| Where: | Caerphilly, South Wales at the Castle and nearby |
| When: | Weekend in late August (formerly late July) |
| Time: | Saturday & Sunday from 9.30 am. |
Caerphilly is famed both for its tasty cheese and for its castle ruins, and both feature in the annual Big Cheese festival. Expect dozens of gourmet food stalls featuring local and international delicacies (naturally with an emphasis on dairy products!), plenty of music and entertainment, living history encampments, a large funfair and the renowned Great Cheese Race which is one of the opening events of the weekend. During the race, entrants must carry traditional truckles of cheese on stretchers in a relay on a course through the castle and event site.
Helpful Hints
In 2025 it should be on Sunday 31st August, with the full festival on 30th and 31st. The festival used to be late July but has shifted in recent years to August.
2024 ongoing castle repairs meant the normal Big Cheese was cancelled again, though there was a music festival at the castle on August 31st and September 1st which included a Cheese Race on August 31st from 10 am (check the event website for full details).
The races usually take around an hour as there are several heats before the finals for each group (under 12s, 12-16 year-olds and over 16 Open), though the exact time varies depending on the number of competitors and the speed at which they complete the course!
Entry is free of charge including access to the Castle over the weekend. Parking is available nearby with a park-and-ride service.
Click here for the event website: https://www.caerphillycheesefestival.co.uk
and Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheBigCheeseCaerphilly/?eid=ARBnwKZ-M_6hI53OaPCbLQg5aUuvoWX9rwZIfrJtKXmndRozw6xc-eGTFtz2jKHkQTsoYWwMrksgMKFn
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