Beyond Newport: Caerphilly Cheese Festival

The Caerphilly Cheese Festival, also known historically as The Big Cheese Festival, began in 1998 and has been celebrating the town’s namesake cheese—traditionally made to nourish local coal miners—ever since  Set in the dramatic backdrop of Caerphilly Castle, one of Britain’s largest, the weekend-long free event grew to draw up to 80,000 visitors at its peak in 2012 

Highlights have included vibrant street food markets, cheese stalls, craft vendors, re‑enactments of medieval life, live music, funfair rides, and the quirky “Cheese Race”—a relay competition where teams carry a cheese truckle through the castle grounds

 Friday evenings traditionally ended with fireworks illuminating the castle Though it paused during the pandemic (2020–21), it returned in a scaled-back “Little Cheese” format due to restoration work, yet still attracted over 13,000 visitors in 2023 

What’s happening in 2025?
This year’s event runs Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August, centered in Caerphilly town centre and the grassed area behind the castle

 It reintroduces the full-scale festival with multiple music stages (Twyn Car Park, Cardiff Road, Castle Court), headline performances, and open-air drinking zones

 Expect around 50+ food and drink stalls—including a hot food court—plus craft booths, funfair rides, workshops and craft sessions  The beloved Cheese Race is back, with free entry and a £100 prize (plus trophies and medals) for winners in all age brackets 

Facilities remain family‑ and dog‑friendly (on leads), with picnic areas, portable toilets, bike racks and coach parking. Entry is free. Keep in mind that rail replacement services on the Rhymney line may affect transport, so plan ahead 

In summary, the 2025 festival marks a vibrant revival—melding tradition, community and cheese-loving fun, all under the historic castle walls.