Summer Sundays at Blaenavon World Heritage Centre Throughout the summer, Blaenavon World Heritage Centre grounds will be alive with the sound of music, dance and art as we host a series of outdoor events. Sunday 17th July 2-4pm - Blaenavon Town Band
Sunday 24th July 2-4pm - Blaenavon Concert Band
Sunday 31st July 2-4pm -Paisley Bird - Get Creative Arts & Crafts
Sunday 7th August 2-4pm -Teddy Bears Picnic
So whether you’re here for the music or the family fun make the most of your Summer Sundays with lunch or a cream tea at the Heritage Tearoom and enjoy the view!
More information visit www.visitblaenavon.co.uk
Blaenavon Heritage Railway The trains continue to run at weekends throughout July.
The highlight of the month is the Wartime Weekend on 9th and 10th July. Come and see how life was during World War 2 - lots of soldiers and civilians in costume. Why not dress in style yourself?
The trains will start running on Wednesdays from 27th July. Visit our website for further details…
Come and enjoy our Steampunk weekend at Blaenavon Ironworks! This is a Steampunk themed event looking at the influence of Victorian style on the modern world. Today's technology in Victorian style tells the story of industry through fun and games, music and fashion, art, comedy and good Victorian manners. Enjoy tea duelling and the Steampunk Olympics, as well as talks, rapping, demonstrations and craft stalls on Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd July 10am -5pm. Free Entry. Visit website for more details.
Heritage News
Youth Ambassadors Scoop top award! The World Heritage Youth Ambassadors is delighted to have won WCVA National Volunteer Group of the year! The group were nominated by Blaenavon Town Council for the work they have undertaken within the site, and throughout the UK UNESCO World Heritage Youth Summit held in October 2015.
The World Heritage Youth Ambassadors helps young people age 13-25 to have a voice and active role in the management of the World Heritage Site, while having loads of fun!
If you want to join this award winning group please contact dan.oliver@torfaen.gov.uk or visit our website www.visitblaenavon.co.uk/youthambassadors
Blaenavon World Heritage Day Thousands of people turned out to enjoy Blaenavon World Heritage day last month. World Heritage Day is an annual highlight of the events calendar and features music and dance acts, street entertainment, stalls and children’s rides.Popular local band, the ReVamps, headlined a diverse music line up, and crowds were treated to a mixture of traditional folk, contemporary and street acts on the dance stage. The highlight of the day was the Heritage Costume Parade, with children from Blaenavon Heritage School, sporting teams and local community groups parading throughout the town.
Community News
Vive La Danse! The Blaenavonlife website came up trumps recently when a company (European Culture and Travel) bringing French students to the UK was at a loose end and was looking for some afternoon activity. They found local Welsh dance team, Dawnswyr Blaenafon, on the Blaenavonlife website. A phone call to Dawnswyr Blaenafon’s Secretary, Jac Denley-Jones, resulted in 54 French students aged 14 – 16 plus their six teachers learning Welsh traditional dances in the auditorium of Blaenavon Workmen’s Hall.
The students were from Cambrai in northern France, a coal-mining area and also the scene of fighting in World War 1. Each student and teacher was given a Blaenavon bag as a souvenir of their visit.
The students enjoyed themselves so much that the company will include dancing with Dawnswyr Blaenafon at the Workmen’s Hall, Blaenavon, in their itinerary for 2017.
Garnddyrys Forge finally has an information board! The Blaenavon World Heritage Environment Group (BWHEG) help to preserve, maintain, enhance and promote the natural landscape and built heritage, within the World Heritage Site of Blaenavon.
A new information board has been placed at Garnddyrys Forge for all those visitors who pause at this fascinating industrial heritage site and want an insight into what the lumps and bumps in the ground actually mean. See more of the great work being done at: Facebook
