Kidwelly Food & Drink Festival – Kidwelly, Wales 2026
Overview
The Kidwelly Food & Drink Festival is a one-day, family-friendly extravaganza in the coastal medieval castle town of Kidwelly, celebrating Welsh produce, artisans, and performers with a mouthwatering array of local cuisine, beverages, live bands, and entertaining activities that kick off the Easter holidays. Organized by the Kidwelly Festival team, it has grown from its 2023 debut into a sold-out annual highlight, showcasing some of Wales’s finest traders, makers, and artists in a vibrant, compact format at the Princess Gwenllian Centre—the beating heart of the town. As a community-driven event, it emphasizes accessibility with affordable entry and a focus on all-ages fun, blending entertaining music and markets with educational elements like kids’ zones to foster a sense of local pride and discovery.
For 2026, the festival continues its tradition, expected to return in late March to blend foodie delights with musical magic amid the town’s historic charm. Attendees can anticipate a feast of flavors and folk, creating those joyful, sun-dappled moments that make Kidwelly feel like a hidden gem of Welsh hospitality.
Event Highlights
- Main activities or performances: A bustling market with Welsh food stalls (e.g., vegan options, mobile pizza, Indian cuisine, strawberry cakes, cocktails); live bands providing an eclectic lineup for all ages; kids’ zone with creative activities and entertainment.
- Special traditions or features: Annual fancy dress theme (e.g., 2024’s “Bee Snazzy and Jazzy!” with prizes for best-dressed bee); undercover outdoor area for weather-proof fun; tradition of blending entertaining music with market magic to launch Easter festivities.
- Unique attractions for visitors: Coastal medieval town setting allowing for castle walks between tastings; family-focused programming that entertains while educating on Welsh artisans; photo ops and a vibrant atmosphere that captures the essence of South Wales’ cultural tapestry.
About this event
- Founded in 2023 to celebrate Welsh food, drink, and music, evolving into a sold-out annual tradition organized by the Kidwelly Festival team.
- Focuses on local produce and artisans, with a strong emphasis on family entertainment and community pride, attracting hundreds for its compact, joyful format.
- Held at the Princess Gwenllian Centre, with ties to the town’s medieval heritage, including easy access to Kidwelly Castle and train station.
- Promotes inclusivity with affordable pricing and free kids’ entry, supported by local traders and performers to highlight South Wales’ creative scene.
- Emphasizes sustainability and fun, with features like undercover areas and themed fancy dress to enhance the festive vibe.
- Builds on past editions’ success with a mix of food, drink, and music, fostering a welcoming atmosphere for all ages.
Why attend
Attending the Kidwelly Food & Drink Festival means indulging in a Welsh wonderland where a folk band’s lively strum at the Princess Gwenllian Centre pairs with the tang of local cheeses, turning families into festival foragers as kids dive into crafts while adults sip craft cocktails amid the castle’s shadow—it’s the delightful discovery of a vegan vendor’s hidden delight or a musician’s rising riff, all framed by the town’s coastal whisper that blends flavors with folk in a fleeting feast of joy. With its affordable charm and all-ages appeal, it’s a haven for foodies and families, sparking those spontaneous toasts and twirls that linger like sea salt.
Beyond the stalls, you’re amplifying a young tradition that spotlights South Wales’ artisans and artists, your day trip a quiet cheer for the community’s creative pulse. Whether chasing culinary quests or melodic moments, the festival’s fusion of taste and tune delivers those horizon-hugging highs—perfect for a March jaunt where the market meets the mist in Wales’ gentle west.
Date & Duration
- Dates: March 28, 2026
- Duration: 1 day
Venue / Location
- Main venue: Princess Gwenllian Centre, the historic heart of Kidwelly, ideal for markets, stages, and family zones with easy access to the town’s medieval castle.
- Additional venues: No formal additional sites; all activities centered at the centre for a compact experience.
- Main event Google location address: Princess Gwenllian Centre, Kidwelly SA17 4UL, Wales
Ticket Information
- Tickets are sold online via TicketTailor (tickettailor.com/events/kidwellyfoodfest); advance purchase recommended as past events have sold out.
- Entry is paid for adults, free for kids to encourage family attendance.
- Ticket pricing in USD only: Adult tickets $15 USD; kids free.
- Minimum and maximum tickets pricing: Minimum $15 USD (adult day ticket); maximum $15 USD (no tiered pricing).
- No lottery system; first-come, first-served with no capacity limits noted.
- Special seating or VIP options: No VIP; general admission with flexible standing/market areas for all.
Booking with Euro Travelo
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Contact Information
- Email: info@kidwellyfestival.co.uk (general inquiries, tickets, and vendor support).
- Phone: Not specified; use email or website form for responses within 48 hours.
- Website: https://kidwellyfestival.co.uk (full program, bookings, and updates).
- Social Media: @kidwellyfestival (Instagram and Facebook for lineups, photos, and announcements).
- Key Staff: Festival Team (contact via email for programming queries).
- Press/Volunteers: Press inquiries to info@kidwellyfestival.co.uk; volunteer opportunities via website (TBD for 2026, English support available).
Getting There
- Nearest airports: Cardiff Airport (CWL), 60 miles away (1-hour drive via M4); Bristol Airport (BRS) for more flights, about 80 miles (1.5-hour drive).
- Public transport: Trains from London Paddington to Kidwelly (3.5 hours via GWR); local buses connect from Swansea or Carmarthen (10 minutes).
- Driving: Access via M4/A48, with free parking at nearby lots a 5-minute walk from the centre; SatNav postcode SA17 4UL.
- Cycling/walking: Kidwelly’s paths are bike-friendly; racks at centre; Swansea station to town 20-minute train.
- Accessibility: Wheelchair-friendly centre with ramps; taxis from Swansea ($15 via apps); contact for priority access.
Accommodation Options
- Budget stays: Premier Inn Kidwelly (town center, from $80/night, breakfast included); hostels like Kidwelly YHA ($50/night dorms).
- Mid-range: The Castle Inn (historic, $100–130/night, family rooms); Gwenllian’s ($110/night, parking).
- Luxury: Parc y Bocs Farmhouse (countryside, $150+/night, spa options); Falcondale Mansion ($140/night, gourmet).
- Festival packages: Bundled stays via VisitCarmarthenshire.com with B&Bs; camping at nearby Pembrey ($60/night pitches).
- Booking tips: Book early for March; check carmarthenshire.gov.wales for deals.
Reviews
- Coastal feast frenzy bliss—folk fire and food fusion, a family frolic from first strum to final sip.
- Kidwelly’s kitchen concert kingdom; bands belted beachside anthems, a Welsh wonderland that wove our weekend.
- Festival flavor perfection—craft cocktails and ceilidh chaos, a medieval melody meltdown that mesmerized.
Maps
Contact
FAQ's
What makes the Kidwelly Food & Drink Festival unique compared to other Welsh events?
As a coastal castle town charmer, it’s a one-day wonderland blending Welsh wares and folk whimsy for under $15, sans sprawl—just March’s sun on medieval stones, spotlighting local lore with kids’ crafts and bee-themed frenzy. Vibe’s a vibrant vortex: food fusion with folk fire. 2026 upholds the undercurrent: late March, evolving via festival oomph. It’s intimate immersion; Instagram for indie intel. Pro tip: Castle crawl for cultural crescendo.
When and where exactly will the 2026 festival take place?
July 11, 2026, unfurls over 1 sun-splashed day at Princess Gwenllian Centre (SA17 4UL), Kidwelly’s historic hub—ideal for stage-swaying sans strain. Gates from 10am–6pm; music, markets, merriment till dusk. Timed for Easter’s edge, it syncs with coastal quests for post-set suppers. Venues hug the heart—taxi from Swansea 20 mins. Updates via site; rain? Tented tenacity. Arrive 9am for prime perch.
How much do tickets cost, and how do I buy them?
Adult tickets $15 USD (£12), a steal for Welsh wonder—kids free for family fusion. No frills; covers stalls, stages, sans surprises. Snag via tickettailor.com/events/kidwellyfoodfest now—2024 flew, first-come frenzy. Groups? Email bundles. E-tickets easy; refunds if refrains relent. All-ages arms open; your buy boosts bay bands.
Is the festival family-friendly, and what activities suit kids?
Castle cove for clans—free kids’ entry hooks hordes with crafts and gentle grooves, blending folk frolics with family frenzy. No bedlam; inter-set ice lollies ease ears, stalls spark souvenir sprees. Tots tap to tunes, tweens chase folk; clans croon it’s “our Welsh whimsy.” Quiet corners by the church; pack prams for path prances. Bonds burgeon brighter than basslines.
How do I get to Kidwelly for the festival?
Cardiff Airport’s 1-hour M4 jaunt west, or Paddington trains to Kidwelly (3.5 hours, $50 return) drop centre-close. M4/A48 whisks cars to parking (£3/day). Buses loop lanes; bikes suit the flat. Cycles cruise carriageways, walks whisper-wind—10 mins from station. Site’s stroll supreme, ramps reign. Shuttles? Seasonal. Once parked, coastal perfection—compact cadence. Locals lisp: Rail + ramble for rhythmic reveille.
