Parade launches festival for 2018

A PARADE was held in Cardiff city centre yesterday to celebrate the fact that the National Eisteddfod is being held in Cardiff Bay in 2018.

The Cardiff National Eisteddfod Proclamation Festival was held outside City Hall and there was a whole host of performances to give people a taste of what’s to come when the major event is in the Welsh capital during summer 2018.

It started with a parade from National Museum Cardiff, which wound its way through the city centre back to the lawn outside City Hall for the proclamation ceremony.

Historically, the Eisteddfod’s intention to visit an area must be proclaimed at least a year and a day before the beginning of the festival. This is when the List of Competitions is published, which includes information for anyone wishing to compete this year.

A group of young girls from the area also took part in the ceremony as flower girls. The Flower Dance is a colourful part of all the Gorsedd ceremonies, with the girls performing a dance based on the patterns of collecting flowers from the meadows and fields.

The Cardiff National Eisteddfod will be held in Cardiff Bay from August 3 to 11, 2018.

The 2017 Eisteddfod is taking place on Anglesey from August 4 to 12.