A Gob-Stopping Number Of Events To Celebrate Roald Dahl Centenary

This year marks a century since the birth of the master storyteller Roald Dahl. Born in Cardiff, Dahl went on to write some of the finest children’s books of all time, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The Twits, and The BFG. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Special events are taking place across the world to mark the centenary, and there’s plenty going on locally in Bridgend County Borough including… ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Summer Reading Challenge ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Summer Reading Challenge sets children the task of reading six books during the school holidays, and this year’s challenge has a Roald Dahl theme! Participants also collect stickers and earn certificates if they complete the challenge. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Town centre puzzle trails ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As well as taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge, young readers can also win their own collection of Roald Dahl books by taking part in a giant ‘peach’ of a competition by hunting down famous illustrations from Dahl’s books across Bridgend and Porthcawl! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

World record attempt ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

All are invited to a special event at Newbridge Fields in Bridgend from 11am – 1pm on Saturday 20 August when there will be a world record attempt to gather the most people dressed as Roald Dahl characters in one place! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Outdoor theatre at Bryngarw ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

On Wednesday 10 August there’s an open-air-theatre performance of ‘Danny the Champion of the World’ at Bryngarw Country Park from 7pm. Tickets cost £13 for adults, £9 for children, or £40 for a family of four (two adults plus two children). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Arts and crafts ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Awen Cultural Trust have organised a series of arts and crafts sessions at Bryngarw Country Park based on Roald Dahl books, such as making yucky beards like Mr Twit, and designing your own sweets like Willy Wonka! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Nature trails ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

On Wednesday 10 August you can follow a Fantastic Mr Fox inspired trail around Bryngarw Country Park. Collect your map from the visitor centre between 1pm and 4pm. Cost: £2 per child. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Also look out for film clubs, fancy dress parties, story times, craft sessions and other Roald Dahl inspired activities at local libraries throughout the holidays! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​