Sights And Sounds Of Vintage Eras

Carmarthen came alive with the sights and sounds of vintage eras on Saturday. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Residents and visitors alike were encouraged to take a trip down memory lane as Carmarthen town welcomed back the 2nd Carmarthen Vintage Festival with the support of Carmarthenshire County Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Shopkeepers joined in the fun and dressed in vintage outfits bringing a touch of the good old days back to the streets. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There were vintage fashion shows, clothing, hair and make-up displays, arts & craft and dance, and new this year was a vintage wedding fair. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There was a whole host of activities in St Catherine’s walk including street entertainers, balloon modellers and vintage steam engines to entertain the children. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Nott Square became a vintage fashion and beauty quarter with vintage fashion shows. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Merlin’s Walk also supported the festival. Shoppers in Merlin’s walk were graced by an elegant explorer and adventurer Lady Augusta Llywelyn-Gordon, a 12ft tall street walker, and her assistants glided through the mall picking out interesting creatures and features on their walkabout performance. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Big Cwtch pop-up sessions proved to be a huge success across town, the public were able to get a little taster of what to expect of the Big Cwtch Summer Festival. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If Saturday’s event inspired you don’t forget to visit www.discovercarmarthenshire.com to download the antiques trail. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Vintage Festival was organised by Carmarthen Town Centre Regeneration Forum through funding from the Welsh Government’s Town Centre Partnership scheme for projects including branding, annual events, development of a website, improved signage, installation of footfall counters and tourism ambassador training for traders. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Executive board member for regeneration and leisure Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “The event was a huge success. It certainly goes to show that organised events have a big part to play in why shoppers and tourists choose to come to Carmarthen over many other local venues. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Themed events like the Vintage Festival help to ensure Carmarthen remains the number one destination in West Wales.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​