Events and festivals in Wales during August

02 December 2022 - 02 September 2023. His Dark Materials – World Building in Wales exhibition takes place in Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea. See Visual Effects footage, props, costumes, concept art and more from across all three seasons. Entry is free.

18 March - 03 November 2023. Take part in the Tagged Fish Competition at Llyn Brenig, Conwy. From 18 March, Llyn Brenig fish farmers floy-tag ten fish a week and introduce them into the weekly restock distributed across the lake. The more tags you collect as you fish at Llyn Brenig in the competition timeframe, the better the odds of winning in the prize draw! There's a chance to win £1,000 cash or a full or half season ticket.

Dates throughout the year. Step into the future of broadcasting at BBC’s newest and most advanced studios at Central Square, Cardiff. Join friendly guides for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the state-of-the-art television and radio studios. BBC Cymru Wales has received a coveted Visit Wales gold award for the quality of its tours and a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award. These guided tours are available in Welsh, English and BSL. Book your tickets for a BBC Tour.

13 May - 12 November 2023. Shaping Wales: Bell and Armistead curator’s exhibition takes place in the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea, West Wales. The exhibition celebrates the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery’s first two full-time curators and features a number of works by artists including Sir Kyffin Williams, J D Innes and Evan Walters.

14 May 2023 – 28 January 2024. The White Book of Llareggub exhibition takes place in The Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea. Celebrating the 70th anniversary of the first full stage production of Under Milk Wood in New York.

24 June - 06 September 2023. For the Love of Laura Ashley exhibition takes place in MOMA Machynlleth, Mid Wales, preserving the legacy of the famous Mid Wales-based fashion designer whose name became a global brand. 

22 July - 02 September 2023. There's lots of fun at Manorafon Farm Park Abergele, North Wales during the summer holidays. There's beach fun with Summer Fest, with foam parties, sand play, music, and Griff the Goat entertainment Club. Dinosaur Adventure with life-like moving dinosaurs, big dig tent, magic show, T-Rex encounter, explorer trail, build-a-dinosaur and more.

22 July - 03 September 2023. Steeped in 700 years of history and nestled in the atmospheric Welsh Marches, Chirk Castle is a magnificent 13th Century Medieval fortress that later became a family home for over 400 years. With far-reaching views over the Cheshire and Shropshire plains, 480 acres of working farmland and 4.5 acres of award-winning gardens, Chirk’s estate makes for a stunning backdrop to the perfect summer adventure. Get ready to jump, climb, run and skip through bales, because this year the centrepiece of Chirk Castle’s Summer of Play, sponsored by Starling Bank, is a huge Adventure Straw Castle. Within the straw fortress lies four unique play turrets where you can discover different ways to play, be active, engage your senses and have fun. Get close to nature as you build dens and try your balance along an obstacle course, then use your imagination to transport yourself back to Medieval Chirk through costume and roleplay. On selected dates fencing and archery will also be available. Normal admission prices apply and there will be an additional charge for the archery of £1 per participant.

22 July to 3 September 2023. Join us at Erddig, near Wrexham, for a Summer of Play for the whole family, sponsored by Starling Bank. Events include craft lessons, artist hosted Fine Art sessions on the lawn, Seed Sowing Sundays and Jake's magical storytelling sessions. Don’t forget to pop into the natural play area Wolf’s Den during your visit or explore the active stations - whether it’s weaving wheelbarrows on the West Front, teaming up in relay, or racing around the Timber Yard on tricycles, there’s something for all ages, every day, come rain or shine. Dates and more information is available on Erddig's events webpage.

Week 2 – 31 July – 06 August 2023. fforest Gather is a new kind of holiday. It's Wales’ smallest festival, with only 300 tickets per week. It’s a family friendly holiday of adventures in nature, music, culture, creativity, making, growing and simple pleasures. Stay in unique permanent accommodation plus camping, if you wish. Week 1 takes place from 24 – 30 July 2023.

Various dates August 2023.  There's loads of events at Cadw sites across the month, including Juggling Jim at Kidwelly Castle (01 and 02 August), The Defence of Blaenavon, World War 2, Blaenavon Ironworks (05 and 06 August) and Tripping in Time at Tretower Court and Castle (05 and 06 August).

There's Stories and Songs for Learners of the Welsh Language at Harlech Castle (17 and 18 August), Ferrets and Falcons at Rhuddlan Castle (20 August), August bank holiday medieval fun at Denbigh Castle (27 and 28 August) and a Castle Scavenger Hunt! at Castell Coch (26 - 28 August) and many other events.

01 - 31 August 2023. There's plenty going on in Mid Wales throughout the month, including Talyllyn Railway Sunset Steam Special (Every Wednesday and Sunday in August), Bala Lake Railway's Barbeque Specials (03, 10 and 17 August) and Cardigan Bay Regatta (23 - 25 August). 

See Visit Mid Wales for more events.

Accompanied children can now travel free on all Transport for Wales trains, plus there's 2 for 1 entry at Cadw sites when you travel there by train.

Enjoy a Ramble and Scramble, child friendly self led walks. The walks start and finish at Burry Port, Llanelli, Pontarddulais and Fishguard and Goodwick railway stations. There's a map to download available in Welsh and English, plus activities to do for each walk.

01 August - 01September 2023. Oakwood Theme Park reopens Megafobia! Offering thrills beyond fear with this iconic wooden rollercoaster! With steeper first drop and new features it’s sure to be a thrilling ride this summer. Plus, all calendared events are included in entry tickets.

03 - 06 August 2023. The Green Gathering has the tagline, 'a festival beyond hedonism, powered by wind, sun, people and passion'. This four-day low-impact-living event held is in Chepstow. It has intimate solar-powered stages that showcase up-and-coming acts, legendary favourites, DJs, poets, activists and spellbinding raconteurs, not to mention lots of other things to whet your Earth-friendly whistle.

05 August 2023. Take a Fish Farm Tour at Llyn Brenig. Meet the fish farmers and learn about the different phases of fish growth and what is involved in maintaining our stock of rainbow and brown trout. Tours are available every first Saturday of the month from 06 May through to 02 September.

05 – 12 August 2023. The National Eisteddfod takes place in Boduan, Gwynedd. It’s a celebration of culture and language, with all welcome.

05 and 19 August 2023. Watch Rugby at Principality Stadium with Wales v England on 05 August and Wales v South Africa on 19 August.

06 - 20 August 2023.The Brecon Jazz Festival celebrates its 40th unbroken year the festival is celebrating Brecon Jazz @ 40. Events include the annual Brecon Show on 5 August, a Family Jazz and Dance Day at the Watton Showground on 6 August, with children’s workshops (art and craft, samba, dance), food, drinks, and music.

The main weekend of events takes place on 11 - 13 August and features some of the leading names of the UK and Welsh jazz scene plus international jazz artists and the ‘Frazz’ Carnival Parade. Weekend three, 19 and 20 August, features performances from jazz pianist and composer  Zoe Rahman. There's plenty of music to enjoy at the fringe festival too, with  with live music on the streets and in the pubs and cafes of Brecon. 

09 August 2023. Enjoy Animal Encounters, at Llancaiach Fawr and meet and learn about a range of animals including meerkats and bearcats.

09 and 10 August 2023. Enjoy outdoor theatre in a wonderful setting in Swansea. Oystermouth Castle hosts Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night on 09 August and young members of the family can enjoy the Beatrix Potter classic The Tale of Peter Rabbit on 10 August.

10 - 12 August 2023. The Welsh National Sheepdog Trial 2023 takes place at Llysfasi College, Ruthin, with up to 150 dogs and their handlers competing for 15 spaces in the Welsh team going forward to the International Sheepdog Trial in September. There's trade stands, food vendors and an ice cream van too.

11 - 13 August 2023. The 6th Llangwm Literary Festival takes place in this beautiful village in Pembrokeshire. There will be creative writing, art workshops for children and adults and a variety of themes, including the Ballads of the Rugby Club.

12 August 2023. Enjoy local Welsh cheese and much more at Narberth Cheese Festival, taking place in  the Queens Hall Narberth. There's a range of hot and cold food, with preserves, olives, pickles, plus drinks including sprits, beer, wine and cider. There's pottery and gifts too.

13 August 2023. Have a fun bike ride, with the Summer Cider Ride, in the beautiful mid Wales countryside, choosing a distance of between 14 and 25 miles. Sample some cider and enjoy live music in the evening. It's one of the many Green events taking place in and near to Llanwrtyd Wells throughout the year.

15 - 16 August 2023. The Anglesey County Show is back with all things rural plus food, crafts and family fun, including a fairground, face painting and magicians.

16 - 17 August 2023. The Pembrokeshire County Show is the biggest county show in Wales. It's also one of the very best of its kind in Britain, whether your interest is cars, food, clothes or animals. There are livestock, equine and show jumping contests, trade stands, food halls, a fairground and much more.

16 and 30 August 2023. RSPB Lake Vyrnwy in Llanwddyn, Powys is great for a day out. There are also a range of events taking place throughout the year. There's a Free Blanket Bog Safari on 16 August. This 4x4 safari is family friendly activity, guided by the RSPB Lake Vyrnwy team. Learn about the flora and fauna and how we're managing the landscape for the benefit of people and nature. Join the RSPB for a demonstration of our new virtual fencing technology, with a NoFence Virtual Fence Grazing Demonstration on 30 August. 
We will share what we have learned whilst trialling the system and see the collars in action on our Welsh black cattle. Email sam.sharpe@rspb.org.uk to book either event.

17 – 20 August 2023. Green Man Festival is always a whole heap of fun. It's a wonderful family friendly affair that takes place on the Glanusk Estate, in the beautiful Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park. The non-music entertainment includes comedy, talks, relaxation zones, food areas, exploration gardens – is arguably just as good as the stuff you can dance along to.

18 - 20 August 2023. Enjoy Open-Air Cinema at Margam Park, Port Talbot. There's a choice of Elvis (18 August), Dirty Dancing (19 September) or Top Gun: Maverick (20 September).

19 August 2023. Cardigan River and Food Festival is back for the 23rd year, with food court and street food. This non-for-profit event has an upper-level Food Market features a range of stalls selling exclusively Welsh produced food and drink, plus local crafts. There are a mixture of workshops and demonstrations, plus a varied programme of local musicians and performers each day.

19 August 2023. Celebrate CAT's 50th anniversary with a Summer Celebration at Centre For Alternative Technology. There will be workshops, music, stalls, food and more. There's entertainment for children and entry is free for the day.

19 August 2023. Grab your trainers and take on the challenge of trying to beat the historic steam hauled train on the Talyllyn Railway. The Tywyn Rotary Club's annual Race the Train takes place alongside the train on its journey to Abergynolwyn and back. Enjoy the beautiful scenery in the remote valley in the Meirionydd mountains. The terrain is varied, including agricultural land, so get ready to get muddy. There are several different lengths of races, including a 14 mile and 3.5 mile race.

20 - 27 August 2023. Gŵyl Machynlleth Festival celebrates Welsh and international music and culture. There's a range of music, plus exhibitions, poetry, lectures and more.

24 - 28 August 2023. Enjoy the summer outdoors at Swansea and Gower Cycling Festival, with rides for all abilities, including children.

24 - 29 August 2023. There's six days of music at the Presteigne Festival, including over the bank holiday weekend. Enjoy a mixture of contemporary works and twentieth century classics.

25 - 27 August 2023. Between the Trees takes place in Candleston Park, Merthyr Mawr National Nature Reserve, near Bridgend over the Bank Holiday weekend. It's held in ancient woodlands, with indie, contemporary and traditional folk music, art, spoken word, nature and natural science.

26 August 2023. New of 2023 is the Bogathlon, taking place near Llanwrtyd Wells. This fun Green event involves a 60 yard bog snorkel, a 2 mile cross country cycle and a 1 mile cross country run. 

26 August 2023. Enjoy a ghost hunt in Gwrych Castle, which you may remember from the TV Show I'm A Celebrity ...Get Me Out of Here. There's also one taking place each month throughout the year. 

27 August 2023. The Rude Health World Bogsnorkelling Championship takes place each year in Llanwrtyd Wells. People come from far and wide to compete in one of the Lonely Planet’s 50 ‘must do’ things from around the world. 

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