Latest news with #BigSplashFestival
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Gwent's weekend packed with events for every age group
The popular Big Splash festival will return for 2025, transforming the city into a bustling arts hub on Saturday, July 19, and Sunday, July 20. Organised by The Riverfront, the annual festival is expected to draw thousands to the city, with a line-up of live music, street theatre, dance performances, workshops, and family-friendly activities. Big Splash returns to Newport this weekend (Image: Newport Live) The event is free and open to people of all ages. It has been described as "a slice of Covent Garden in Newport." They will play classics from the Pet Shop Boys, Erasure, and other 80s favourites. The Place on Bridge Street will be running a Silent Disco City Tour on Saturday, July 19. (Image: Supplied) This family-friendly activity involves donning headsets and exploring the city and Big Splash Festival in a unique way. The tours will be held from 1pm to 1.30pm and from 2pm to 2.30pm, but booking is essential. Tredegar House will also be hosting a "Summer of Play" starting from Saturday, July 19. Tredegar House's 'Summer of Play' launches this weekend (Image: Supplied) This is an Edwardian-inspired event with a giant sand pit, colourful beach huts, and sensory tents filled with sea sounds and textures, aimed at neurodivergent visitors. The event is sponsored by Starling Bank and is designed for all ages. Children can enjoy building sandcastles, dressing up in Edwardian seaside fashion, and make-believe play. Visitors can even pose in a traditional seaside cut-out or take a family photo on a giant deckchair. There are also 90 acres of grounds to explore, with shady picnic spots for enjoying an ice cream. No pre-booking is required for the Summer of Play. Normal admission charges apply, but National Trust members can enjoy free entry and parking. The National Trust Cymru has promised a "joyful day out" for families at the event. They said: "Whether you're chasing that classic holiday feeling close to home or looking for a fun day out with the family, Tredegar House promises an adventure that will last all summer long." For more information, visit the National Trust website. With such a variety of events on offer, Newport promises a weekend full of fun and excitement for all ages.
South Wales Argus
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Jayne Bryant on the summer celebrations in Newport
There is so much to come, including Windrush Celebration Day at the Share Centre on June 22, which promises to be a joyful afternoon celebrating the rich contributions of our Windrush communities. The Caerleon Arts Festival returns in July, bringing creativity and colour to spaces across the area, and the Big Splash Festival is on July 19 and 20, set to fill Newport city centre with performances and activities for all ages. In May, Newport Women's Forum hosted another brilliant afternoon tea. Extremely grateful to the women who joined us at the Holiday Inn Newport. It was a wonderful afternoon filled with great company and support for a fantastic cause. This year's event was a little different, opening with a powerful performance by Herstory Theatre Company. Clare Drewett and Adele Cordner brought the inspiring story of Betsi Cadwaladr to life. Applications for this year's bursary award are still open, so if you or someone you know would like to apply, there's still time: We have also had the welcome news that the UK Labour Government's spending review is delivering £445 million for rail in Wales. I have long called for urgency in delivering the proposals from the Burns Delivery Unit. With both Labour governments focusing on public transport infrastructure, these new stations across Newport, including one in Newport West, will make a real difference to how we travel, while helping to free up space on our roads. For many constituents, it will be good to know that Wales is continuing to make important progress in women's health, with new measures aimed at improving care and dignity. GPs across Wales are being trained to recognise endometriosis earlier, helping reduce delays in diagnosis and improving outcomes. Access to free period products is expanding in public spaces, supported by the Welsh Government's £3.2 million Period Dignity fund, a vital step in tackling period poverty. As your Member of the Senedd, I am here to help Newport West constituents with any devolved issues. Please don't hesitate to get in touch at or call 01633 376627. Jayne Bryant is MS for Newport West.
South Wales Argus
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Five great things on throughout Newport this summer
As the days get longer and the temperature is gradually soaring, this can only mean one thing – summer is right around the corner – and it's time for the anticipation of summer plans to begin. Whether you're gearing up for summer holiday plans with the kids, or looking for a fun weekend festival, here are some of the highlights of Newport's upcoming activities. Big Splash Festival Big Splash is returning to Newport for 2025 this summer (Image: NQ) Returning this Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th July is Wales's biggest free outdoor arts festival – 'The Big Splash'. Organised by The Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre, the festival turns Newport City centre into a bright and vibrant hub of live music, dance, theatre, and more across a range of performances throughout the day. These spectacles take place across The Celebrate Stage, The Dock Stage, and Usk Plaza Zone. Best of all, the event is free of charge! You can find out what to expect by reading about last year's Big Splash. The festival is also calling out to the local community, giving choirs, dance groups, musicians, storytellers, poets – even circus performers, or anyone with a creative flare a fantastic opportunity to perform, encouraging performers from a wide and diverse range of backgrounds. The deadline for submissions is Sunday 1st June, with more volunteering opportunities to come. Colour Clash Colour Clash will return to Coronation Park for 2025 (Image: Google) While Big Splash is the perfect festival feel for all the family, Newport's Colour Clash is one for the adults to look out for. This over 18s only event will take place in Coronation Park on Saturday 2nd August. The main stage lineup includes Bru-C, Bugzy Malone and Jax Jones with loads of other artists performing across the two stages – the Main and Logic stages. This one-day festival is still selling tickets, which you can book on the Colour Clash's official website. This includes general entry and exclusive VIP tickets if you want to upgrade your day! Events at Tredegar House Tredegar House (Image: Wales News Service) Aside from festival fun, Tredegar House is the place to be to entertain the little ones all throughout the summer holidays. The Blossom Spotter Trail runs from Saturday the 24th May to Sunday the 1st June, where you can explore the house and gardens while searching for blossom-inspired decorations. The mansion is also hosting a Summer of Play, bringing the joy of the seaside right into the heart of Newport. With a giant sandpit, colourful beach huts, the chance for performative play, and neurodivergent-friendly sensory tents, the kids can let their imaginations run wild. Both events are free additions upon the standard admission fee for Tredegar House. Make your own Welsh Spirit With the Spirit of Wales, you can make your very own Welsh gin or Welsh rum – this will run each week beginning Wednesday the 14th May. The experience starts with a welcome drink, followed by a masterclass in the spirit production including distilling, filtering, and bottling with a wax stamp and label. Before bottling, you are poured a drink with your newly created gin or rum. One still can be created between one, two, or four people – you can book tickets on Spirit of Wales's website. Events at the RSPB Newport Wetlands RSPB Newport Wetlands are hosting lots of events this summer (Image: Google) The RSPB are offering groups of up to five an exclusive, bespoke tour of the Newport Wetlands, which can be booked for up to one-and-a-half hours. The tours include general nature walks, as well as birding, historical and photography walks. If your kids want to explore the underwater world, the RSPB are also offering a unique pond dipping experience from Monday the 26th to Friday the 30th May. Equipment and spotting sheets will be provided. Finally, more geared towards adults, a bumblebee identification and guided walk will be running on Saturday the 28th June, Saturday the 12th July, and Saturday the 9th August. This particularly encourages those interested in the natural world and conservation. Tickets to all these events can be found on the RSPB website.
