With the long summer holiday approaching fast, finally a chance for us all to discover new things and enjoy new adventures! So put your hat on, don’t forget the sun cream and let’s go.

And to start as we mean to go on…on weekdays throughout July and August, learn new skills and make friends at the Sport Dragon Camp at Cardiff Metropolitan University. it offers a great choice of activities for children aged four to 14 years old to try out including a talent contest, scavenger hunts, den building, arts and crafts, and also sport activities such as hockey, table tennis and more.

For an evening of yearning romance, don’t miss an outdoor theatre production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night at the Kymin Gardens on Friday, 25 August at 7pm!

Make it a weekend trip and drive to Merthyr Mawr National Nature Reserve to reconnect with nature through a variety of scientific, creative, literary and wellbeing activities for all the family at the Between the Tress Festival from 25-27 August.

Now, if you are looking for something rather unusual, make your way to Llanwrtyd Wells (about 1 hour 40 minutes from Cardiff) on Sunday 27 August to participate to the World Bog Snorkelling Championship which has been described as a top-50 thing to do by Lonely Planet, so there were 170 participants last year from around the world! If you’d rather watch than, quite literally, take the plunge, there are food an drink stalls, a bouncy castle and live music to ensure a great day out for all!

Make a different by joining a team of the RSPB which offers residential volunteering around Wales. For anyone who wishes to try something new and become involved in vital work to preserve the natural world. For more details, register online.

Back this summer for another adventure, Hercules is on the big screen at Cosmeston Lakes Country Park on Thursday 31 August at 2:30pm. A delightful and entertaining day for all ages.

Don’t miss Cerys Hafana and her personal interpretation to create music as a triple harpist who mangles, mutates and transforms traditional sounds. Performing for one night only at St Augustine’s Church, Penarth on 2 September at 7pm.

No foodie should be missing a taste buds celebration at the Abergavenny Food Festival taking place over the weekend of 16 and 17 September! Come and enjoy an array of amazing local food and products, as well as a rich menu of masterclasses by leading chefs. This year is even more special as they celebrate their 25th birthday! Llongyfarchiadau!

For experienced and novice runners alike, it is not too late for those brave and determined enough to start training for the famous Cardiff Half Marathon, the largest multi-charity fundraising event in Wales, which will be taking place this year on 1 October, starting outside of Cardiff Castle and finishing in the heart of the civic centre. Come and enjoy its fantastic atmosphere!

Tune in for an eye-opening cinematic experience at the Iris Prize Film Festival showcasing LGBTQ+ and thr world largest short film prize, which will be taking place in Cardiff over six days from Tuesday, 10 Sunday- 15 October.

And to finish off, one of my favourite events of the year taking place on the 31 October. I am talking about Halloween of course! Or as I have found out, Nos Galan Gaeaf as it is called in Welsh. Did you know that in some parts of Wales, gender swapping was popular on that night? Young men would dress up in girls clothing and young women as men and they would go from house to house signing and chanting. Does sound like fun? I might try it this year instead of my traditional witch costume.

Happy summer to you all!

Salutations, Sylvie