How to use this page
This is a thematic version of the archived 2016 events list. Everything here took place in the past, and dates vary from year to year. Treat it as inspiration and check with each organiser before planning a trip.
Music and arts
- Festival No.6 at Portmeirion, in its fourth year, at the start of September
- North Wales Bluegrass Music Festival in Conwy, a 28th edition
- Conwy Classical Music Festival in late July
- Sesiwn Fawr in Dolgellau, a popular July music weekend
- Llangollen International Eisteddfod, early July
- Rock Ardudwy in Harlech and the Barmouth Country and Western Festival
Running, walking and cycling
- Trail Marathon Wales and Trail 10k at Coed y Brenin
- Scott Snowdonia Trail Marathon and the International Snowdon Race from Llanberis
- Snowdon Moonlight Challenge and Snowdon Mountain Challenge
- Bala Challenge walk and the road race around Bala
- Race the Train at Tywyn
- Pig Ultra Duathlon at Dolgellau
- The Man versus Horse Marathon at Llanwrtyd Wells, which began in June 1980 after a pub conversation about whether people or horses are faster over rough terrain
- Welsh International Four Days’ Walks at Llanwrtyd Wells in September, a non-competitive event linked to an international walking awards scheme
On the water
All Wales Boat Show, Abersoch Regatta, Big Brutal Swim at Llyn Padarn, the Menai Strait raft run, the Three Peaks Yacht Race and the Mawddach Paddlesports Festival.
Shows and community occasions
Caernarfon, Eglwysbach, Llanrwst and Bala all staged agricultural shows, the Royal Welsh Show used Meirionnydd as its host county, and Conwy held a honey fair with local produce and crafts.
Family days
A pirate weekend in Conwy, beach fun at Llandanwg and railway days at Dinas Station and Fairbourne.
For venue-specific pages, see Conwy, Porthmadog, Plas Heli and Electric Mountain. The core listing is at Snowdonia events.
A closer look at selected events
Man versus Horse Marathon, Llanwrtyd Wells. The race dates from 1980 and began after a debate in a hotel bar about whether people or horses are quicker over hilly ground. The landlord at the time turned the argument into a running event, and it grew into an international fixture. In 2016 it fell in the middle of June.
Welsh International Four Days’ Walks. Based at Llanwrtyd Wells in mid-September, this non-competitive walking festival aims to bring walkers together and show off the scenery. It is linked to an international scheme for popular sports, and participants who complete their chosen routes receive certificates.
Race the Train, Tywyn. Runners compete against a narrow-gauge train. Some have taken part almost every year since it began, either to improve a time or to try to beat the engine.
Big Brutal Swim, Llyn Padarn. The lake was formed by glaciers and is among the deepest in Wales. It is also home to a fish, the Arctic char, left over from the last ice age.
Glass Butter Beach. A festival near Abersoch that mixes action sports, music and beach culture over a long weekend in August.
Using the list
The mix of free community occasions and ticketed, organised races means that there is something for most budgets. Check the organiser’s current website for dates and rules. Because this page reflects the 2016 season, treat it as a guide to the kinds of events the region hosts rather than a schedule.