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  CARADOGFEST
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July 4th to 6th 2025
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Caradogfest was founded to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the achievements of Griffith Rhys Jones, "Caradog", and the 400 strong voice Côr Mawr at the Crystal Palace, London in 1872 | 73


Taking place each July in the magnificent surroundings of St Elvan's, located in the heart of Aberdare "Town of Song" Rhondda Cynon Taf, the festival annually features performances, exhibitions, talks - and more!
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The inaugural Caradogfest took place on the weekend of July 15 to 17th 2022, and saw the re-enactment of the 400 strong "C
ôr Mawr" in Aberdare, plus a surrounding FREE choral festival, procession and additional events - for a series of images from these events, visit the Gallery section of the website here

Such was the tremendous response to the inaugural Caradogfest, a second Caradogfest took place on the weekend of Friday & Saturday July 7th & 8th 2023, with the Caradogfest Gala Concert reprised with the 
Côr Mawr
featured alongside the combined talents of Aberdare's own star of "The Voice" Ragsy and the inestimable Cat Southall; and then again in 2024 with famed Aberdare born singer & actress Laura Evans

Caradogfest 2025 will take place on the weekend of July 4th to 6th with the Gala Concert this year featuring West End star Sophie Evans!
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Star of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Over The Rainbow" televised search for Dorothy, Sophie has also played Glinda in Wicked, featured in the hit movie "Pride", and has performed as featured soloist with Only Men Aloud, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Welsh of the West End at the Welsh Proms Cymru, Wales Millennium Centre, London Palladium - and more! We are delighted to have Sophie with us as the featured artist of Caradogfest 2025
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In addition to the Friday Evening Gala Concert with Sophie Evans and the Cor Mawr, additional 2025 Caradogfest events include a FREE day long Ukulele Festival with Highly Strung and the Wales Ukulele Project, and a traditional Twmpath folk dance evening featuring live band Celtic Spirit on Saturday July 5th; plus a morning Festival Service and traditional afternoon Cymanfa Ganu to close the weekend on Sunday July 6th

For tickets, visit 
www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans

Learn more about Caradogfest 2025 and previous editions of the festival by browsing the pages of this site and be sure to join us, here at St Elvan's in Aberdare - Town of Song, 
July 4th to 6th 2025

The full 2025 event details are available below

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2025 events

Opening FREE Heritage Talk
​Friday July 4th

Caradog and the Choral Tradition
​1:30 to 3:00pm
St Elvan's, Aberdare


Tickets: FREE!
www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans
​
0333 666 4466
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Gala Concert
​Friday July 4th 2025

​7:00pm
St Elvan's, Aberdare


Sophie Evans
Côr Mawr


Tickets: £15
​£12 concessions | £8 children 

www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans
​
0333 666 4466

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FREE Gala In The Grounds
​Saturday July 5th 2025


FREE Children's Activities
​10:30am to 12:30pm

FREE Live Music
1:00pm to 4:00pm


St Elvan's, Aberdare

Daytime Tickets: FREE!
www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans
​
0333 666 4466

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Twmpath!
Saturday July 5th

Traditional Welsh Ceilidh
​with live band Celtic Spirit!
6:00 to 8:00pm
​St Elvan's, Aberdare


Tickets: £8
www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans
​
0333 666 4466

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FREE Festival Service
​Sunday July 6th 2025

Solemn Mass
​11:00am to 12:00pm
​St Elvan's, Aberdare

All Welcome!

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FREE Cymanfa Ganu
​Sunday July 6th 2025

5:00 to 7:00pm
Father Hywel Davies, Arweinydd
Lewis Merthyr Brass
Sheridan George, Organ
​St Elvan's, Aberdare

Croeso i bawb​

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Book now

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2024 events

Opening FREE Heritage Talk
​Friday July 5th 2024

Caradog and the Choral Tradition
Anastazia Thomas
Heritage & Community Officer
​1:30 to 3:00pm
St Elvan's, Aberdare

Gala Concert
​Friday July 5th 2024

​7:00pm
St Elvan's, Aberdare


Laura Evans
Côr Mawr

FREE Gala In The Grounds
​Saturday July 6th 2024


FREE Children's Activities
​10:30am to 12:30pm

FREE Live Music
1:00pm to 4:00pm


Daytime Tickets: FREE!

Twmpath!
Saturday July 6th 2024

Traditional Welsh Ceilidh
with John Arwel, caller​
​
4:00 to 6:00pm

FREE Festival Service
​Sunday July 7th 2024

Solemn Mass
​11:00am to 12:00pm
​
​
All Welcome!

FREE Cymanfa Ganu
​Sunday July 7th 2024

5:00 to 7:00pm
Father Hywel Davies, Arweinydd
Lewis Merthyr Brass
​Sheridan George, Organ

​
Croeso i bawb


2023 events

Gala Concert
​Friday July 7th 2023

​7:00pm
St Elvan's, Aberdare

Ragsy | Cat Southall | 
Côr Mawr

FREE Ukulele Festival
​Saturday July 8th 2023

​1:00 to 4:00pm
St Elvan's, Aberdare


Dare To String | The Sunday Club | The Elderly Brothers | Croeso Singers


2022 Events

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2022

Saturday July 2nd 2022
​
FREE Heritage Talk: "Caradog, the Côr Mawr and their effect on Welsh Culture"
10:30 at Cynon Valley Museum
Tickets: FREE

Book Here


Friday July 15th 2022
Gala Concert​

Côr Mawr • Ragsy • Cat Southall
19:00 at St Elvan's Church
Tickets: £12

Saturday July 16th 2022
“Live Lounge”
10:30 to 15:00
Cynon Linc

Saturday July 16th 2022
Caradog “Fringe Festival”
11:00 at Aberdare Market


Saturday July 16th 2022
FREE Outdoor Choral Festival

​
​12:00

Côr Mawr
Library Square

13:00 to 15:00
Individual Choir Performances 

Library Square
Lloyds Square
Market Square
​St Elvan's


15:30
Côr Mawr
Library Square


​Sunday July 17th 2022
FREE Gymanfa Ganu
Chaired by Beth Winter MP
18:30 at 
Green Street, Chapel
All welcome!


July 1st to 30th 2022
​FREE Exhibition
"The Life of Caradog"

Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 to 15:00
​Cynon Valley Museum


Throughout July / August 2022
​FREE Exhibition
"Here Be Dragons"

Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 16:00
​St Elvan's


​Join us, in 
Aberdare "Town of Song"
Rhondda Cynon Taf
​South Wales
Full 2022 Timetable
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Participating Choirs 2022

Abercynon Male Choir

Colstars

Con Voce

Cor Cwm Rhondda

Croeso Singers

Cwmbach

Cwmdare Voices

Dare To Sing

Glynneath

Mountain Ash & District Choral Society

Mountain Ash RFC Singers

Pelenna Male Choir

Rechoir

Treharris Male Voice

Participating Youth Choirs 2022

Aberdare Park

Abernant

Blaengwawr

Capcoch

Caradog

Cwmaman

Cwmbach

Cwmbach Community

Cwmdare

Hirwaun

Llwydcoed

Oaklands

Rhigos

St Margaret's R.C.

Town Church



​For details of our 2024 events, please click here

Caradogfest

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​ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
www.caradogfest.com
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