Holiday history club at Cardiff Castle

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jul 26, 2011

With the school holidays on the horizon, here are some ideas on what to do with the kids throughout this summer.  Where better to spend your holiday than in a castle?

Become a history detective and join the Holiday History Club at Cardiff Castle where children can delve a bit deeper into the past.  Each session will cover a particular period with themed games, trails and craft activities.  Amongst the activities planned will be the chance to dress up as a Roman soldier, see what life was like as medieval knight, help with some household Victorian chores or visit the Castle’s Wartime Shelters for a taste of life on the Home Front.  Entertaining, informative and great fun, these activities will make the summer fly past:

July 28 – Roman

Aug 4 – Medieval

Aug 11 – Tudor

Aug 18 – Victorian

Aug 25 – WWII – Home Front

All sessions start at 10.30am and run until 1pm.  Please note anyone arriving late may miss part or all of an activity.

Children can choose to join the Holiday Club for just one day or attend every week, but places must be booked in advance as numbers are limited.

Tickets:  £10 per session per child.  (One free adult place for up to 3 child tickets)    Please note children do need to be accompanied by an adult.  Not suitable for under 7s

For tickets call: 029 2087 8100

Youth orchestra winds up season on high note

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jul 19, 2011

Cardiff County and Vale of Glamorgan Youth Orchestra will end their season of concerts for 2010 -2011 on a high note at Llandaff Cathedral this week.

The young musicians will perform Saint-Saens’ Organ Symphony on Thursday July 21 (7.30pm), featuring the new Nicholson organ which has been recently installed at the cathedral.

The organ will be played by the notable Welsh organist, Huw Tregelles Williams, former Head of Music at the BBC, who has given organ recitals at venues all over the world during his illustrious career.

The programme will also include Verdi’s “Force of Destiny” overture, Barber’s Adagio for Strings and Mussorgsky’s “Night on a Bare Mountain”. Tickets for the performance are available at the door, costing £10 and £6 for concessions.

Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Freda Salway, said: “This is a terrific way for the youth orchestra to bring the year to a close in an inspiring venue and with such a distinguished performer in their midst. The youth orchestra concerts are always of an extremely high standard and I’m sure this week’s performance will be as enjoyable as usual.”

Love Parks week – 23-31 July 2011

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jul 19, 2011

Butterfly strolls, blooming meadows, tree trails, and bat detecting are all on the bill this summer as part of Love Parks Week 2011.

Love Parks Week is a national campaign which supports and celebrates parks and green spaces and aims to encourage people to use their local parks and discover what they have on offer.

In support of the national campaign, Cardiff Council is running a fun and exciting programme of events to appeal to all the family, taking place at a number of the city’s parks.

Many of the events are free and include wildlife trails, art activities and games for children, a bat discovery walk and a heritage walk to learn about the history of one of the largest Victorian cemeteries in Britain.

Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells said: “We are extremely fortunate that Cardiff boasts more than 56 formal parks and gardens across the city, seven of which are proud winners of the prestigious Green Flag Award.

“They are free resources that are vital in promoting healthy, active and happy communities.

“Our green spaces are beautiful and I encourage people to support Love Parks Week and learn what your local park has to offer.”

Love Parks Week is organised by parks charity GreenSpace. Founded in 2006, the campaign has grown steadily and is now established as a major event that is celebrated in parks across the country. Each year hundreds of events take place enabling thousands of people to get out and enjoy their parks and help put forward the case for reinvestment.

For more information about Love Parks Week please visit www.loveparksweek.org.uk and to learn more about events in Cardiff parks please visit www.cardiff.gov.uk/parks

Dreams come true at the Cardiff big weekend

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jul 18, 2011

In the words of the Admiral Cardiff Big Weekend Saturday headliner, Gabrielle, dreams can come true, especially for Big Gig Winner Ffred Jones.

The Big Gig competition gave local unsigned acts the once in a lifetime opportunity to perform at the Admiral Cardiff Big Weekend and play in front of thousands in the heart of the capital.

Singer songwriter FFred Jones from Newport was crowned the Big Gig Winner on Thursday, July 14 at The Globe music venue following a three day battle of the bands.

Ffred has already appeared on BBC Introducing and 6 Music. Using unusual instrumentation, his great voice and beautiful songs have a haunting quality reminiscent of a 21st Century Nick Drake. On his win last night, Ffred, said: “So stoked, it’s outrageous. I was so nervous before going on, and I’m never nervous. I didn’t think I had a chance, I mean to get through the first round was unreal, but to win? It’s mind blowing.”

The Admiral Cardiff Big Weekend takes place on the 5 to the 7 of August and features three nights of free live music. On Friday in conjunction with the SWN festival the cream of the Welsh crop will perform with Welsh rockers Funeral for a Friend taking to the stage as headliners.

Saturday’s festivities start with the annual Cardiff Mas Carnival and end with multi platinum selling Gabrielle singing new and classic hits.

On Sunday Ffred will kick-start the night and perform in front of thousands. Sunday’s headliners are The Feeling who will bring their feel good music to the Civic Centre.

Executive Member for Sport, Culture and Leisure, Cllr Nigel Howells, said: “Congratulations to Ffred  for winning the Big Gig, I am delighted the inaugural Big Gig competition has captured the attention of so many great new bands and their fans. I hope the performance at the Admiral Cardiff Big Weekend will help him onto the road to success and hopefully he will come back and perform as headliner for the Big Weekend.

“I am also pleased to see Funeral for a Friend and Gabrielle join the already impressive Admiral Cardiff Big Weekend line up. It’s fantastic to see home-grown talent and Brit award winners taking centre stage at one of Wales’ favourite free live music events.”

The confirmed acts for this year’s Admiral Cardiff Big Weekend are:
Friday August 5
Death Before Sunrise
OK
Attack Attack!
Funeral For a Friend

Saturday August 6

Zong Zing
Dom Duff
Jazz Jamaica with Special Guest Myrna Hague
Hayley Scarlett
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Vintage Trouble
Gabrielle

Sunday 7th August
Ffred Jones
Edei
King Charles
Friends Electric
Dodgy
Nerina Pallot
The Feeling

Neighbourhood Learning on course with Cardiff shoppers

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jul 15, 2011

There’s more than bargains and must-haves on offer for shoppers and visitors to the city centre this weekend as Cardiff Council launches the new On Course Neighbourhood Learning guide.

Officers from the Neighbourhood Learning team will be joining shoppers on Queen Street on Saturday, July 16 to promote the new prospectus that is packed full of courses for adults covering computer training, languages, arts and crafts and much, much more, suitable for all ages and abilities at a variety of centres throughout the city.

There’s also the chance for visitors to Central Market and Central Library (9.30am to 3.30pm) to find out what’s on offer, speak to the team about the learning opportunities and pick up a free copy of the guide.

The Council has a range of courses available for people who are completely new to learning and want to broaden their horizons or for learners who want to build on skills or continue with hobbies they have pursued before.

Enrolment for courses, which start in September, opens on Monday, July 18 so there’s never been a better time to find a course that will inspire you to learn.

For those not out and about in the city centre on Saturday, On Course can be downloaded by visiting www.cardiff.gov.uk/learn  or from their nearest Neighbourhood Learning Centre. Alternatively, email adultlearningquery@cardiff.gov.uk

Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Freda Salway, said: “There’s something to suit all ages and abilities in this year’s On Course guide. Saturday will be an opportunity for visitors to the city centre to get some advice on courses they are considering and whet their appetites for something new.”