Sunshine and vibrant community spirit set the tone for the first event of the year in Caerphilly town centre, as the Caerphilly Food & Drink Festival welcomed nearly 10,000 visitors on a day filled with flavour and fun.
The festival, which took place on Saturday 12th April, saw people of all ages turning out to enjoy the packed programme of activities including everything from street food and local artisan stalls to funfair rides, craft workshops, and birds of prey displays.
There was a standout lineup of traders offering a huge selection of sweet treats and savoury delights. Many traders reported a sell-out day and cookery demonstrations from Artisan Cooks also proved especially popular with budding chefs.
Across the town, seating areas at the castle banking and Twyn Car Park provided perfect spots for visitors to relax and enjoy their food and drinks. Children were kept entertained with hands-on food activities, sand art, and quirky photo booths, making it a memorable day out for the whole family.
The event also saw fantastic engagement from Caerphilly’s local businesses, many of whom stepped outside their premises to greet visitors and hand out flyers. The strong footfall not only boosted sales but also introduced visitors to the range of businesses the town has to offer, encouraging future visits and long-term support for the local economy.
Caerphilly will be host to Pride Caerffili, Caerphilly Cheese Festival and a Christmas market later in the year – more key dates to help support local business.
Hear what local businesses and traders thought of the festival:
Kookoo Madame – “Caerphilly was alive, it was so lovely to see our town buzzing for the Caerphilly Food and Drink Festival. It was lovely to meet so many new customers and dogs.”
Caerphilly Artisan Market – “What a fantastic day. Thank you so much to everyone who joined us today at the Twyn Community Centre, our gorgeous small businesses, every beautiful customer who came along to support them, Stacy and Sarah and all the team at Visit Caerphilly, you smashed it out the park again. Thank you for letting Caerphilly Artisan Market be a part of it.”
Glanmor’s, Cardiff Road – “It’s always a busy event and as usual, we were very busy. The weather was really nice, and it was great to see the traders outside doing so well.”
Perrett’s Produce, Windsor Street – “We couldn’t believe how busy it was! We used the opportunity to signpost people to our greengrocers on Windsor Street as we are fairly new in town, and we did really well.”
The Deli, St Fagans Street – “We saw several new faces in our café, which is always good to see. The vibe at the festival was really lovely and if we hadn’t been so busy I would have liked to spend time at the festival myself.”
Lady of The Lake, Ffos Caerffili – “I thought it was a brilliant event and brings so much footfall to the town. It was fantastic!”
Abbots Events – “Another fantastic event – the atmosphere was electric, and we’re proud to have had our best sales day for the third year running. Huge thanks to the organisers for pulling it all together so smoothly, and to the amazing local community, whose support and positivity make this event such a joy to be part of every year.”
Doughnutterie – “Thank you for having us! We’ve had a fantastic day, sold out early. The whole atmosphere of the festival was nice and relaxed.”
The Pattyman – “I would just like to congratulate you all on the fantastic event. What a turnout! I took extra stock of my delicious Patties but never expected to sell out! Especially by 3pm! Best event of the year so far. the Public were brilliant!”
The Pembrokeshire Cheesecake Co. – “I had another sell out year with record numbers being sold. I increased my stock my 25% after a sell out last year and sold out again by 3:30pm. The amount of people who came to my stall and said they’ve been waiting a year to see me again and stock up on my cheesecake was just brilliant. It was a fabulous day, the weather was kind to us and the vibe was electric…thank you all, so very much!”
So far this spring, Caerphilly Food & Drink Festival, alongside the Blackwood and Ystrad Mynach spring events, has helped draw over 20,000 people to our town centres, with nearly 13,000 additional visitors exploring the region. The continued growth and popularity of these events are helping to raise the profile of our towns and deliver lasting benefits to the community.
Next up is the Bargoed May Fair, taking place on Saturday 3rd May in Bargoed Town Centre, where visitors can look forward to a lively day themed around iconic TV cars and packed with entertainment.
For full event listings and updates, visit the Bargoed May Fair page and follow Visit Caerphilly on social media.
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