Newport Bay Spring Festival May 2nd - 5th 2008
Unless specified, events are held at the marquee on the Parrog. All walkers to meet at the marquee 15 minutes prior to specified time.
For details of all the walks please see link below, or for email enquiries; enquiries@newportbayspringfestival.com
Please see links below for all Registration forms.
Events Calendar 2008
- All day Market in Festival Marquee - stands still available Contact Joy 01239 821088
- 4.30pm - Walk around the Town & Castle
- 6.30pm - Wine Tasting and set meal at Llys Meddyg
- 7.30pm - School Concert at Ysgol Bro ingli
- 8pm - Live Music at Llwyngwair Arms
Saturday 3rd May
- All day Market in Festival Marquee - stands still available Contact Joy 01239 821088
- 9am - Walking the Preseli Peaks
- 10.30am - Kayaking with professional instructor Mike Mayberry. Trek within Newport bay and activities to suit sea conditions. Details and registration at - 1havard@btconnect.com
- 11am - Walk in Martha Morgan Country
- 11am - Buggy and Wheelchair walk
- 11am - Tai Chi workshop with Jason Crabtree
- 12 noon - Wicka workshop with Alan and Bogusia
- 2pm - Flamenco workshop with Emma and Flamenco guitarist
- 2.30pm - Bay 10k run and 4k fun run - see below for entry form
- 3.30pm - Cwm & Coast walk
- 4pm - Jive workshop
- 8pm - Dark Sky Walk
- Festival Curry night at the Royal Oak
- Festival barbeque and hog roast & live music at the Golden Lion
Sunday 4th May
- All day Market in Festival Marquee - stands still available Contact Joy 01239 821088
- 9am - Walk from Poppit to Parrog
- 9am - Preseli Teifi Cyclo Sportif Details and event profile of the new road cycling event May 4th 2008
- 10am - Pre-history walk on Carn Ffoi
- 10am - Newport Lions FC presents a 5 a-side football tournament on Sunday and Monday. All entries welcome including non clubs. For more information call Peter on 01239 820974
- 11am - Walk from Castell Henllys to Newport
- 11am - African Dance workshop with Marcel
- 12 noon - Duck race, your chance to win fabulous prizes
- 12 noon - Goodwick Brass Band
- 12 noon - Wicka workshop with Alan and Bogusia
- 2pm - The Princess with the ugly face - a fairy tale performed by Sue Hutchins
- 2.30pm - Walk around Ty Canol and Pentre Ifan (Welsh & English)
- 4pm - Tea Dance at the Marquee
- 5.30pm - Kayak races in the estuary, singles and doubles, with safety cover. Bring your own kayak as limited numbers. Details and registration at - 1havard@btconnect.com
- 7.30pm - Quiz Night at the Boat Club
Monday 5th May
- 11am - Dog Walk
- 12 noon - Seafarers to Sandcastles walk (English)
- 12 noon - 5 a-side football finals
- 2pm - Seafarers to Sandcastles walk (Welsh)
- 4.30pm - Raffle Draw and farewell tea at the Royal Oak
2008 Walks Registration Form - Please click Here
2008 Cycling Entry Form - Please click here
2008 Running Entry Form - Please click here
For 2008 Kayak Registraion form please email 1havard@btconnect.com
Information will soon be available on www.newportpembsfestivals.com
Newport Bay Spring Festival 2007
Please Click Here for Photos of the Festival last Year
REPORT FROM THE FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
The festival had a new focus in 2007 with the generous loan of a marquee by Llyd Meddyg. In the end we also persuaded them to provide a café. The result was lovely food, a place for people to meet, register for events, receive prizes and generally sit about. The weather was kind to us most of the time, the exception being Sunday afternoon just in time for the Festival Duck Race.
This year the Duck Race was particularly entertaining for the spectators as the finishing line had to be reversed half way through and the ducks on the whole refused to go anywhere at all without lots of encouragement. As ever there were winners and this year the winnings stayed in Newport. The raffle was an equally successful fund-raiser and the businesses of Newport contributed particularly generous prizes this year.
The main focus of this festival is to bring into town visitors and their financial contribution outside the main season by using the extraordinarily beautiful surroundings we are blessed with and inviting people to a festival of outdoor activities. Kayaking was added this year and provided a colourful spectacle on the estuary. Generous sponsorship from TOTAL enabled us to hire Mike Mayberry a trained kayaking instructor who gave lessons to those that wanted them. 
The number of visitors who come specifically to the town for the festival weekend is gradually increasing. It is pleasing to note that repeat visitors are appearing, This was particularly evident amongst the walkers.
The most well attended cycling event this year was the Carningli Challenge, with around 40 competitors. The childrens mountain bike race was as ever a challenge and enjoyed by all who took part.
The 10k run attracts a steady 50 or so competitors every year now and has become a firm fixture
The Arts Trail was another innovation this year and helped to spread visitors throughout the town. Thirteen venues provided an insight into the remarkable wealth of artistic talent amongst both adults and children of our community. Unfortunately we forgot to give instructions to our photographer to record the riches of the Arts Trail this year.
The festival would of course not be the same without the growing participation of the local community both young and old who take part in the events and this year provided entertainment with music, dancing and circus skills with Dr Bliss and friends The workshops which precede these demonstrations were facilitated by a number of generous sponsors; the Town Council, the Arts Council of Wales, the Sports Council of Wales, PAVS and Pembrokeshire Arts and of course the Boat Club who continue to be hugely supportive.
And as ever the Bouncy Castles brought along by Robert Conroy provided a lot of fun as did the climbing wall provided by Planed.
A number of our visitors commented on the very friendly atmosphere and community spirit during the festival; we hope to build on this and turn the weekend into a celebration of Spring for the whole town. If you have suggestions on what to add, change or want to become involved please contact us on enquiries@newportbayspringfestival.com.
To record some of it we employed Sophie Keyworth, a student photographer from Carmarthen. Most of the above photographs are from the selection taken by Sophie. Please mail enquiries@newportbayspringfestival.com if you are interested in seeing more of the selection.