The castle fills with makers again
The rally leaves Aberystwyth on Sunday. Nine days later Cardigan Castle fills with clay, wool, wood and metal. Craft Festival Wales is back for three days, over a hundred selected makers in the grounds, talks in the tower, and a trail already running through shop windows in town.
Last year more than 4,000 people came through. The festival is the imported cousin of the long-running Devon event, now rooted at the castle and stitched into Cardigan via satellite shows. New this year is Aur / Gold at Canfas: Gold Medal winners from the National Eisteddfod’s Y Lle Celf, up until the festival’s last day.
What is on
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Fri–Sun
Makers in the castle, ceramics, textiles, glass, wood, metal, jewellery and print, chosen by an independent panel. StartUP stands for businesses less than two years old sit with the established names.
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Tower Room
Capital of Craft LIVE, talks, masterclasses and panels through the three days.
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Grounds
Workshops, demos, music, food. Children’s Craft Lab sessions are free and run with local partners including Cered Menter Iaith and the National Woollen Museum. Book workshops ahead.
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Already open
Town Craft Trail from early September: seven venues, seven makers. Collect stamps for a prize draw. Stops include Mwldan, The Albion by Fforest, Jake’s, Cardigan Bay Brownies, Crwst, Awen Teifi and Studio 3.
If you live in town
The castle grounds will be busy. High Street and the Quay will feel it. The trail means work is already in windows, you do not have to wait until the Friday gate opens to see some of it. Parking at the castle is not a plan; use the town parks and walk in.
This is not a junk-stall fair. Makers are selected. Prices match that. If you only want a potter’s second or a tea towel, say so at the stand, most people would rather sell than pack it home.