Caradogfest
July 9th to 12th
Join us for Caradogfest, our annual celebration of the Welsh choral tradition, here in Aberdare "Town of Song". The festival takes place in early July each year and features a FREE Youth Cymanfa Ganu and Speakeasy Jazz Night on Thursday; FREE Annual Lecture and Gala Concert with guest artists and massed choirs; FREE Children's Activities, FREE afternoon Live Music Festival and Live Twmpath on Saturday; and the Festival Service and Cymanfa Ganu on the Sunday
Further information on the festival and all 2026 events is available below, or visit the dedicated festival website www.caradogfest.com
Further information on the festival and all 2026 events is available below, or visit the dedicated festival website www.caradogfest.com
Caradogfest 2026
Caradogfest 2026 will be held across the weekend of July 10th to 12th and will this year celebrate our featured Guest Artists, Cynon Valley's own Colstars
Originally founded in 1946 under the auspices of the Trecynon and District Welfare Association, the Coliseum Amateur Operatic Society opened with its first production of “The Vagabond King”. During the next ten years the society was then responsible for producing several Welsh Premiers, including “Balalaika” in 1948 and “Annie Get Your Gun.” in 1952
Right through to 1980 the society produced a show a year, but in 1981 financial hardships meant that no show was produced and the society briefly disbanded in that year. However, due to the dedication of a few hardworking faithful members, 1982 saw the Society returned to the stage once more and throughout the 1980’s continued to produce more shows. This is especially noteworthy as through this period, the society was left with control of the Coliseum itself and were it not for a number society members and other volunteers who not only kept the theatre open but also the upkeep on the building Aberdare would have lost it’s theatre
In 1988 the society switched from producing one show a year to producing four that year and then three a year afterwards. 1991 was met with yet more changes. The Trecynon and District Welfare Association was dissolved and, as a result the society became self funding. The theatre was sold to the Cynon Valley Council. The changes didn’t stop there as the Coliseum Amateur Operatic Society became the COLSTARS and for their first show under their new name produced the Welsh Premier of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”
Caradogfest is delighted to have Colstars with us and to feature them alongside our regular resident choirs in their special anniversary year
Colstars will be the featured artists of the Friday evening Gala Concert with the annual Cor Mawr, and additional 2026 Caradogfest events will then include:
- a special edition of our bi-monthly "Speakeasy" Jazz Night on Thursday evening, July 9th
- our annual FREE Caradogfest Heritage Talk on Friday afternoon, July 10th
- a FREE day long "Summer Strum" with Highly Strung String Band and guests on Saturday July 11th
- a traditional Twmpath folk dance evening featuring live band Celtic Spirit on the evening of Saturday July 11th
- a morning Festival Service at St Elvan's, led by Father Hywel Snook on Sunday July 12th
- a traditional afternoon Cymanfa Ganu to close the weekend led by Father Hywel Davies, organist Mr Sheridan George, and members of Lewis Merthyr Band on the evening of Sunday July 12th
For Caradogfest 2026, we're also delighted to launch our NEW youth initiative Caradogfest Ifanc. Operated in partnership with the education department of the Diocese of Llandaff, Caradogfest Ifanc aims to provide local schools with resources to promote singing, particularly of traditional Welsh repertoire, and the opportunity to join together with other schools, and their families, in song. Our first Caradogfest Ifanc event will take place on Thursday July 9th
Tickets for all Caradogfest 2026 events are available from www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans
Originally founded in 1946 under the auspices of the Trecynon and District Welfare Association, the Coliseum Amateur Operatic Society opened with its first production of “The Vagabond King”. During the next ten years the society was then responsible for producing several Welsh Premiers, including “Balalaika” in 1948 and “Annie Get Your Gun.” in 1952
Right through to 1980 the society produced a show a year, but in 1981 financial hardships meant that no show was produced and the society briefly disbanded in that year. However, due to the dedication of a few hardworking faithful members, 1982 saw the Society returned to the stage once more and throughout the 1980’s continued to produce more shows. This is especially noteworthy as through this period, the society was left with control of the Coliseum itself and were it not for a number society members and other volunteers who not only kept the theatre open but also the upkeep on the building Aberdare would have lost it’s theatre
In 1988 the society switched from producing one show a year to producing four that year and then three a year afterwards. 1991 was met with yet more changes. The Trecynon and District Welfare Association was dissolved and, as a result the society became self funding. The theatre was sold to the Cynon Valley Council. The changes didn’t stop there as the Coliseum Amateur Operatic Society became the COLSTARS and for their first show under their new name produced the Welsh Premier of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”
Caradogfest is delighted to have Colstars with us and to feature them alongside our regular resident choirs in their special anniversary year
Colstars will be the featured artists of the Friday evening Gala Concert with the annual Cor Mawr, and additional 2026 Caradogfest events will then include:
- a special edition of our bi-monthly "Speakeasy" Jazz Night on Thursday evening, July 9th
- our annual FREE Caradogfest Heritage Talk on Friday afternoon, July 10th
- a FREE day long "Summer Strum" with Highly Strung String Band and guests on Saturday July 11th
- a traditional Twmpath folk dance evening featuring live band Celtic Spirit on the evening of Saturday July 11th
- a morning Festival Service at St Elvan's, led by Father Hywel Snook on Sunday July 12th
- a traditional afternoon Cymanfa Ganu to close the weekend led by Father Hywel Davies, organist Mr Sheridan George, and members of Lewis Merthyr Band on the evening of Sunday July 12th
For Caradogfest 2026, we're also delighted to launch our NEW youth initiative Caradogfest Ifanc. Operated in partnership with the education department of the Diocese of Llandaff, Caradogfest Ifanc aims to provide local schools with resources to promote singing, particularly of traditional Welsh repertoire, and the opportunity to join together with other schools, and their families, in song. Our first Caradogfest Ifanc event will take place on Thursday July 9th
Tickets for all Caradogfest 2026 events are available from www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans
Caradogfest 2026
Caradogfest Ifanc - Thursday July 9th
Caradogfest Speakeasy Jazz Night - Thursday July 9th
FREE Caradogfest Annual Lecture - Friday July 10th
Caradogfest Gala Concert - Friday July 10th
Saturday July 11th
FREE Children's Activities
FREE Live Music "Summer Strum"
Live Twmpath
with Celtic Spirit!
Saturday July 11th
AM DDIM | FREE
Festival Service & Cymanfa Ganu
Sunday July 12th
Caradogfest: Our Story
Every resident and visitor to Aberdare will be familiar with Caradog (Griffith Rhys Jones). His statue stands in the centre of the town, and has dominated Victoria Square since 1920
A former blacksmith at the Llwydcoed ironworks, Caradog was an accomplished violinist, conductor and choral leader. When, in 1872, a virtuoso mixed choir was created in South Wales to compete at the Crystal Palace, London for a One Thousand Guineas Challenge Cup, Caradog was chosen to train and lead it
The members of that choir, the Côr Mawr, came from across South West Wales - Llanelli, Neath, Merthyr, Rhondda, Pontypridd -and, of course, Aberdare. Aberdare was the choir headquarters, its chairman, treasurer and secretary were all Aberdare men, and the largest number of singers (150) were from Aberdare. Many rehearsals were held in the town including the final rehearsal
The competition was held at the Crystal Palace in July 1872, and the One Thousand Guinea Trophy was brought home to Wales. Today, it resides at St Fagans National Museum of History and is on permanent display as the "Caradog Cup"
Every resident and visitor to Aberdare will be familiar with Caradog (Griffith Rhys Jones). His statue stands in the centre of the town, and has dominated Victoria Square since 1920
A former blacksmith at the Llwydcoed ironworks, Caradog was an accomplished violinist, conductor and choral leader. When, in 1872, a virtuoso mixed choir was created in South Wales to compete at the Crystal Palace, London for a One Thousand Guineas Challenge Cup, Caradog was chosen to train and lead it
The members of that choir, the Côr Mawr, came from across South West Wales - Llanelli, Neath, Merthyr, Rhondda, Pontypridd -and, of course, Aberdare. Aberdare was the choir headquarters, its chairman, treasurer and secretary were all Aberdare men, and the largest number of singers (150) were from Aberdare. Many rehearsals were held in the town including the final rehearsal
The competition was held at the Crystal Palace in July 1872, and the One Thousand Guinea Trophy was brought home to Wales. Today, it resides at St Fagans National Museum of History and is on permanent display as the "Caradog Cup"
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The inaugural Caradogfest
July 2022 marked the 150th anniversary of the epic achievements of Caradog and the Cor Mawr. In honour of the occasion, a 400 strong choir from Aberdare was drawn together, recreating the epic performance of the Côr Mawr at Library Square, Aberdare The event also featured massed children's chorus, brass band and guest soloists, plus individual choral performances throughout Aberdare town centre throughout the day The event was a tremendous success drawing large crowds at all locations throughout the town, and - such was the success of the event - that the gala concert will be repeated again on the 150th anniversary of the Cor Mawr's second performance at the Crystal Palace, London which took place in 1873 A Gallery of images from the inaugural event is available here while details of the 2023 to 2025 events are outlined below |
Caradogfest 2023-25
In 2023, such was the success of the inaugural 2022 Caradogfest, that the event was repeated and has now become a much loved annual fixture for the church and town. Caradogfest 2023 again featured Aberdare's own star of "The Voice" Ragsy, the inestimable Cat Southall plus 300 strong Cor Mawr! A FREE open daytime Ukulele Festival was also added, which proved incredibly popular, and again became an annual fixture of the growing festival
In 2024, Caradogfest focused on the 40th anniversary of the 1984 | 85 Miners Strikes, and, in addition to the Friday night Gala Concert, a daytime "Gala In The Grounds" was held in and around St Elvan's on the Saturday, featuring FREE children's activities, FREE live music throughout the day and a traditional Welsh Twmpath to close. A Festival Service was then added on the Sunday morning, followed by a Cymanfa Ganu, to mark the National Eisteddfod coming to Rhondda Cynon Taf that same year. The guest artist for Caradogfest 2024 was Aberdare born actress and singer Laura Evans and the guest artist for 2025, RCT born West End star Sophie Evans
Caradogfest 2026 will feature Cynon Valley's own wonderful Colstars, featuring the beloved local musical theatre society alongside the 200 voice Cor Mawr, as they celebrate their 80th anniversary. Caradogfest will also expand in 2026, to encompass our NEW Schools' Music Festival, Caradogfest Ifanc! and a special Caradogfest edition of our bi-monthly "Speakeasy" Jazz Night
Further details of all the previous Caradogfest events to date, together with a series of images from previous year's events, are all now available at the Caradogfest website www.caradogfest.com
In 2023, such was the success of the inaugural 2022 Caradogfest, that the event was repeated and has now become a much loved annual fixture for the church and town. Caradogfest 2023 again featured Aberdare's own star of "The Voice" Ragsy, the inestimable Cat Southall plus 300 strong Cor Mawr! A FREE open daytime Ukulele Festival was also added, which proved incredibly popular, and again became an annual fixture of the growing festival
In 2024, Caradogfest focused on the 40th anniversary of the 1984 | 85 Miners Strikes, and, in addition to the Friday night Gala Concert, a daytime "Gala In The Grounds" was held in and around St Elvan's on the Saturday, featuring FREE children's activities, FREE live music throughout the day and a traditional Welsh Twmpath to close. A Festival Service was then added on the Sunday morning, followed by a Cymanfa Ganu, to mark the National Eisteddfod coming to Rhondda Cynon Taf that same year. The guest artist for Caradogfest 2024 was Aberdare born actress and singer Laura Evans and the guest artist for 2025, RCT born West End star Sophie Evans
Caradogfest 2026 will feature Cynon Valley's own wonderful Colstars, featuring the beloved local musical theatre society alongside the 200 voice Cor Mawr, as they celebrate their 80th anniversary. Caradogfest will also expand in 2026, to encompass our NEW Schools' Music Festival, Caradogfest Ifanc! and a special Caradogfest edition of our bi-monthly "Speakeasy" Jazz Night
Further details of all the previous Caradogfest events to date, together with a series of images from previous year's events, are all now available at the Caradogfest website www.caradogfest.com
