The Caerphilly and District Urdd National Eisteddfod at Llancaiach Fawr, Nelson, is officially underway.

TV presenter Alex Jones and Only Men Aloud founder Tim Rhys-Evans began proceedings by co-hosting the Eisteddfod’s opening concert on Sunday.

Around 15,000 competitors and an estimated 90,000 visitors will visit the week-long event, enjoying a range of competitions, evening events and family-friendly activities in what is Europe’s largest youth festival.

Other Eisteddfod highlights include the festival’s sought-after literary prizes – the chair, awarded to the best poem in strict or free metre and the crown, awarded to the best piece or pieces of prose over 4,000 words.

Both the chairing and crowning ceremonies, along with the majority of competitions, which include singing, folk dancing and reciting, will take place in the Eisteddfod’s 1,800-seater pavilion.

Surrounding the pavilion on the ‘Maes’ are hundreds of stalls and stands offering a variety of activities, including sport, live music and children’s shows. Visitors to science and technology tent, ‘Y Gwyddonle’ will be able to create a virtual Maes using a Welsh language version of the popular adventure video game, Minecraft, while a food arena and fun fair are also part of the Eisteddfod experience.

During the week, over 100 local schoolchildren will take part in two evening shows, ‘Y Dyn Na Fu Erioed’ (The man who never was), staged at the pavilion on Tuesday, 26 May, and ‘Chwarae Cuddio’ (Playing hide-and-seek) staged on Monday, May 25 at Blackwood Miners’ Institute.

This year also sees the introduction of new vocational competitions, including Childcare and Hair and Beauty, which requires competitors to create a ‘look’ reflecting one of three themes. Great British Bake Off star Beca Lyne-Pirkis will also be on hand to judge the finals of the Urdd cookery competition, which will be held in a purpose-built kitchen on the Maes.

An Urdd National Eisteddfod bilingual guide app, including a map, list of competitions, travel arrangements and other information, is available to download free.

Aled Siôn, Urdd National Eisteddfod director, said: “The response locally to the Eisteddfod has been fantastic and we’re delighted at the growth in the number of Urdd members from the Gwent region this year – 5,288 members, which is 1500 more than usual.

“It will be a festival to remember, with exciting new competitions as well as the main ceremonies, the opening concert and evening shows, without forgetting the Maes and Llancaiach Fawr’s wonderful setting. It’s a great day out for all the family.”

Sara Davies, Chair of the local Executive Committee, added: “Volunteers from across the county have worked together over the past two years to prepare for the Eisteddfod and I’ve been bowled over by everyone’s enthusiasm and commitment.

“With the Eisteddfod about to start, we’re now looking forward very much to enjoying all the competitions and activities and to welcoming visitors from across Wales to our home patch.”

Cllr Keith Reynolds, Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, said: “Hosting this prestigious and popular event is a major boost for Caerphilly county borough, and we look forward to welcoming the tens of thousands of visitors who will descend on the Maes over the next few days.

“I would also thank all those who have worked so hard to bring this major event to our area, and I’m sure that the legacy of the Urdd Eisteddfod will have a positive and lasting effect on this area for many years to come”.

It is still possible to buy day tickets for the Maes and tickets for the evening shows from the Welcome Centre on the Maes. For more information please contact 0845 2571613.

Bunting out across Caerphilly County Borough to welcome festival

Towns and villages across Caerphilly County Borough have been decked out with red, white and green bunting to welcome visitors to the Eisteddfod.

Getting into the spirit, pupils from Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni and Ysgol Gymraeg Gynradd Caerffili have painted the gates to their new school on Pontygwindy Road, in Caerphilly town, in the colours of the Urdd.

The school, the former site of St Ilan’s Comprehensive, opened its doors to Year 7 pupils of Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni back in September 2013. The new development will eventually cater to the educational needs of children aged three to 16.

Rhys Thomas, deputy acting headteacher at Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, said: “The school recognises the significant support of the building company Morgan Sindall and Caerphilly Borough Council to arrange the painting of the school gates in such vibrant colours.

“It is pleasing to see such striking and colourful school gates in the Mr Urdd colours along a popular road in Caerphilly encouraging local people to enjoy the largest youth festival in Europe that is taking place during the Whitsun half-term.”

Festival to be televised live on S4C

More than 200 school children from Caerphilly County Borough joined popular Urdd mascot, Mr Urdd to dance in front of Caerphilly Castle to film a promotional video for S4C’s programmes from the Urdd Eisteddfod.

Pupils from 14 local secondary and primary schools were filmed dancing to a song composed for the Urdd by the Seventies Welsh rock super group, Edward H Dafis.

Cân i Jên (A Song for Jane) has been adapted for this year’s Urdd Eisteddfod campaign by S4C, and features the voice of Caerphilly-bred TV presenter Matt Johnson.

The song tells the story of a fictional young girl called Jên, who has learnt Welsh with the help of the Urdd youth movement. Playing the lead role of Jên, is 12-year-old Ffion Griffiths, from Maesycwmmer.

Aled Wyn Phillips, S4C’s Head of On-screen Promotions said: “The song’s message is as important and relevant today as it was forty years ago, and I’d like to thank all the pupils for their enthusiasm whilst filming this campaign. The video will be shown on S4C during the weeks leading up to the festival and the song will also be performed in full, with a few surprises thrown in, at the Urdd Eisteddfod’s Opening Concert.”

• The daily live coverage, and evening highlights, will start on Monday morning, May 25 until Saturday May 30. S4C’s coverage from the 2014 Urdd Eisteddfod is sponsored by Principality.