A WEEK of family entertainment is in store as Caernarfon Festival gets into full swing.
Festival organising committee member Michael Lambert Jones was confident that the festival, which began with Gwyl Arall (Another Festival) over the weekend, would be a great success.
“The festival is important to the town as there are not many things here during the summer,” he said. “We try to offer a bit of everything - family entertainment for locals and visitors alike.”
The festival proper began with Queens’ Day at Caernarfon Castle. Fflur Dobson, 14, Anna Jones and Gwenno Roberts, 9, of Nefyn, won the Queen and Court prize. Fflur also scooped the Empress of Wales title. Senior Empress was Lisa Griffith,18, of Amlwch.
Gwyl Arall featured a cultural events including an evening with Howard Marks, a poetry session with poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy and Gillian Clarke and other cultural events at venues around the town.
Caernarfon residents believed that the festival would give the town a boost.
Huw Roberts said: “It brings people into the town and anything that does that is a good thing.”
Yvonne Parry said that she hoped to go to some of the events on the Maes.
“We need to do something like this in Caernarfon,” she said. “We need something to get people to come here.”
There will be music, stalls and children’s entertainment on the Maes until Saturday, July 31.
There will also be a Chinese Day tomorrow, featuring kite flying at Coed Helen at Coed Helen at 12.45 and a traditional lion dance on the Maes at 1.30pm.
Other events includes a tour of Caernarfon’s darker side on Wednesday called Hauntings and Hangings.
There will gigs at the Anglesey Arms throughout the week.
Traders also supported the festival . Eleri Gray Thomas, of Gray-Thomas gifts and gallery, said: “Perhaps more local people come to the town than normal, and it’s important to have something for them.”
Gwynedd Council Chairman Councillor Tudor Owen said that the Caernarfon Festival would not happen if not for the hard work done by volunteers.
He added: “I hope that people who visit will tell their friends about it and come back next year.
“We need to sell ourselves.”
For more information visit www.caernarfonfestival.co.uk.