Legendary Merlin Festival Set To Return To Carmarthen

Carmarthen’s legendary Merlin Festival is planned for a relaunch in 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The event aims to celebrate the “Year of the Legend” in Carmarthenshire, one of a series of themed years being spearheaded by Visit Wales to promote what the country has to offer to tourists. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The current 2016 ‘Year of Adventure’ is aimed at the growing action holiday market and promotes activities such as orienteering and walking. In 2018 it will be the ‘Year of the Sea’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A range of activities are being planned by Carmarthenshire County Council’s Marketing & Media team to mark the year locally, one of the highlights of which will be the Merlin Festival, centred in Carmarthen. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The event is scheduled to take place on March 24 and 25, and aims to celebrate the legend of Merlin and other Arthurian characters said to have lived in the town and given it its name. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Carmarthen is translated into Caerfyrddin in Welsh, which means Merlin’s Fort; the town also has Merlin’s Oak and Merlin’s Hill, plus many tales of the wizard associated with the area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The festival aims to feature street entertainment, magic, a local produce market, plus a community/ schools sculpture trail. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It also aims to use the event to showcase the heritage and culture which Carmarthen and the surrounding area is rich in. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Organisers are now looking for businesses and groups to take part in any way they can. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Council Leader Cllr Emlyn Dole said: “The Merlin Festival has great potential in promoting the vibrant and busy town of Carmarthen. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The event is in the early stages of planning and is currently a blank canvas for those wishing to bring value to it. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are looking to invite individuals, businesses or community groups to take part in any way they can to create a lively an attractive event which can be sustained for years to come.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anyone interested in taking part should contact Sian Williams at Carmarthenshire County Council on (01267) 224894/ SiEWilliams@carmarthenshire.gov.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​