Gŵyl Cefni is a Welsh language family festival held in Llangefni town centre. Its town centre location ensures that anyone can attend the festival to get a taste of the rich culture of Wales and to enjoy a varied programme. The week of celebration involves a series of entertainment evenings and culminates in the highlight of the festival on the Saturday when hundreds of the people from all over the island come together for a family entertainment show followed by live music and entertainment throughout the remainder of the afternoon.
We put great emphasis on ensuring that it is a festival for all the family, with a programme that appeals to all ages. Partners are also key to the festival’s success, including businesses and other groups in the town of Llangefni. We aim to demonstrate that the Welsh language also has economic value as businesses are able to promote themselves and use the Welsh language and identity in their promotions. The festival also gives young, local bands the opportunity to perform and to gain from the experience of appearing in front of a live audience.
The festival has been able to attract popular children’s TV characters every year and the presenters of programmes on Cyw and S4C. Over the years many of Wales’s top performers have appeared on the Gŵyl Cefni stage, including H a’r Band, Bryn Fôn, Meic Stevens, Kizzy Crawford, and popular bands such as Sŵnami, Candelas and Band Pres Llareggub. The festivities also include clog dancing and theatre and composing workshops. Comedy evenings, book launches and sports matches have also featured in the week’s programme.
Gŵyl Cefni also works closely with schools and youth groups in the area to provide workshops in the arts in the lead-up to the festival. As a result of these workshops, works and compositions by local young people are performed and exhibited on the main stage during the festival. This work has included a song-writing workshop with the band Bandana, taster sessions for traditional songs on the harp with Gwenan Gibbard, workshops with beat-boxer Mr Phormula and country singer Gwyneth Glyn and the creation of an original artwork with Oriel Odl. It’s a very busy week!
Come and join us next June!
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