The August Bank Holiday weekend marks the end of the school summer holidays, and Wales has a wide range of events for all ages, from food festivals and beer events to medieval castle reenactments and superhero weekends.
Food and Drink Festivals
The Great British Food Festival returns to Margam Country Park from Friday, August 29, to Sunday, August 31, with three days of food, drinks, and entertainment across the estate.
Aberteifi Beerfest returns to Cardigan from Friday, August 28, to Sunday, August 30, featuring 19 independent Welsh breweries, 29 beers, and one specially made cider, across venues including Albion Aberteifi hotel, The Castle Inn pub, and the riverside wharf.
Castle and Outdoor Adventures
Raglan Castle hosts its Odyssey on August 30 and 31 with the Worcester Reenactors, while Beaumaris holds its Medieval Festival with demos and arrow-making workshops. Fonmon Castle in the Vale of Glamorgan hosts a superhero weekend with Spider-Man, Iron Man, Batman, and Wonder Woman, plus Jurassic Walks, a Medieval Farm, and adventure play areas.
Forage Farm near Cowbridge offers flower picking from August to late September, with dahlias, gladioli, and sunflowers, along with bug hunts and expert talks.
Music, Markets, and New Festivals
The Big Tribute Festival in Aberystwyth runs from Friday to Sunday with acts emulating Beyonce, Sam Fender, Ed Sheeran, and Stereophonics, with camping and day tickets available.
Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff hosts a summer day market on Sunday, August 30, with indie creators, merch, a flea market, DJs, and karaoke. A 90s and Y2k vintage fashion market takes place at Sport Wales in Sophia Gardens on Bank Holiday Monday.
The new FALLOW / Braenar festival, described as 'part feast, part field trip and part rural gathering', launches on Sunday, August 30, across three venues in the Tywi Valley, with workshops and direct buying from producers. It is a 'pay what you feel' event, with a separate charge for the FALLOW Feast.
Family Activities and Free Options
The Wales Coast Path app includes 7 Family Walks with a Difference, offering interactive digital experiences in Cardiff Bay. Lido Ponty in Ynysangharad Park has three heated pools (28C) open during the season, with free entry for kids under 16 (50p booking fee). Splashpads include Victoria Park in Cardiff, Blackpill Lido in Swansea, and Aberavon Aqua Splash in Port Talbot.
Ramble and Scramble walks offer child-friendly, self-led walks starting and finishing at railway stations in Burry Port, Llanelli, Pontarddulais, Fishguard, and Goodwick, with downloadable maps and activities. Accompanied children can travel free on Transport for Wales trains, and there's 2-for-1 entry at Cadw sites when travelling by train.
