80,000 Visitors Enjoy The Big Cheese Festival 2016

The Big Cheese Festival has once again proved a tremendous success with an estimated close to 80,000 visitors flocking to Caerphilly to witness the delights on offer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The weekend of summer fun kicked off on Friday evening with The Great Cheese Race, where competitors worked in pairs in a race to carry a truckle of Caerphilly Cheese on a stretcher. The race was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended, with Whitchurch valley Hockey Club crowned as winners of the senior race and Bolton Diamonds coming away victorious in the junior race. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Music was also a highlight of the big Cheese, with the music marquee hosting the likes of Kizzy Crawford, Gin Rummy, Danielle Lewis and Feelgood Experiment, while the Great Hall was home to the sounds of Caerphilly Ladies Choir, The Melody Makers, Aber Valley Male Voice Choir and many more. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A designated re-enactment area was also available throughout the weekend to entertain history lovers including re-enactments from the 10th Century, as well as the Roman and Medieval era. Pembrokeshire Falconry also entertained crowds of families on both Saturday and Sunday. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Food and Craft stalls filled the Big Cheese site, with visitors enjoying food and drink galore. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Sustainable Development said: “I am delighted that so many visitors once again enjoyed the Big Cheese Festival, which has been the highlight of summer in Caerphilly for 19 years. The calibre of entertainment on offer, as well as the huge range of food and craft stalls made the festival a brilliant day out for the whole family”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​