A pinnacle of the Welsh cultural calendar Carmarthenshire County Council welcomes the National Eisteddfod back to Llanelli.

The eisteddfod alternates between North and South Wales each year and Llanelli was chosen as host in 2012.

There will be around 150,000 visitors to the county to celebrate the best of Welsh language and culture.

Cllr Daff Davies said: “It is a pleasure to extend a warm welcome to everyone to the Festival Fields in Llanelli, to the Carmarthenshire National Eisteddfod.”

The Council, with the National Eisteddfod and Welsh Government promoted a series of trading opportunities available to Carmarthenshire businesses with “Spotlight on your Business events” and a range of procurement opportunities.

The Eisteddfod partners have worked hard to spread the benefits by working with local traders and using the new Ffwrnes theatre to draw the town centre into the festival.

Fund-raising for the event locally has already smashed its £320,000 target, President of the Court of the Eisteddfod Garry Nicholas said:

“Carmarthenshire’s local committees had passed their target of £320,000 and had raised £400,000, the best ever sum for the Eisteddfod.”

“Here is the opportunity to celebrate the hard work of our communities and of committees across Carmarthenshire who have come together to support the festival.

“Travelling around the county we have seen the warm welcome that awaits visitors from all over Wales and further afield.”

Visitors can travel from Carmarthen to Llanelli on the West Wales train line.

A free shuttle bus service will run every 20 minutes from Llanelli’s rail and bus stations to the Maes, completing all journeys made by public transport from Carmarthenshire.

The first shuttle bus will leave Llanelli rail station at 08.05am and the bus station at 08.10am.

The last bus will leave the rail station at 10.05pm and the bus station at 10.10pm.

There is a full programme of events all week at the council’s base on site.

Pentre Cyngor Sir Gâr, starting at 10am each day on the Stage and the Leisure Area and at 11.30am in the Learn and Play Tent.

For further details visit: www.eisteddfod.org.uk

For travel information go to TravelineCymru.info or call Traveline Cymru on 0871 200 22 33.