely popular Mad Hatter’s Tea Parties will be returning this year on Saturday 5th, Sunday 6th & Monday 7th May. We are excited to be teaming up with Alison Tod Couture Milliner once again to celebrate Lewis Carroll’s classic ‘Alice in Wonderland’. Our fabulous High Tea experience will be transformed through Alison Tod’s creations and Wonderland-themed paraphernalia into a magical event worthy of the Mad Hatter himself. You are invited to tumble down the rabbit hole with us and bring along your very own colourful hat, whether that’s something you already own or one of Alison’s exciting creations. Tickets cost £40 per person – this includes a glass of ‘Drink Me’ fizz on arrival as well as award-winning High Tea. To book please contact the Angel Hotel on 01873 857121 or email sales@angelabergavenny.com. More here.
Talgarth Walking Festival-4th-7th May
Talgarth ‘Walkers are Welcome Group’ is delighted to welcome you to Talgarth’s Sixth Walking Festival. The ancient market town of Talgarth is an ideal base for visitors wishing to explore the Brecon Beacons National Park on foot, particularly as it forms the “Gateway to the Black Mountains”. We offer visitors a taste of our town and the wonderful walking opportunities we have on our doorstep. We hope that you thoroughly enjoy your experience with us and return to our town in the near future. More here.
Medicines in May at the National Botanic Gardens of Wales-18th-20th May
Creative Commons Attribution: Carl Stringer. Echinacea plants in the Apothecary’s Garden
This special weekend event will reflect the positive effects medicinal plants have had on our lives. To celebrate the re-opening of the Apothecary’s Garden, the special weekend event will reflect the positive effects medicinal plants have had on our lives. Will nature have a role in our future well-being or will there be a pill for everything?
Expert gardeners will be on hand to show you how to grow your own healthy garden while walks, talks, trails and a bit of fun will help to reveal the secrets of our plant pharmacy. This event is part of the National Botanic Garden of Wales’ Growing the Future project. This project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
Brecon Craft Fair at Brecon Market Hall-19th May
The Brecon Craft Fair takes place in the town’s historic market hall and is held every third Saturday of the month between 9am and 4.30pm. Each and every month, up to around 60 traditional and independent craft workers and artists set up shop in the market hall, resulting in a truly unique collection of Welsh arts and crafts; from beautiful handmade soft furnishings to hand painted jewellery and locally crafted Faberge style eggs.
Not only will you be able to pick up a handful of goodies, you’ll also be able to talk to artists and craft workers themselves and find out just how much effort went into creating each and every item. You will be pleasantly surprised not only by the quality of the crafts on offer, but also by the fact that you can pick things up for the fraction of the price you’d find elsewhere.
Royal Welsh Spring Festival-19-20th May
The two-day festival, with its action-packed programme of entertainment, have-a-go educational activities, talks, workshops, displays and performances, offers the perfect family day out. With an expanded food and drink quarter, over 1,300 livestock and horses on display, a Smallholder Centre and Country Life area which features the only Premier Open Show held in Wales, the Royal Welsh Trail Running Festival, children's activities, Country pursuits and much more, the event has something for everyone whatever your interest or passion.
Once all the hustle and bustle of the day has died down a little, the food and drink quarter will burst into life with live music and performers along with an array of street food stalls and producers selling all manner of delicacies and delights. Why not join us for an enjoyable spring evening of music and food with friends
To make things even better for our visiting families, all children aged 16 and under have FREE entry. More here.
Discover a day in the life of the Tretower household – see the differences between now and then! 19- 20 May 2018
Times
10.30am - 4.30pm
Have you ever wondered what day-to-day life was like in the 15th Century, with questions such as “What sort of food did people eat?” and “How did they spend their time?” Well, now you can discover the answers! While away an hour or two with our friendly re-enactors, who will be in residence to give appropriate advice on all sorts of subjects – from dining etiquette to the best way of keeping your sword sharp and your bowstring dry!! More here.
NGS Open Gardens and Estate Fayre and Glanusk Estate-20th May
This a highlight in our calendar as we showcase exhibits for sale from artisans, makers, creators and businesses who live and work on the Estate and in the nearby area. In 2017 over 1000 people joined in for a glorious day in the private gardens which are only open once a year raising funds for the National Garden Scheme. 2018 will be the 5th anniversary of this charity event and we look forward to welcoming visitors old and new. During the day visitors will be welcome to wander through the gardens and speak to the Estate Gardener, listen to talks in the stretch tent, participate in demonstrations and enjoy a day mingling in the garden.
Tea, coffee and cake will be available from the family run tea tent and there will be delicious food and ice cream dotted around the garden and available throughout the day. Access will be via the main gates to the Estate on the A40. More here
Hay Festival-24th May-3rd June
The world's leading arts and literature event, Hay Festival is situated on the edge of the picturesque Brecon Beacons National Park in "the town of books" Hay on Wye. The festival gives you the opportunity to get creative, with speakers, music, food, comedy and much more! Speakers and performers this year include Margaret Atwood, Ian McEwan, Chelsea Clinton, Michael Woolf, Jake Bugg, Laura Mvula, David Walliams, Simon Schama, David Olusoga, Rose McGowan, Dara O'Briain and many more.
Gin Fever Weekend at The Abergavenny Hotel-25th-27th May
Gin Fever is back for 2018! Our first Gin festival was hugely popular last year...so we are super excited for Gin Fever 2018! As well as bringing back a couple of the most popular gins from last year's event, we also have some fantastic new gins for you to try...watch this space for regular updates on these and other fabulous elements we are bringing to you for Gin Fever 2018! There will be live music from 'The Wee Small Hours'. Come and join us for a celebration of Gin & Gin cocktails on 25th, 26th and 27th May...order your favourite or try something new! We look forward to seeing you there! More here.
HowTheLightGetsIn Festival-25th-28th May
On the banks of the idyllic River Wye, you'll find the festival where the world's leading thinkers come together to debate the most cutting edge ideas of our time. HowTheLightGetsIn, the world's largest philosophy and music festival, returns to Hay for the Bank Holiday weekend of May 2018.
Confirmed speakers include political theorist Noam Chomsky, physicist Lawrence Krauss, Diane Abbott and former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. All of this alongside an electrifying programme of music, comedy, culture and performance.
Urdd Eisteddfod at Royal Welsh Showground-28th May-2nd June
The 2018 Brecon and Radnorshire Urdd National Eisteddfod will be held on the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells from 28th May to 2 June 2018. It is one of Europe’s largest youth touring festivals with over 15,000 children and young people competing in various competitions such as singing, dancing and performing. They are the elite few from around 40,000 competitors across Wales who have won their place following local and regional rounds held in the spring months leading up to the Eisteddfod. The 1,800 seater Pavilion is the home of the competitions and is very much the hub of the Eisteddfod. Surrounding the Pavilion, on the ‘Maes’, you will find hundreds of colourful stalls offering a range of activities for all the family - from biking, climbing and sport sessions to a fun fair, live bands and children’s shows with some well known TV characters. More here.
Vulgar Earth Exhibition at Theatr Brycheiniog-1st-20th May
A not for profit artist’s collective who believe in promoting awareness and discussion of contemporary Social, Political and Environmental issues. Through producing engaging, emotive and stimulating art exhibitions and events, the group take a thought provoking and emotionally charged look at the beauty and vulgarity of human relationships with the natural world and our current disassociation from it. Each member is an independent artist who adds their voice and vision to a collective message for change. More here.
Foraging for Pizza-31st May
11:00am - 2:00pm
£40 per ticket - ticket includes 1 adult and 2 children
Forage for your Pizza! Spend a wonderful day with your family in the wildly beautiful landscape of the Brecon Beacons, at Ty Mawr Kitchen Garden. First, we'll search the woods to gather the fuel for the pizza ovens. The ovens will take a couple of hours to get hot enough to cook in, which is exactly enough time to make the dough and sauce, as well as foraging from the wild and cultivated ingredients available in the surrounding meadows and gardens. Then we'll cook the pizzas and share them for lunch! Open to children of all ages and their families, we ask that one adult accompanies two children.
To find out more or for new upcoming classes call Rae on 07949 396589 or email rae.gervis@lime.org.uk for more details. Find out more here.
Summer Grills On The Terrace at Gliffaes Hotel-27th and 28th May
We have a passion for outdoor dining and BBQs at Gliffaes because our spectacular situation and sunny terrace lends itself so well to lunch outside (it could also have something to with the fact that I grew up in South Africa, home of the “braai”). We have been offering our terrace BBQs for a number of years and 2018 will be no different.
Dates for 2018.
Sunday 27th and Monday 28th May – Late May bank holiday
and
Sunday 26th and Monday 27th August – August bank holiday
What will be on the menu?
We will likely have delicious slow cooked Breconshire pork with caramelised apples and crackling or a mouth-watering shoulder of Welsh lamb, chicken or venison skewers, grilled vegetables and grilled fish as well. These will be offered with a selection of salads, potatoes and homemade bread. After that there will be a selection of puddings and Welsh cheeses to help finish off that bottle of red.
Unlike previous years we will not be setting up two large tables for everyone to sit together on but will be setting up tables outside depending on the size of your party. However, parties of two will probably have to share tables. The idea is to gather as many of your friends as possible and make a long slow afternoon of it. We ask that you arrive around 12.30 in order that we can start serving lunch at 1pm.
We have kept the cost as the same as last year; £35 for adults and £12 for children under 12. If you would like to make a booking please call us on 01874 730 371 or send us an email via our contact form. All we need now is an end to all this rain and for the sun to come out! More here.
Talgarth ‘Walkers are Welcome Group’ is delighted to welcome you to Talgarth’s Sixth Walking Festival. The ancient market town of Talgarth is an ideal base for visitors wishing to explore the Brecon Beacons National Park on foot, particularly as it forms the “Gateway to the Black Mountains”. We offer visitors a taste of our town and the wonderful walking opportunities we have on our doorstep. We hope that you thoroughly enjoy your experience with us and return to our town in the near future. More here.
largest youth touring festivals with over 15,000 children and young people competing in various competitions such as singing, dancing and performing. They are the elite few from around 40,000 competitors across Wales who have won their place following local and regional rounds held in the spring months leading up to the Eisteddfod. The 1,800 seater Pavilion is the home of the competitions and is very much the hub of the Eisteddfod. Surrounding the Pavilion, on the ‘Maes’, you will find hundreds of colourful stalls offering a range of activities for all the family - from biking, climbing and sport sessions to a fun fair, live bands and children’s shows with some well known TV characters. More 
A not for profit artist’s collective who believe in promoting awareness and discussion of contemporary Social, Political and Environmental issues. Through producing engaging, emotive and stimulating art exhibitions and events, the group take a thought provoking and emotionally charged look at the beauty and vulgarity of human relationships with the natural world and our current disassociation from it. Each member is an independent artist who adds their voice and vision to a collective message for change. More 
