Rain can't ruin Powys village’s first carnival in decades

Scores of popular town and village events throughout Powys were postponed en-masse when the Covid-19 pandemic hit in March 2020. But while many were curtailed for one, two or even three years, the last carnival in Llangammarch took place in 2001.

That was the year the foot and mouth outbreak swarmed the UK. The carnival fell by the wayside, until this year when a committed band of volunteers decided it was time to bring it back.

The carnival committee has been working diligently to revive the event since getting together last August – and they announced earlier this year that it would return.

Saturday, August 12, was the day many had been waiting more than two decades for, and bad weather was certainly not going to ruin the comeback.

“Llangammarch Carnival is back and it was wonderful,” said a spokesperson for the carnival committee.

“After 22 years a reinvigorated carnival was held on August 12 and despite the miserable weather there was a brilliant turn out from local people and further afield, with people from Scotland and even one ex-resident from Spain making the journey.

“The parade of fancy dress entrants led through the village by the Small Town Samba band got the event off to a good start. Everyone enjoyed the dog show, there were excellent entries for the produce, baking and craft exhibits, and there were definitely some budding athletes taking part in the children's races.

“Other attractions included archery, fingernail painting, a bottle stall, tombola, a bouncy castle and of course a bar. Sandwiches, tea, coffee, ice cream and burgers kept people going throughout the afternoon.

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“We are grateful to Helen Pritchard from North Road Garage in Builth for allowing us to use her field (and to her tenant), to the judges in all the classes, all the volunteers who helped and of course to everyone who braved the rain to come and support the carnival.

“Once we've got our breath back the planning for 2024 will start and we look forward to seeing everyone there.”

The idea to revive the event snowballed rapidly once the new committee came together. Many fundraising events were held at the end of 2022 and earlier this year, and the committee was inundated with assistance and pledges of support from surrounding communities like Garth and Llanwrtyd Wells. Local schoolchildren even designed a new carnival logo.

Organisers explained that the plan to bring back the popular event had been originally planned prior to the pandemic.

“This little group got together and said ‘wouldn’t it be a good idea to bring the carnival back’ and then Covid came along,” said a committee spokesperson earlier this year.

“We resurrected the topic again last August and we’ve had some really good fundraising events since.

An aerial view of Llangammarch Carnival 2023 (Image: None)

“People have been very supportive, from offering donations, to lending us marquees. The kids at Irfon Valley Primary School designed a logo for the carnival.

“There have been so many helping hands from the local community and other shows. Garth Hall (lent) us chairs and helped with the Hallowe’en fundraising event, and people from Llanwrtyd Carnival (offered) their help and support. People have been so generous.”

The committee is chaired by Nic Jones, Pam Hibbert as secretary and Jenny Aulsebrook the treasurer, with Sue Broadhurst, Shelley Hughes, Kate Jones, Tricia Wargent, Sam Morgan and Charlie Evans completing the hard-working body.

To keep up to date with planning for the 2024 event and to view all the fun from this year’s spectacle, check out the Llangammarch Wells Carnival Facebook page.