"This year's festival includes a variety of evening events ranging from a costumed Victorian Masked Ball to a Gilbert & Sullivan evening to a ceildh. There are a number of musical events including a concert with Beaufort Male Voice Choir and evenings hosted by local groups such as Ffrindiau, Rhayader Male Voice Choir, Cantorion and a Music Hall performed by our local theatre company.
We also have an evening with Contrexeville Big Band de Jazz, Contrexeville being our twin town in France. They are joining us for the week and will also be performing during the day at the Bandstand.
Day events include Music Halls, Tea Dances, one of which is costumed, a Shooting Party, a Welsh Ladies Tea Party and an afternoon at Balmoral. some of these you can go to as a spectator and I can assure you they are spectacles.
Tuesday is going to be Dickens Day with various characters going around the town and in the evening our local youth theatre group ACT are doing a performance called A Dickens of a Night.
Throughout the week there are a number of competitions including a daily Best Dressed, a Victorian Child, Best Dressed Urchin and best Dressed Mary Poppins or Chimney Sweep.
For the entire 9 days there is a street theatre programme led by our resident Buttered Muffins and this year introducing a duo called Chucklefoot & Stompie who come highly recommended. We are having a number of staged weddings ranging from a Royal wedding to a below stairs one.
The first weekend there will be a number of dance groups covering appallacian, morris, folk and Scottish dancing. The first Sunday our costumed parade is being led by a pipe band from Swansea.
On the second weekend we have a street organ Festival and a vintage car display which currently has over 250 cars in it. On the final Sunday the town is taken over by the Suffragette movement with a visit and rally speech by Emmaline Pankhurst and you can be sure the women will be roused and the men will be in heckling mode.
Around the town there are a number of exhibitions and many of the town shops have window displays. There will be a large number of people dressed in Victorian costume ranging from the Lord and Lady to the street urchins.
Unlike many festivals entry is free with many of the individual events also free. Where we do charge for events we keep our prices as affordable as we can with our highest ticket price being £17.50 - but that includes a meal. Most tickets are between £4 and £7.
The 9 days culminate in our spectacular torchlight processions followed by the firework display at Lakeside."
Article written by Tony Cobb
your comments
Sarah Davies Llandod
The victorian week is amazing it shows how the comunity will get together and carry on a tradidtion, it also gives a chance for local talent to shine. it is also really fun for people to dress up.
Thu Nov 12 10:37:44 2009
Stuart Thomas, ex-Llandod
The best bit of the festival was and still is the torchlit parade and fireworks at the lake marking the end of the sorry charade. I fully entered into the spirit of it as a kid (complete with Oliver Twist style street-urchin garb) - how quickly the novelty wore off. Much of what has been said above from the local's point of view resonates strongly for me too. I'm somewhat surprised so many visitors return year-in, year-out for what is essentially a re-hashed, unloved (certainly by the locals) overly-long festival. If it's costing taxpayers money and local retailers (B&B and hotel proprietors excluded) are not seeing higher profits, who really benefits from the current bloated format?And come on now - an ABBA night and a 40s Allo Allo? The victorian barrel has been well and truly scraped this year it seems.
Wed Oct 28 16:10:55 2009
Alan Williams Llandrindod Wells
The Victorian festival is proving to be a woeful waste of taxpayers' money especially as 2008 festival made a loss of £11,000 and how much money was lost on the 2009 festival I'd like to know?The whole thing is nonsense any other business making such a losses would cease trading, yet the Victorian festival continues to squander thousands of pounds. Powys county council is under pressure to cut its spending, one sure way it can make significant savings is to stop bailing out this loss maker.
Fri Oct 16 10:50:12 2009
Llandod
So, okay, the festival is not as good as it used to be, it receives much less money now than it once did. Most of the funding comes from Powys council. Some councillors have voiced their concerns over the amount given to the festival, and taxpayers think their money should be better spent. Maybe they are right. A nine day festival is far too long, costs have risen significantly since those early days. It's been suggested holding the festival over a weekend or two - a great idea - and money saved to the tax payers. To those who say the shops make more profit during the festival I can assure you they do not, takings are down during the Victorian festival. Middleton Street being closed makes such a big difference to weekly takings, as regular customers don't bother to shop or go else where.
Wed Sep 16 09:18:44 2009
Joanna Thomas
I have always supported the festival, my children loved dressing up for eventsand competitions. My family are now grown up and have children of their own, when the grandchildren were young I dressed them up too and we went to town, they loved the attention from everyone telling them how lovely they looked. Now they are no longer interested its not for them didn't want to come to town to see any of it, though I did brave the rain and came into town on my own to see what was on.Never thought would agree with some comments written here, however I'm sorry to say the 2009 festival was disappointing to say the least. A shopkeeper in Llandrindod Wells told me that the festival is hanging on by threads these days, and visitors had also expressed their disappointment remembering back to the early days of Llandrindod's Victorian festival, such a shame when you look back to how it once was. The festival is suffering simply because funding is no longer available for the nine days, I suggest holding a long weekend Friday to bank holiday Monday, good quality street entertainment shows and fun. Please may I make one more suggestion, change the program its lacking in variety, extremely tired, monotonous.
Thu Sep 3 10:04:27 2009
Linden B
This years victorian festival has been an exceptional let down given that the baked potato van isn't at the bandstand (yes this was always a highlight). May I also ask 'What did the Victorians ever do to celebrate that can be represented during the festival to attract visitors and the local community'? I see no imagination from the organisers, it never changes, and it never takes off! If the community don't feel part of the festival how will it ever succeed?
Mon Aug 31 15:35:22 2009
Jimmy Flynn Welshpool
I also agree the Victorian festival should fund its self, on this web page it says Powys county council give £16,000 each year towards the festival, it used to be more but not sure how much more? Llandrindod Wells town council give £4,000, is there any other funding towards the festival form else where who knows? £16,000 readily given to this one festival from the purse of Powys county council at tax payers expense, money that would be better spent throughout the year in Powys not just Llandrindod Wells, I know of many needy events in the Powys community which would welcome this large amount of money.
Tue Jul 28 10:27:43 2009
George Turberfield, Preston
As one of the same old visitors to the Victorian festival I feel I am entitled to respond to Sue Contestables comment. My first visit to the festival was 1990 and I have been every year since, firstly on my own then from 1999 with my eldest granddaughter we have always stopped in one of the large hotels on a b&b basis therefore spending a lot on food in the cafes and restaurants round town. Now my oldest granddaughter is married with two small girls of her own. This year I will be bringing my two younger granddaughters as I have already booked and paid for our accommodation at a cost of over £1000 and taking into account over the last nineteen years I must have spent between £35/£40,000 in Llandrindod. I feel I have, along with many other regular visitors, contributed a sizable amount to the town's business community.
Sun Jul 26 20:25:54 2009
Sue Contestabile Llandrindod Wells
What a surprise! same old visitors enjoying the Victorian festival at the expense of towns people. The many thousands of pounds wasted on this festival every year makes my blood boil!Llandrindod's people go without so a few visitors can have fun for one week. Powys County Council should re consider for how much longer they can throw money away at this festival, unacceptable in this economic climate when Powys County Council is supposedly cutting back in all departments. 400 jobs, Street lighting, Social Services, Schools etcLlandrindod's young and old are loosing out because ofthe continuous hand out to this festival. If the Victorian festival committee wish to hold a festival, the festival should fund itself not rely on Powys County Council to bail them out each and every year, which drains much needed funds from the rest of the town!
Thu Jul 23 18:24:30 2009
Sandra & Chris Carter, Walsall
For the last 10 years we have celebrated our wedding anniversary at Llandrindod Wells, entertaining and raising funds for the festival at our own expense which we thoroughly enjoy. We only live once. You should be proud that there are dedicated people who work hard all year to produce one week of fun for young and old. What do the bored moan about for the other 51 weeks in the year!
Thu Jul 23 09:48:02 2009
William Morris, Oxfam Wythenshawe M/CR
hi i havnt actually ever been to a festival but i do have some Llandrindod wells victorian plaques from 1984, on the back is engraved with john ellis, i was just basically wondering if you could give me a bit more information on them thanks.
Tue Jun 30 15:15:55 2009
Sally Turner Telford
Queen Victoria's reign was from 20 June 1837 to 22 January 1901 entertainment suited to this era would be expected during your Victorian festival, but come on your having a laugh 1940's Allo Allo.As Queen Victoria would say "I am not amused!"
Fri Apr 24 10:07:28 2009
Sabrina Melanio from Lancashire
In the 1990s I enjoyed Llandods wonderful Victorian Festival. It was a feat of great organization. So many events and shows. The 'Victorian Photographer' (Sheila Newport) was particularly memorable; I have many photos taken by her.
Sun Mar 29 18:05:59 2009
Sue Contestabile Llandrindod
I am one of the many Llandrindod residents who have a dislike of the Victorian Festival, and would not consider myself to be a moaner. I think the Victorian Festival benefits a minority, not the majority of Llandrindod people. The idea of asking the moaners, as you call them, to organise something for themselves this year, is a good idea, but please can they have £16,000 towards their choice of entertainment, which is the amount that Powys County Council gave to the Festival last year? Strange that on the one hand, funds are so tight that street lights have to be switched off and yet there's enough to give away for the benefit of a few visitors for one week of the year.
Fri Mar 6 16:24:13 2009
Jacquie Parry Llandrindod
I loved the Festival as did visitors we had at the time, this sort of thing brings the town alive, perhaps the moaners would like to organise something themselves this year?
Sun Mar 1 19:46:40 2009
Dorothy Nicholls
My huband and myself displayed our vanguard classic car, what a lovely day it was no rain nice friendly people this is the second year for the classic cars looking forward to next year.
Tue Sep 23 07:41:37 2008
Alan James, Llandrindod
The Victorian Festival was an idea dreamt up from an outsider who came to live in Llandrindod for a short time, and then left Llandrindod for pastures new, what a pity the idea didn't leave with him!
Mon Sep 22 07:37:10 2008
Natalia H, llandod
Well done to all the children of Stagespirit who took part on the first saturday show at the Albert Hall. A huge audience turn out, shame we don't get more publicity and support from our town..where else can kids learn to dance and sing on a proper stage?! Well done to all xXx
Sun Aug 31 13:54:13 2008
Lee from Newport
It is a lovely festival, first attended last year, there are few events where you can take your 95 yr old grandmother and not be bored yourself.
I agree with the comments from Karl, it is vital to attract visitors who spend money, too many places in Wales are turning into ghost towns.
As for the local youth, it is my experence that sulky teenagers would even find Martians landing at the lake a bore, that is the nature of youth, thank God they grow out of it.
Look forward to next year. P.S. For lovers of Victoriana, you must check out the SS Great Britain in Bristol, outstanding.
Fri Aug 29 11:50:45 2008
Jake
Dawn, Cool for speaking up for us youth of Llandod! I'm 16 years old and came to live in Llandod at the age of 2. There's nothing for me and my friends to do oldies have loads of places to meet up, we have no where. Told there was no money to keep youth club open, yeah council went and closed it a while back, me and my mates used to meet up it was the only place to go! victorian festival is for the oldies and a lot of dosh is given to it from the council my mates dad says, yeah shame on you Landod council for not keeping open our club!
Fri Aug 29 08:55:43 2008
Aneliese
I love'd it this year, its changed since the year before last that i came, but it might of been because, i was little back then and because i am older now i thought it was better, but the best thing was watchin kieran Davis in the music hall at the albert hall, that was the frist time i had seen him in 2 years, and he did great!!
Tue Aug 26 16:55:02 2008
Karl Raw from Birmingham
The work put in by those towns people to put on this festival, arrange the events and try to ensure that it is as beneficial for all the people of the town by bringing in visitors to the town and spending money should be applauded. If Dawn is so upset about the provision for local youths, perhaps she could spend part of this year planning and bringing the local youths on board to become involved in the event. Having no connection with the festival I can honestly say that this years visit, along with previous years, I left the town feeling that I had spent some useful and fun hours in! the spa town. Its all very easy to criticize, maybe those critics could also find the time to help the organizers improve their areas of concern for next year. I for one wait with bated breath.
Tue Aug 26 09:44:01 2008
Shannon B from Llandod
Its boring now i wish the big wheel was there. (yawn yawn) but the fire works are the best.
Tue Aug 26 09:29:34 2008
Dawn Hughes Llandrindod Wells
I am a mother with three children and live in Llandrindod 52 weeks of the year, the division between entertainment the youth have in comparison to the elderly population in the town is scandalous. Victorian week is one example of how the youth are left out yet again. I wish the council could take a step back and look at Llandrindod from a youths point of view, with youth clubs closing and no weekend dances what do you expect our kids to do all year?
All efforts are concentrated on enticing and entertaining visitors to Llandrindod, while our youth are left to there own devices! Shame on you Llandrindod Council.
Dawn Hughes
Llandrindod Wells
Tue Aug 19 09:09:55 2008
Rachel Tighe from Birmingham
We went on Saturday and had a brilliant time, as did our three children aged seven, eight and eleven. The weather was cold and often wet but did not dampen spirits. Buttered Muffins were fantastic as were Widders - Morris dancers with attitude. The children loved joining in the country dancing and we all love the costumes, bringing a great era of British history alive. Long may it continue.
Mon Aug 18 14:06:31 2008
Jack T Llandod
There isn't anything more boring than Llandrindod's Victorian Festival! yawn..
Mon Aug 18 09:36:07 2008
Have you ever been to the Victorian festival? What do you find interesting about the era? Send us your comments.
