AMMANFORD is once again preparing to step back into the mists of time for the fourth annual Gwyl yTwrch Trwyth Festival.

Visitors and residents will be able to soak up the medieval atmosphere as the town celebrates the town’s connection with one of the most famous stories from The Mabinogion.

The Twrch Trwyth, a legendary wild boar, was hunted through Ammanford and the Amman Valley by King Arthur and his knights.

In the tale of Culhwch and Olwen, the Trwch Trwyth was chased from St David’s and through Ammanford.

The amazing Twrch will play a leading role in the free festival which will take place over the weekend of Saturday, September 16 and Sunday, September 17.

Visitors to the event will see Ammanford Park transformed to a colourful and exciting medieval village, filled with street performers, family friendly activities, music and medieval characters.

Excitement has been building all year since last year’s Boar Festival and this year you can expect more medieval fun, more attractions, more activities and more live entertainment.

The weekend starts with the Order of the Boar Procession through the high street at 11.30am on Saturday, where local people will be honoured for the community work they have done in the area throughout the year.

King Arthur will lead the parade to the park where the event will be officially opened at 12 noon.

Once in the park, visitors will be able to walk around the live history camp while stories are performed and told of different parts of the legend that follow the story of Culhwch and his exciting adventures through the Amman Valley to win Olwen’s hand.

The Birds of Prey Flying Display will be on hand to entertain the crowds at 12.30pm and 2.25pm and there is a BOARS re-enactment taking place at 3.30pm.

Live music will be playing throughout the event and Lotus Sisters Belly Dancers will be showing off their talents at 6.30pm.

Be prepared to be amazed when the Circusdayze Fireshow takes centre stage at 7.30pm before live entertainment plays until the first day comes to an end.

Ammanford Town Council Community Development Officer Fiona Wilkins said: "This year we have medieval traders taking part in workshops where children will be able to go home with a leather keyring and double the amount of re-enactment actors compared to previous years."

For the big kids, don't forget to visit the newly-added Prosecco bar which will keep visitors refreshed across the weekend.

Sunday begins with a welcome and the Order of the Boar Presentation at 12pm before Birds of Prey Flying Display return with their incredible flight shows at 12.30pm and 2.25pm.

As well as Bowlore, there will be “Have-a-go” archery, donkey rides, all kinds of music as well as a real medieval tavern serving 'Real ale' beers and ciders across the two-day event.

Once again event organisers are looking to the shops of Ammanford to help them bring the true atmosphere of the Medieval Twrch Trwyth story to the visitors of Ammanford over the weekend.

This year’s window competition is the focussed on the journey of the Twrch.

Organisers would like to see your Twrch in a place he visited on his journey to Ammanford, you can include friends that he travelled with or souvenirs he may have picked up on his way.

The winner of the Window Competition will be picked by King Arthur on Friday, September 15 and a cheque of £50 along with a certificate will be presented to the winner at the opening ceremony of the festival.

Returning to this year’s medieval festivities is the Order of the Boar procession.

The Gwyl y Trwch Trwyth decided last year to add a whole new feature to the festival to recognise deserving individuals in the community.

The weekend starts with the Order of the Boar procession through Quay Street where selected locals from the Dinefwr community will be honoured for the work they have carried out in the area throughout the year.

King Arthur will be present and lead the procession to Ammanford Park where he will officially open the event.

This will be the second year for the ceremony and the winning recipients will receive a Trwch Trwyth broach, take part in the festival parade and be guests of honour throughout the festival.

The categories are Schools, Community, Businesses, Charity and volunteers, Arts and culture and Sport – based on the Mabinogion tales.

The festival committee has received nominations and reasons based on the above categories and will decide the winners and produce scrolls with the nomination reasons.

Winners will be informed prior to the event, but the scroll and roach will be handed over at the festival.