Crier makes a bit of a ding dong at the launch of Victorian festival

There was no escaping the details of the festival as Llandrindod Wells Town Crier Janet Swindale rang her bell and shouted about the August event.

Organisers chose to launch the 36th continuous Llandrindod Wells Victorian Festival since 1981 on May 24 2017, as the day also marked the 198th anniversary of the birth of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, who was born on May 24 1819 at Kensington Palace.

This year’s festival will take place from August 21 until 28, and during that eight days the town will once again turn back the clocks to the bygone era.

The event will combine old favourite events and many new activities and entertainments this year with organisers promising there will be something for all the family.

The opening ceremony will take place on Monday, August 21 with Queen Victoria and her party promenading from the Metropole Hotel to the entertainment tent in Temple Gardens, led by a Scottish piper.

Throughout the festival there will be the traditional Mr and Mrs Llandrindod Wells fancy dress competitions, children’s fancy dress competitions, a Scottish Highland Evening and Buffet, a historic cycle cavalcade, a tea dance, a Charles Dickens evening performed by the author’s great, great grandson Gerald Dickens and a 1940’s night.

On Temple Gardens there will be an entertainment tent with various activities, including Alice’s Adventures in Llandrindod Wells.

There will opportunities to meet and greet Queen Victoria, best dressed Victorian hat competitions, a concert by flautist Catherine O’Rourke, the international street organ festival, an authentic military encampment, talks, ghost walks, The Ken Richards Commemorative Vintage Vehicle Display, Mardi Gras and a Victorian Grand Etiquette Ball.

The event will end with the popular Suffragette demonstration and the greatest of finale’s the Victorian Festival Firework Display.

To see them all and the digital souvenir programme please go to www.victorian-festival.co.uk.