July 10th to 12th 2026
Caradogfest is Aberdare's annual celebration of it's proud historic status as "Town of Song". The event 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
The event has since been held each July in the magnificent surroundings of St Elvan's, located in the heart of Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and annually features performances, exhibitions, talks - and more!
The inaugural Caradogfest took place on the weekend of July 15 to 17th 2022, and saw the re-enactment of the 400 strong "Côr 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
In 2024 the festival featured the famed Aberdare born singer & actress Laura Evans and in 2025 West End star Sophie Evans
Caradogfest is Aberdare's annual celebration of it's proud historic status as "Town of Song". The event 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
The event has since been held each July in the magnificent surroundings of St Elvan's, located in the heart of Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and annually features performances, exhibitions, talks - and more!
The inaugural Caradogfest took place on the weekend of July 15 to 17th 2022, and saw the re-enactment of the 400 strong "Côr 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
In 2024 the festival featured the famed Aberdare born singer & actress Laura Evans and in 2025 West End star Sophie Evans
This year Caradogfest will feature Cynon Valley's own Colstars, as they celebrate 80 years of music making in 2026
The 2026 Friday Evening Gala Concert will take place on Friday July 10th and will feature Colstars alongside the massed Cor Mawr. Additional 2025 Caradogfest events include a FREE day long "Summer Strum" Festival with our resident string band Highly Strung, and a traditional Twmpath folk dance evening featuring live band Celtic Spirit on Saturday July 11th; plus a morning Festival Service and traditional afternoon Cymanfa Ganu to close the weekend on Sunday July 12th
For tickets, visit
www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans
To perform in the Summer Strum, please contact David Manning at
Learn more about Caradogfest 2026 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 10th to 12th 2026
The full 2026 event details are available below
The 2026 Friday Evening Gala Concert will take place on Friday July 10th and will feature Colstars alongside the massed Cor Mawr. Additional 2025 Caradogfest events include a FREE day long "Summer Strum" Festival with our resident string band Highly Strung, and a traditional Twmpath folk dance evening featuring live band Celtic Spirit on Saturday July 11th; plus a morning Festival Service and traditional afternoon Cymanfa Ganu to close the weekend on Sunday July 12th
For tickets, visit
www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans
To perform in the Summer Strum, please contact David Manning at
Learn more about Caradogfest 2026 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 10th to 12th 2026
The full 2026 event details are available below
2026 events
Opening FREE Heritage Talk
Friday July 10th
Caradog and the Choral Tradition
1:30 to 3:00pm
St Elvan's, Aberdare
Tickets: FREE!
www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans
0333 666 4466
Friday July 10th
Caradog and the Choral Tradition
1:30 to 3:00pm
St Elvan's, Aberdare
Tickets: FREE!
www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans
0333 666 4466
Gala Concert
Friday July 10th 2026
7:00pm
St Elvan's, Aberdare
Colstars & Y Côr Mawr
Tickets: £15
£12 concessions | £8 children
www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans
0333 666 4466
Friday July 10th 2026
7:00pm
St Elvan's, Aberdare
Colstars & Y Côr Mawr
Tickets: £15
£12 concessions | £8 children
www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans
0333 666 4466
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
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
Twmpath!
Saturday July 11th
Traditional Welsh Ceilidh
with live band Celtic Spirit!
6:00 to 8:00pm
St Elvan's, Aberdare
Tickets: £6
www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans
0333 666 4466
Saturday July 11th
Traditional Welsh Ceilidh
with live band Celtic Spirit!
6:00 to 8:00pm
St Elvan's, Aberdare
Tickets: £6
www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans
0333 666 4466
FREE Festival Service
Sunday July 12th 2026
Solemn Mass
11:00am to 12:00pm
St Elvan's, Aberdare
All Welcome!
Sunday July 12th 2026
Solemn Mass
11:00am to 12:00pm
St Elvan's, Aberdare
All Welcome!
FREE Cymanfa Ganu
Sunday July 12th 2026
5:00 to 7:00pm
Father Hywel Davies, Arweinydd
Lewis Merthyr Brass
Sheridan George, Organ
St Elvan's, Aberdare
Croeso i bawb
Sunday July 12th 2026
5:00 to 7:00pm
Father Hywel Davies, Arweinydd
Lewis Merthyr Brass
Sheridan George, Organ
St Elvan's, Aberdare
Croeso i bawb
2025 events
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
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
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!
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
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!
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
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
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
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
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
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
“Live Lounge”
10:30 to 15:00
Cynon Linc
Saturday July 16th 2022
Caradog “Fringe Festival”
11:00 at Aberdare Market
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
