What’s On

WHAT’S ON IN BRIEF

4TH-5TH SEPTEMBER

•4th September, Zip It To Stop MS, Zip World, Bethesda Are you brave enough to tackle Velocity 2, the world’s fastest zipwire, to help stop MS? Travelling at speeds of over 100mph at a height of 500ft, participants will experience the freedom of fl ying while raising vital money for MS research. £35 per person, with a minimum fundraising target of £200. www.eventbrite.co.uk

A song and dance at Rhyl Pavilion

Toploader, 3rd October The “Dancing In The Moonlight” hitmakers are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their album Onka’s Big Moka with a special live set, featuring the singles from the bestselling album as well as some of the band’s favourite tracks and classic covers. 7.30pm. Tickets £20.

Sleeping Beauty, 6th October The Russian National Ballet returns with the classic story of love and innocence, mystery and magic set to Tchaikovsky’s sublime score. Stunning choreography, sumptuous costumes and wonderful sets form the fantasy world in which the Lilac Fairy struggles against the evil Carabosse. 7.30pm. Tickets £22.

www.rhylpavilion.co.uk DID YOU KNOW?

“Dancing In The Moonlight” sold an incredible 1.8m copies in the UK

•4th September,

St Kentigern Hospice Dawn Walk, St Asaph

Put your best foot forward on the 10th anniversary of the Dawn Walk in aid of St Kentigern Hospice. The 10km sponsored walk starts from the hospice at 5am and is open to everyone over the age of 10. £25 adults, £12 children, including a bacon butty, limitededition T-shirt and medal. www.stkentigernhospice.org.uk

•4th & 5th September, The

Fun Ship Street Food Festival,

Llanerch-Y-Mor Dock Enjoy a weekend of street food and Convent Garden street performers in this two-day festival that takes place on the quayside next to the historic Duke of Lancaster ship. Featuring stalls, a beach bar, live wrestling show, bouncy castles, live music and the RNLI Lifeboat and crew. 9am-6pm. £5. www.eventbrite.co.uk

•5th September, Horrible

Histories: Gorgeous Georgians & Vile Victorians, Theatr

Clwyd, Mold Are you ready to swing with a Georgian king? Can you see eye to eye with Admiral Nelson? Does the Duke of Wellington get the boot? Don’t miss this horrible history of Britain with the nasty bits left in in this “bring your own chair” outdoor production at Theatr Clwyd’s outside stage. Performances at 2pm and 5pm. Tickets from £10. Recommended for children fi ve years and over. To book, visit www.theatrclwyd.com.

Very vegan delights

North Wales Vegan Festival takes place in Wrexham on 18th September, with more than 70 stalls selling a vast array of produce. There will also be cookery demos, inspirational talks, interactive workshops, yoga and children’s activities running throughout the day at the Plas Coch Sports Centre.

Entry costs just £4 (under-16s free) or £15 for a VIP advance ticket that includes a goody bag.

www.veganeventsuk.co.uk

Rhyl’s roarsome fun

Majestic Events UK presents Jurassic Live at Rhyl Leisure Centre on 18th September.

Families will be treated to an interactive show featuring velociraptor Blue and a terrifying T-rex! You’ll also get to meet the dinosaurs after the show and grab a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal for a selfie.

The show is suitable for children of all ages and is followed by a dino disco. For tickets, visit www.skiddle.com.

Masters of their craft

Ruthin Craft Centre’s exhibition Mastery: Women In Silver, which runs until 18th September, is the first to focus on the UK’s contemporary female silversmiths.

The exhibitors represent a large cohort of women working at the highest level of silversmithing and include established and mid-career artists alongside emerging makers. Look closely and you’ll discover a sense of fun and a vein of playfulness, as well as an intention to surprise, delight, question and subvert. Such feats are only achievable by those working at the very top of their game: masters of their craft.

Ruthin Craft Centre is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5.30pm.

www.ruthincraftcentre.org.uk

Stars come out for great movies

Enjoy big-screen magic in the beautiful surroundings of Erddig Hall near Wrexham thanks to Adventure Cinema. You can watch Mamma Mia! on 3rd September, Grease Sing-A-Long on 4th September and Dirty Dancing on 5th September.

The films start shortly after sunset, so bring a blanket or camping chair and a picnic and enjoy great films under the stars.

www.adventurecinema.co.uk

Explore science in Wrexham

Discover the joys of science this October at Xplore!, the new handson science and discovery centre in the heart of Wrexham.

The museum is packed to the brim with brain-teasing, mind-bending, eye-opening exhibits. There are also regular science shows, suitable for all the family, that explain how science is used in the real world.

Xplore! is open at weekends and every day during half-term (23rd to 31st October). Entry costs £7.50 (under-fours free).

www.xplorescience.co.uk

Deserts and Ocean at Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Ben Fogle: Tales From The Wilderness, 19th September

Ben has climbed Everest, been swimming with crocodiles, saved elephants, dodged pirates, been marooned for a year on an uninhabited island, walked to the South Pole, crossed the Empty Quarter with camels, rowed across the Atlantic, tracked the migration of the wildebeest, swum from Alcatraz, had a flesh-eating disease and messed around with ferrets. Hear the much-loved TV adventurer recount his thrilling tales with warmth and honesty. 7.30pm. Tickets £28.

Events and offers at Plas Maenan hotel

From 6th to 9th and 13th to 16th September, Plas Maenan Country House in Llanrwst is offering 10 per cent off food for those living in LL26 and LL32 areas. Other events this autumn include Oktoberfest on 1st and 2nd October, an adults’ Halloween party on 30th October and a kids’ version on 31st October. Call 01492 660977 or visit www.plas-maenan-hotel.co.uk.

Run through the dark

Run into the night in support of Hope House children’s hospice with the charity’s Dark Run on 30th October.

The run is open to all ages and abilities and you can choose to run, jog or walk at either Chirk Castle or on the beautiful island of Anglesey. You can even complete your Dark Run virtually!

Everyone taking part will receive a glow-in-the-dark medal and a fabulous goody bag. Registration costs £20 for adults and £5 for children.

www.hopehouse.org.uk

Classic cars on display at the castle

North Wales Classic Car & Motorcycle Show returns to Bodrhyddan Hall on 19th September featuring a huge display of vintage, classic and modern classic vehicles, as well as classic motorcycles.

Tickets cost £9 for adults and £3.50 for children (under-sevens free). www.classicshows.org

A boat trip with a difference

Horse-drawn boat trips are available daily from Llangollen Wharf until the end of November, allowing you to relax and take in one of Britain’s most beautiful canals. Covered seating is available so trips can go ahead whatever the weather.

Standard trips of 45 minutes run between 11am and 4pm, departing approximately every hour. Booking is advisable. Adults £8.50, children £4.

www.horsedrawnboats.co.uk

DID YOU KNOW? Billy Ocean’s real name is Leslie Sebastian Charles

Billy Ocean, 25th September

British soul icon Billy Ocean performs the best of his greatest hits and songs from his latest studio album One World, which was released in September 2020. 7.30pm. Tickets from £28.

www.venuecymru.co.uk

A festival of photography

Northern Eye Photography Festival, a collaboration between Oriel Colwyn Photography Gallery and Aberystwyth’s The Eye Festival, brings outstanding photographers, speakers and exhibitions to Colwyn Bay. from 9th to 10th October. Weekend tickets cost £40.

www.northerneyefestival.co.uk

Music returns to Wrexham’s Stiwt

La bohème, 9th & 10th

September North Wales Opera Studio’s production of Puccini’s tearjerker. 7pm. Tickets £18.

Here Come The Girls,

16th October Eleven amazing tributes in one show including Cher, Madonna, Shania Twain and Blondie. 7.30pm. Tickets £18. www.stiwt.com

WHAT’S ON IN BRIEF

8TH-19TH SEPTEMBER

•8th September, Ruthin Evening 5k Chase the evening sun in this popular 5km race. The fantastic route is well marked and o ers runners incredible views of the Welsh countryside. 6.45pm. From £10.50. www.letsdothis.com

•11th September, Penrhyn Old

Hall Ghost Hunt, Llandudno

Are you brave enough to spend a night in this 14thcentury haunted manor house? Join this spooky ghost tour and experience a séance, dowsing and table tipping. 8pm-2am. £20. www.deadlive. co.uk/events/ghost-hunts

•11th & 12th

September, Owain Glyndwr Day, Harlech

Castle Celebrate Owain Glyndwr in the castle he took in 1404, and see the Ardudwy Knights bring history to life. 11am4pm. Standard admission applies. cadw.gov.wales

•12th September, Volunteer

Recruitment Day, Bala Lake

Railway Find out what working on a narrow-gauge steam railway involves. www.bala-lakerailway.co.uk/volunteering

•13th September,

Historical Honey, Plas Mawr,

Conwy Visit the fi nest surviving Elizabethan townhouse in Britain and learn how the Tudors used honey. 11am-4pm. Standard admission applies. cadw.gov.wales

•18th-19th September,

Wild Camping Experience,

Snowdonia Join an expert guide at one of the best spots in Snowdonia. £95. www.largeoutdoors.com

WHAT’S ON IN BRIEF

22ND-25TH SEPTEMBER

•22nd September, Ban

Mountain Film Festival World Tour, Venue Cymru,

Llandudno A thrilling night of adventure with a new collection of short fi lms from the world’s most prestigious mountain fi lm festival. 7.30pm. £15. www.venuecymru.co.uk

Culture at Theatr Clwyd

Gary Delaney, 12th September The long-standing Mock The Week guest brings you the kind of one-liners only a master could craft. 8pm. Tickets £20.

The Hound Of The Baskervilles, 21st-

25th September An ingenious adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s adventure. 2.30pm & 7.30pm. Tickets from £10.

Being Mr Wickham, 8th

& 9th October Adrian Lukis is Pride & Prejudice’s roguish George Wickham… 7.30pm. Tickets from £10

DID YOU KNOW? Screen versions of The Hound Of The Baskervilles have been made in 10 countries

Dial M For Murder, 27th September-2nd

October Starring Tom Chambers and Diana Vickers, this seat-gripping drama is not to be missed. 7.30pm. Tickets from £10.

Rush: A Joyous Jamaican Journey, 31st October

Discover the story behind reggae music. 7.30pm. Tickets £22.50. www.theatrclwyd.com

•23rd September, Maesdu Golf Day, Llandudno Enjoy a great day of golf while supporting seriously ill local children and their families. £250 for teams of four, which includes bacon rolls and tea/co ee at registration, 18 holes with a shotgun start, a two-course dinner, ra e and prize presentation. All money raised goes to Hope House. www.hopehouse.org.uk

•24th September, No Time To

Live Murder Mystery Evening, St George’s Hotel, Llandudno

Herr Otto Matic plans to dispose of his archenemy Jimmy Pond. But things aren’t as simple as they seem in this farcical murder mystery. Come dressed to kill, enjoy a three-course dinner and work with your fellow diners to crack this James Bondinspired mystery. 7pm. £40. www.stgeorgeswales.co.uk

•24th-25th September, Wild

Swimming Weekend, Llanberis

Spend a weekend swimming in the pools, lakes and rivers of Snowdonia. From £225. www.largeoutdoors.com

•25th September, Rainbows Snowdon Trek Tackle the highest mountain in Wales while helping to support local children and young people with life-limiting conditions. 9am. £35, minimum sponsorship £120. www.rainbows.co.uk

Music at Galeri Caernarfon

Calan, 18th September Join the award-winning band as they breathe fire into old traditions. 7.30pm. Tickets £15.

Darkside: The Pink Floyd Show, 24th & 25th September

Friday’s show features Dark Side Of The Moon in its entirety, while Saturday’s includes the whole of the album Animals. 8pm. Tickets £18. www.galericaernarfon.com

Visit the birthplace of modern Welsh

Enjoy a rare chance to see inside Dolbelydr in Trefnant when the property is open to the public as part of Cadw’s Open Doors scheme on 11th and 12th September. The 16th-century building has a good claim to be the birthplace of modern Welsh – it was here that Henry Salesbury wrote Grammatica Britannica, the first Welsh grammar. Entry is free but must be booked at www.eventbrite.co.uk.

A feast for the senses in Wrexham

Wrexham Feast, the new name for the town’s food and drink festival, takes place on 25th and 26th September.

The weekend will feature cookery demonstrations, the best local and national producers, children’s workshops and live entertainment. Tickets are £4.75 from www.wrexhamfeast.com.

All aboard for Halloween fun

Are you brave enough to join in the spooky fun at Bala Lake Railway on 29th and 30th October?

The Halloween-themed trains depart from Llanuwchllyn at 5.15pm and 6.30pm, taking you to Glan Llyn where you’ll be entertained by the resident ghosts and ghouls. Expect cobwebs, pumpkins and ghostly guards at this spooky event for all the family! Special fares apply.

www.bala-lake-railway.co.uk

Get set for wedding bells

If you’re dreaming of your big day, don’t miss the North Wales Wedding Fayre on 24th October at Coleg Cambria in Deeside.

The biggest wedding show in north Wales brings together more than 90 wedding specialists, from florists and catering options to live music. Entry is free if you register at www. bouquetandbells.com or £2 on the door. VIP tickets cost £7.

Capture the beauty of Wales

Photographers can improve their technique and learn the tricks of the trade during an inspiring one-day course in the Clwydian hill range on 14th October. Professional photographer David White will teach you to get the best out of your equipment and simplify the natural world around you into pleasing fine-art compositions. The course costs £95 per person.

www.wernogwood.co.uk

DID YOU KNOW? Finch and Keita’s album Soar is based on the osprey’s migration

WHAT’S ON IN BRIEF

26TH SEPTEMBER-9TH OCTOBER

The North Wales International Music Festival goes hybrid for 2021

A mixture of live concerts in St Asaph Cathedral and online concerts recorded in Bangor, Caernarfon, Cardiff and London make up the 50th North Wales International Music Festival, which runs from 30th September to 4th October.

Live concerts include the extraordinary musical fusion of Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita, featuring music from their first two award-winning albums and previewing new material from their upcoming third album. Other performers include London Tango Quintet, NEW Sinfonia with pianist John Frederick Hudson, Family Affair with Brian Hughes and tenor Dafydd Jones, and Ensemble Cymru.

A free virtual festival will be held online in November, including recordings from the St Asaph Cathedral concerts, BBC National Orchestra of Wales in Cardiff and folk musician Gwennan Gibbard. For the full programme, visit nwimf.com.

Spooky happenings at Gwrych Castle

If you’re looking to get up close and personal with the spirits this Halloween, join a Ghost Hunt at Gwrych Castle, Abergele, on 23rd and 31st October.

Visit the chapel, bakehouse and coach house, then the Countess’s Tower, said to be haunted by the countess herself.

Tickets cost £40 and the event runs from 8pm to 1am. www.

gwrychcastle.co.uk/ghosts

Ghosts on the run

Come in your best spooky fancy dress for the Halloween Porth Eirias 10k on 30th October.

The event starts from the Colwyn Bay Water Centre and follows a largely flat course along the cliffs and beaches of north Wales. The chip-timed race begins at 9.30am and entry costs £16 for adults and £6 for children. To register, visit bespokefitnessandevents.co.uk.

Live music at Theatr Colwyn

The Houghton Weavers, 25th

September The Houghton Weavers have been entertaining audiences for over 40 years with their unique blend of popular folk music, humour and audience participation. As their motto says, they “Keep Folk Smiling”. 7.30pm. Tickets £16.50.

Gruffydd Wyn, 2nd October

The Britain’s Got Talent finalist will be singing songs from musical theatre, pop and opera along with some hauntingly beautiful Welsh folk songs and hits from his album Chapter One. 7.30pm. Tickets £18.

10cc’s Graham Gouldman & Heart Full Of Songs, 13th

October Graham formed what became Heart Full Of Songs six years ago. The acoustic four-piece tour Europe and the UK performing to appreciative audiences. 7.30pm. Tickets £29.

www.theatrcolwyn.co.uk

Llangollen Food Festival is now bitesize

This year’s Llangollen Food Festival, on 16th and 17th October, has been scaled down to keep everyone safe but is still offering a great mix of food and drink, showcasing a range of local producers selling everything from fruit gins to chocolates, wines and cakes. www.

llangollenfoodfestival.com

It’s party time at the Three Eagles

Three Eagles Bar & Grill in Llangollen presents Summer Sessions Closing Party from 9pm on 3rd September, with live music from FaceValue.

The local band will mark the end of the Summer Sessions in the Three Eagles courtyard with a set of covers and feelgood crowd-pleasers from the 1960s to modern day. Booking is essential. To reserve your table, visit www.thethreeeagles.co.uk.

•26th

September, Soughton Hall Autumn Wedding Fayre,

Mold Plan for your big day with this free event set in a stunning Georgian country house and luxury boutique wedding venue. 1pm-4pm. www.soughtonhall.co.uk

•26th September, Let’s

Walk & Talk, Pontcysyllte Aqueduct & Trevor Basin

Visitor Centre Take a walk with local author Pete Evans, who has written a book about the River Dee. 9am-5pm. £9.50. www.eventbrite.co.uk

•28th

September, In The Night Garden… Live, Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka and friends are magically brought to life using full-size costumes, magical puppets, enchanting music and dancing. 10am, 12pm, 2pm & 4pm. £19 adults, £16 children. www.venuecymru.co.uk

•1st

October, Ceramic Pumpkin Carving Course, Glosters,

Porthmadog The perfect alternative to carving a real pumpkin. Glosters supplies the pot thrown and ready for you to carve. All the carved pots will be ready and glazed in time for Halloween. 2pm-5pm. £48. www.glosters.co.uk

•2nd-3rd October,

Carve A Knife, Fork & Spoon, Wernog Wood, Ruthin

Learn to carve from freshly cut green wood, led by David White. £190 including materials. www.wernogwood.co.uk

•9th October, Autumn

Foraging Walk, Chirk Castle

Join The Woodland Classroom on the hunt for the best wild foods autumn has to o er. Learn to identify a variety of plants, nuts, berries and fungi. 10am-1pm. £30. www.woodland classroom.com

WHAT’S ON IN BRIEF

10TH-27TH OCTOBER

•10th October,

Make A Patchwork Storage Basket, Cambria Costume House, Mold

Tutor Carolyn Buxton will guide you through the process of making a fabulous patchwork storage basket with pockets, perfect for storing all your knick-knacks or giving as a beautiful gift to friends. 10.30am-4.30pm. £58. www.facebook.com/ cambriacostumehouse

•11th October,

Crochet Wire Poppy Workshop, Plas Pentwyn,

Coedpoeth Make a stunning crochet wire poppy in readiness for Remembrance Day. You’ll be given enough supplies to make three poppies, plus full written instructions, wire, hook and pins to take away. 6.30pm-9pm. £10. www. facebook.com/thecraftingcow

•17th October, Flintshire 10k & 5k, Mold Choose a distance or race both to claim your interlocking medals. The race starts and fi nishes at Mold Leisure Centre and takes a loop around the town in an undulating but quick course. 5k at 9.30am, 10k at 10.30am, 1k fun run at 9am. From £14 (fun run £3). www.runwales.com

•22nd-24th

October, OutFit Fitness Weekender, Anglesey

With activities such as trail running, hiking, stretch and Pilates, beach workouts, orienteering, navigation and the famous HillFit sessions, there is plenty to do for all abilities in this active weekend based at Anglesey Outdoors. £80 excluding accommodation. www.out-fi t.co.uk

•27th October, Glass Painting, Wernog Wood, Ruthin Discover the art of traditional glass painting on this beginner’s course with glass artist Verity Pulford. Learn how to mix paints, apply and layer paint to create line and tone, and how to use the sgra to technique to create tone and pattern. £120 (plus £25 for materials). www.wernog wood.co.uk

Live events at William Aston Hall

Scouting For Girls, 30th September

With tracks from their new album Easy Cover and all their hits. 7pm. Tickets £27.50.

Jason Byrne, 1st October Jason does what he does best: connecting with the audience in a way no other comic can. 8pm. Tickets £21.85.

Seven Drunken Nights: The Story Of The Dubliners, 15th

October The feelgood show returns on its fifth anniversary tour. 7pm. Tickets £27.50.

DID YOU KNOW?

Ross Noble has appeared in Young Frankenstein and The Producers on stage

Lucy Spraggan, 7th October Lucy’s songs and stories hit with great force, straight to the heart and emotions. 6pm. Tickets £19.80.

Ross Noble: Humournoid, 23rd October

The surreal stand-up returns with a new show. 8pm. Tickets £28.60. www.ents24.com/wrexham-

events/william-aston-hall-glyndwr-university

Triathon returns to Llyn Tegid, Bala

One of the most exciting events of its kind, Bala Standard Triathlon, takes place on 5th September.

The race, which is open to beginners and experienced athletes alike, is stage five of the Welsh Triathlon Super Series 2021 and will be aired on S4C, so spectators around the country can enjoy the action. toughrunneruk.com

FOCUS on Welsh talent in Wrexham

FOCUS Wales, from 7th to 9th October, places the spotlight on emerging talent in Wales with more than 250 artists appearing on 20 stages across Wrexham.

The programme includes a huge range of concerts, interactive industry sessions, arts events and film screenings, so make sure you check the programme and don’t miss out. Full details can be found at www.focuswales.com.

Beautiful Brynkinalt

Take a stroll through the gardens of Brynkinalt on 2nd September as the grounds are opened as part of the National Garden Scheme.

Brynkinalt Hall in Chirk has been home to the ancestral Trevor family since 942 and is steeped in history. The gardens have been extensively redesigned to bring them back to their former glory and will be open from noon to 4pm. Entry is £5 for adults and free for children. Visit www.ngs.org.uk for details.

Run through a riot of colour

Get set to party rainbow-style at the Urdd Rhyl 5k Colour Run on 26th September.

Runners start the day in white T-shirts, only to get covered from head to toe in a rainbow of colours at each kilometre of the course. You can choose to walk, skip, hop or dance your way around – it’s all about the fun!

Entry costs £15 adults, £10 children and £4 under-threes.

bespokefitness.niftyentries.com

Music and laughter at Pontio

Fleetwood Bac, 4th

September The world’s best Fleetwood Mac tribute band. 7.30pm. Tickets £20.

Ed Byrne: If I’m Honest,

29th September Ed takes a long hard look at himself and tries to decide if he has any traits worth passing on to his children. 8pm. Tickets £25. www.pontio.co.uk

Join the ale trail in Conwy

Spend a day rediscovering the charm of authentic Welsh pubs and unique Welsh real ales without having to worry about who’s driving!

The Conwy bus-based Real Ale Trail on 25th September will organise the transport to take you to some of the best pubs around the county of Conwy. You can start and finish at any of the pubs on the route and hop on and off the shuttle bus as many times as you like between 11am and 10pm. www.realaletrail.co.uk