Wales plays host to an array of music, art and literature festivals every summer — and this August, a celebration of heritage will join the programme as Cadw presents a new history festival for families.

The all-new Kids’ History Festival will see hundreds of unmissable events, ‘cool’ activities and educational experiences arrive at 25 of Wales’s historic sites from August 1 to 25.

It’s all part of Cadw’s Rediscover History campaign, which aims to shine a modern light on Welsh heritage and provide new ways for young people to experience Wales’s castles, abbeys and historic houses during Wales’s 2019 Year of Discovery.

Targeted at children between the ages of 4-16, the Festival will officially open at Caerphilly Castle on August 1 and 2 — offering everything from Lego castle building workshops to feminist history lectures and even medieval character sketching lessons.

Following this, the month-long Festival will continue with a jam-packed calendar of unmissable family events at historic sites across Wales — including everything from Willow Weaving workshops at Oxwich Castle to medieval archery lessons at Caernarfon Castle and even an interactive dragon parade at Cilgerran Castle.

And finally, on Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25, the Kids’ History Festival will formally close at Beaumaris Castle’s annual Medieval Extravaganza, which will celebrate its tenth anniversary in summer 2019 — complete with medieval parades, armoury displays, traditional music and entertainment from minstrels, jesters and even the Castle’s executioner!

With no prior booking required, general admission fees will apply to each Kids’ History Festival event — including the large-scale opening and closing ceremonies at the Castles of Caerphilly and Beaumaris.

Plus, guests to the opening and closing events will receive a special Kids’ History Festival wrist-band on arrival (while stock lasts) and unlimited access to all of the activities and workshops taking place on site.

The ‘Grand Opening’ weekend at Caerphilly Castle will offer a huge range of different activities, experiences and workshops for families to enjoy across the first two days of August, including: medieval character sketching lessons, Lego castle building workshops*, a medieval games emporium, medieval entertainment from Fiery Jack the Jester, sword school, face-painting

and musical performances — medieval style.Festival-goers in Caerphilly can also step into a giant arts-and-crafts tent, where they’ll have the opportunity to paint a huge cardboard castle, take part in the creation of an enormous dragon mural and make their very own medieval shield, sword or crown using recycled waste.

Meanwhile, visitors will also have the chance to take part in regular interactive story-telling sessions with children’s author, Mike Church, and listen to an inspirational talk about women in Welsh history with Cadw Archaeologist, Erin Lloyd Jones — at 1pm inside the Castle’s Great Hall.

All activities will be on offer for the duration of the Caerphilly Castle event — with the exception of the Lego workshops which will be available on a first-come-first-served basis. Two sessions will take place each day, with the first between 11am and 12.30pm and the second between 2pm and 3.30pm.

Meanwhile, the finale event will see Beaumaris Castle bursting at the seams with medieval-themed activities and family-friendly entertainment, including heart-stopping battle re-enactments, weaponry demonstrations, jester workshops and Lego castle building sessions.

Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Elis-Thomas, said: “After many months of planning and preparation, I am delighted to reveal the plans for Cadw’s first ever Kids’ History Festival — which has been designed to capture the imaginations of 4-16 year-old historians and provide opportunities for children to learn new skills at Wales’s historic sites.

“We are always looking at new ways of engaging young people in Welsh history and the month-long Kids’ History Festival has been designed to do just that — with a mix of fun, unusual but most importantly, educational activities on offer for families to enjoy during the school summer holidays.

“I look forward to the festival’s official launch at Caerphilly Castle and hope that the Festival’s contemporary approach to heritage education will inspire the children of Wales and beyond to explore Wales’s unique history and culture for years to come.”