This year’s Big Cheese festival, held in Caerphilly town, still held sway for tens of thousands of visitors despite heavy rain on the opening day.
Organised by Caerphilly County Borough Council, the event, which celebrated its 20th anniversary, still attracted close to 70,000 visitors over the weekend – last year’s festival saw 80,000 visitors.
The poor weather on Friday, July 28, meant the annual Big Cheese Race around the grounds of Caerphilly Castle had to be cancelled on safety grounds.
But before the heavens really opened though, there was still the chance for visitors to enjoy half price rides at the funfair courtesy of Sayers Amusements.
Before the funfair opened over 400 local children with disabilities were invited to enjoy a special free session.
The children and their families were the special guests of Caerphilly County Borough Council and Sayers Amusements, who put on the session every year to provide a quieter period for the families to enjoy the attractions before the crowds descend on the site.
The weekend’s weather improved and the attractions did not disappoint.
Caerphilly Castle played host to a range of exciting re-enactments and interactive encampments in addition to hosting a range of local choirs in the Great Hall.
Music acts performing at the Big Top Tent and the Acoustic stage were this year provided and co-ordinated through not-for-profit community company RecRock, based at Caerphilly’s Welsh Innovation Centre for Enterprise.
As part of a Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) inclusion project, unemployed people aged 16 and over are building their skills through a music-based project with the firm.
RecRock founder Dan Fitzgerald, said: “We had a fantastic weekend of entertainment covering many original acts from Caerphilly and surrounding areas.
“It was great to put on music as diverse as jazz, reggae, rock and rap, which was all greatly received by the attentive audience.
“One personal highlight for me was for the participants of the RecRock employability project performing as a band for the first time.”
Deputy leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council Sean Morgan said: “The Big Cheese Festival is a firm favourite in the summer events calendar and attracts people from across Wales and further afield to enjoy the weekends activities.
“The festival offers a plethora of activities for the whole family to enjoy.
“In addition to providing some fantastic entertainment, drawing thousands of visitors also offers an excellent opportunity for local businesses to draw new customers.”
Gwent Police said just one arrest was made, on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly, while British Transport Police arrested somebody for possession of cannabis.
