The organisers of CROESO have once again promised a two-day festival in Swansea filled with big-name chefs, live music and a lot of fun.
It’s a two-day festival celebrating St David’s Day and all things Welsh held in Swansea’s City Centre and there is everything you could hope for, and more, and it all began yesterday Friday (24th February), with plenty more in store today.
We know people always say that, but the guys in Swansea have an absolutely jam-packed weekend in store. There’ll be Food, Drink, Music, Dancing and a chance for you to brush up or learn Welsh.
There is so much going on that you’ll need to visit more than once to take it all in, and why wouldn’t you? This year’s event will feature the best of local Welsh culture, which is what St David’s Day is all about anyway.
- Food and drink
- Cooking demonstrations
- Live music
- Poetry
- Street entertainers
- Workshops
- Art and crafts
- St David’s Parade
- Children’s activities
Head to Castle Square to hear the wonderful sounds of Welsh music before moving to Portland Street and Oxford Street where you can sample the best of Welsh food, drink, and handcrafted goods. Don’t miss the cooking demonstrations and craft workshops.
Council cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said……..
“We’ve got a great line-up of talented chefs to showcase Welsh food and drink and attract new people into the city centre.”
One chef cooking for the crowds this year is JOHN PARTRIDGE, no stranger to Eastenders fans.
He’s best known for the long-running role of Christian Clarke in BBC’s show. In 2018 John shared his other talent in the kitchen which saw him crowned Celebrity MasterChef.
He’ll be cooking his delicious Welsh lamb meatballs at 3pm on Saturday.
Also sharing his top culinary tips will be JACK STEIN. Renowned for working with his dad Rick, he has a passion for good cooking, which we’ve seen many times on TV and various shows around South Wales, including the Abergavenny Food Festival.
He has worked as a chef in restaurants across the world and is now chef director of Rick Stein Restaurants.
KWOKLYN WAN is a worldwide bestselling author and TV chef; and HYWEL GRIFFITH is chef director at Beach House in Oxwich.
Event Director Kathryn Jones added……
“We’re extremely proud of our rural roots, which is why supplying and promoting regional produce is one of our core values.”
Along with the cookery at Croeso, there’ll be a host of other fun for the family.
Cooking Demonstrations
Saturday 25 February at Portland Street Marquee
- 11am: Hywel Griffith (Beach House, Oxwich)
- 12pm: Matt Waldron (Stackpole Inn / Gordon Ramsay: Unchartered Showdown)
- 1pm: Kwoklyn Wan (This Morning / Steph’s Packed Lunch)
- 2pm: Katie Davies (Britain’s Best Home Cook)
- 3pm: John Partridge (Celebrity Masterchef Winner / Eastenders)
Oxford Street
- 11am: Katie Davies Kids Cookery Workshop
- 12pm: Sian Day Kids Cookery Workshop
- 2pm: Sian Day Kids Cookery Workshop
- 3pm: Cocktails by Distill + Fill
Immerse yourself in the Welsh language at the Cwtsh Marquee. With music, poetry, and live entertainment you’ll find plenty of Welsh culture to enjoy at Croeso. Be sure to say ‘Shwmae!’ (Hello!) to the friendly folk of Menter Iaith Abertawe. They’ll be offering a warm Welsh welcome to everyone, and plenty of help for those of you learning Welsh, or considering it.
Live Entertainment at Castle Square
Saturday 25 February
- 11am: Phoenix Choir of Wales
- 11.30pm: Mellin Arts
- 12pm: Asha Jane
- 12.30pm Parade
- 1pm: Dafydd Hedd
- 1.30pm: Roly Poly Children’s Entertainment
- 2pm: Tom Emlyn
- 2.30pm: Roly Poly Children’s Entertainment
- 3pm: Llyffant
- 3.40pm: Ukrainian thank you to Wales
Host: Helen Enser Morgan
Saturday 25 February Busking Stages
- Founders: 2pm – Bowen
- Jam Jar: 2pm – Eleri Angharad
Free Family Fun
- Street Entertainers
- Join the Croeso Trail
- Learn Welsh Opportunities
- Arts and Crafts Bus
- Have a Try Sporting Sessions
- Croeso Parade
Croeso Trail!
When you’re visiting the 2023 Croeso festival, make sure to pick up a competition flyer and follow the St. David’s Trail to win some great prizes!
Hidden in various shops across the city centre are different Welsh-themed images. Find and note all 10 and you can win yourself a prize goody-bag.
Everyone who completes the trail will be awarded a small gift, but post your completed flyer into the postbox in Castle Square to be in with a chance of winning a bigger prize in our prize draw!
Competition flyers include a map for you to find the various images, will be available from all trail participant store locations, castle square, Swansea Market, the Menter Iaith marquee and cookery demonstration marquee. Then just post your completed flyer in to the post box in Castle Square to enter!
Croeso Nightworks
Swansea Council have teamed up with Swansea Music Hub, Menter Iaith Abertawe and venues across Swansea city centre to present Croeso Nightworks, two nights of live Welsh music – what’s not to like!
Saturday 25 February
Tangled Parrot
- 19:00-19:30 – Grack Mack and the Pack
- 19:45-20:15 – Kid Mercury
- 20:30-21:00 – Ynys (Solo)
- 21:15-22:00 – Mali Hâf
Elysium
- 19:20-19:50 – Maes Parcio
- 20:05-20:35 – The Dirty Flamingos
- 20:50-21:20 – The Night School
- 21:45-22:15 – Grey FLX
The CROESO ST DAVID’S FESTIVAL in Swansea City Centre, is today between 11am – 4pm both days. There really is so much to see and feast. For more details, go here. CROESO
