THE CELEBRATED floral committee of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod are branching out in 2024 with their very own ‘Daffodil Flower Festival.’
Events will be hosted at St Collen’s Church in Llangollen and will feature an Evening Choral Concert with Lleisiau’r Afon Ladies Choir, conducted by Leigh Mason, renowned local soloist Clare Harrison, accompanied by Owen Roberts and a Music Theatre performance from Shea Ferron.
There will also be a special ‘Songs of Praise’ concert, led by Llangollen Vicar Father Lee Taylor.
It is set to take place on April 5 at 7pm, April 6 between 10-4pm and April 7 at 4pm.
Tickets are £10 and can be purchased from Dee Valley Produce, Oak Street (cash only) or online.
The festival will raise money for the Llangollen Eisteddfod’s charity which helps to bring hundreds of people from across the world for its annual peace festival.
It will also feature daffodil wave and floral displays, with daffodils of all shapes, sizes and material crafted by the community including local schools.
These will be displayed in the church and in St Collen’s Community Hall, which will be hosting stalls, workshops, refreshments, and a raffle on Saturday, April 6.
Michelle Davies, chair of the Floral Committee of the Llangollen Eisteddfod said: “Our daffodil is a recognisable symbol of Wales and a beloved fixture of our gardens and countryside. Why not hold a festival in honour of our favourite flower?
"We have been busy preparing for this for months, and our team have already planted hundreds of bulbs in the grounds of our beautiful 6th century church.
"We have two wonderful concerts planned, all in celebration of the national flower of Wales. All of the money raised will go towards the Llangollen Eisteddfod charity to help us continue welcoming the World to Wales.”
The tradition of decorating the main stage at the International Eisteddfod with flowers began at the first festival in 1947, when a few blooms were placed in jam jars to hide the tent poles that held up the stage’s awning.
Over the past 76 years, the tradition – and the quantities of flowers – has grown, with the displays as iconic as the festival itself.
Father Lee Taylor, the vicar in charge of St Collens Church, Llangollen said: “We are delighted to be hosting the Llangollen Eisteddfod’s floral committee’s celebration of the daffodil.
"The Eisteddfod is synonymous with flowers. Each year, our town welcomes competitors from around the world to perform on a stage splendidly decked out in flowers.
"As well as a symbol of Wales, the daffodil symbolises new beginnings, so we’re delighted to host Llangollen’s first ever festival dedicated to the daffodil.”
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