This page relates to our 2024 Festival and is for information only. Our 2025 Festival will have similar family activities.
The Castle grounds are where you will find family activities. These take place on the Lower Lawns — all part of the Day Stroller Ticket experience (with free entry to the Festival for children under 16 if with a paying adult).
Castell Howell Kids’ Cookery School – run by Cook Stars
The Cookery School is run – as usual – by Sara Butler of Cook Stars Newport Ebbw Vale and Monmouthshire
.There are ten bookable ‘Make Bara Brith‘ sessions across the weekend, located in the cookery school tent. The sessions are FREE, but YOU MUST HAVE AN ADULT FESTIVAL MULTI-VENUE STROLLER TICKET TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE CASTLE GROUNDS. On Saturday we have a Welsh language session (11am-12pm) and a Young Family Session for children ages 2-8 years old (2.00-300pm). On Sunday we have a Quiet Session (9.30am-10.30am), perfect for children with additional needs eg sensory processing, or who just prefer a quieter environment. Our children’s cookery school is run by Sara Butler.
View schedule below and BOOK HERE via the Cook Stars website. Put ‘Abergavenny Food Festival’ into ‘search’.
Make Bara Brith
Come and join us and celebrate Welsh food by making some Bara Brith. Perfect to eat at breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea. Children will make their Bara Brith from scratch. Whilst they are baking we will be taking part in a family friendly food quiz (with prizes!) and a Welsh-themed activity. These workshops are a fantastic way of entertaining the children for an hour. Children aged 5 and above can be left. Children aged below 5 must have an adult stay with them at all times. Sorry NO alcohol allowed in the tent.
SATURDAY 21 SEPTEMBER
SESSION 1: 9.30am – 10.30am (ages 2-11)
SESSION 2: 11.00am – 12.00pm (ages 2-11) Welsh Language Session
SESSION 3: 12.30pm -1.30pm (ages 2-11)
SESSION 4: 2.00pm – 3.00pm (ages 2-8) Young Family Session
SESSION 5: 3.30pm – 4.30pm (ages 2-11)
SUNDAY 22 SEPTEMBER
SESSION 1: 9.30am -10.30am (ages 2-16) Quiet Session
[ SESSION 2: 11.00am – 12.00pm (ages 2-11) – not available to the public ]
SESSION 3: 12.30pm -1.30pm (ages 2-11)
SESSION 4: 2.00pm – 3.00pm (ages 2-11)
SESSION 5: 3.30pm – 4.30pm (ages 2-11)
Family Entertainment in the Castle Grounds
Amongst the willow structures, on the Lower Lawns, find ConCon with biodegradable and environmentally friendly hair glitter and face painting, baby feeding and changing tent, and Shepherds Ice Cream bike. At the Stump Up for Trees stall, the charity is giving away native trees with the aim of planting a million in the Bannau Brycheioniog area.
Willow Weaving Workshop
An opportunity for the whole family to get creative, making willow dragonflies, bird and snails, with Becky and Jon White.
Flower Crowns
Make delightful headdresses and crowns, with organic flowers grown locally by Franny and Harriet, from The Green Flower Company.
Amazing Bees
Meet Christian Maass and learn about naturally resilient Darwinian Bee Keeping; study live bees and try soothing balms made with bees wax and propolis.
Fun and Games
Join Monsieur BonBon and Madame Saucisson for traditional family games and challenges with donuts!
The duo will also be hosting the Musical Food Quiz at 3.30pm on Saturday; and again at 3.30pm on Sunday in the Octopus Books Dome – the Festival’s joyful finale!
