July 4th to 6th 2025
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!
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; 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!
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!
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; 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!
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
FREE Festival Service
Sunday July 6th 2025
Solemn Mass
11:00am to 12:00pm
St Elvan's, Aberdare
All Welcome!
Sunday July 6th 2025
Solemn Mass
11:00am to 12:00pm
St Elvan's, Aberdare
All Welcome!
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
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
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
