Not one, but three, major festivals for Wales in America this year
Wales is really making an impression in America this year, what with the prestigious Smithsonian Folklife Festival starting in Washington DC today with Wales at center-stage. However that’s just the start: there are two more festivals coming up – one in Portland and the other in Pittsburgh – and we’re also delighted that there are a large number of Welsh societies across the US and Canada holding meetings and events throughout the year.
The first Left Coast Eisteddfod will take place in Portland, Oregon on August 21st and 22nd. It’s organized by the folks at AmeriCymru - a great social networking site for Americans interested in Wales. I had a chat with Ceri Shaw and Gaabriel Becket who are organizing the Left Coast Eisteddfod, and it sounds amazing:
“This is an exciting event which brings together some absolutely amazing artists to introduce people to modern, living Welsh culture. Many Americans, including many Americans of Welsh ancestry, have no idea what Wales is about and we want to show them. We believe Portland is the perfect fit for this event. It's a literate, creative city in a state that's got some common cultural ground with Wales. We really feel that putting these two cultures together could result in something interesting. We also want to show that the Welsh can throw a really good party.”
Highlights across the two days will include performers and artists: Chris Needs, Bruce Anderson, Oceans Apart, Tyler Stenson, Here Be Dragons, Jesus Presley and Runaway Norm. There will also be the chance to shop in a Welsh market. There’s full info. about the festival on the Left Coast Eisteddfod website. If you’re thinking of heading to Portland, check out www.travelportland.com as our friends there offer a warm welcome to their cool city!
The Festival of Wales will take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania this year on September 3rd through 6th. The festival will feature the 78th National Gymanfa Ganu, the National Eisteddfod and a Welsh Market Place, as well as a series of seminars.
There will be plenty of performances to enjoy at the festival, especially at The Eisteddfod, which is a series of competitions comprising singing, recitation and dance, and at the concerts featuring Ar Log, Dafydd Iwan and the Côr Cymry Gogledd American Choir. Seminars will include Welsh language lessons, the Welsh fiddle, Welsh cartoons, and the origin of Welsh Lovespoons. There will also be screenings of Welsh films.
Don Hughes, a trustee of the Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association, told me: “Anyone loving Wales, being Welsh or Welsh wannabees will be excited at this event. One of the many highlights will be seminars on Wales' Hollywood connections, and we’ll even have the Oscar won by Jack Howell's movie 'Dylan' on display.”
There’s full information about the festival and how to attend on the Festival of Wales website.
In addition to these exciting festivals, Welsh societies across the United States and Canada offer a great welcome to the Welsh and fans of Wales in North America. Check out information about Welsh societies at www.homecomingwales.com.