Early in September, Craft Festival Wales returns to Cardigan Castle. Only the best makers from across the UK are selected to exhibit, and local Pembrokeshire craft professionals have proven to be amongst the very best.

Makers of handmade fine jewellery, silver, wood and metal, ceramics, glass, furniture, paper and print and textiles will be exhibiting plus demonstrations, workshops, talks and so much more - including a craft trail of original crafts of the highest quality commissioned by Oriel Myrddin Gallery at six locations throughout Cardigan town.

The national event will feature 100 professional makers from the four corners of the UK, each chosen by an independent selection panel for the quality and originality of their work.

The 2025 Craft Festival follows the success of the inaugural show last year which saw over 3,500 people fill the town over three days.

Pembrokeshire-based makers selected to take part include ceramic artist Sue Hanna from Haverfordwest, jewellers Ami Pepper from Fishguard and Bronwen Gwillim from Angle, potter Peter Bodenham and textile artist Sophie Snow both from St Dogmaels.

Print maker Tom Frost from Llanboidy won ‘The Peer Award’ voted by his other maker exhibitors at the inaugural 2024 show and returns to Craft Festival Wales this September to demonstrate his craft.

Sue Hanna creates hand-built ceramic vessels, sculptures and wall pieces from her workshop near Haverfordwest: “I applied to exhibit at Craft Festival Wales because it’s the first major show to come to this part of West Wales, right on my doorstep. I’m really looking forward to being surrounded by talented makers, many from Wales, and feeling part of that creative energy.”

The event includes a rich programme of craft workshops for adults to pre-book online, along with ‘The Capital of Craft’ talks by accomplished makers, authors and broadcasters. Visitors can pre-book a craft workshop from an exciting programme including printing, marbling and macrame.

Explore the sculpture trail through the Castle gardens; enjoy live music and delicious local food and drink. And the free children’s craft tent will return with an action-packed programme. There are free craft activities for children all weekend.

Other entertainment features include live theatre from Hijinx, pioneers in promoting opportunities for actors with learning disabilities and autism, street entertainers, and storytelling from contemporary to the Mabinogi tradition in both Welsh and English.

Craft Festival Wales also extends across Cardigan town with the Craft Trail at six venues where original work commissioned by Oriel Myrddin from Carmarthen will be exhibited. Also, ‘Woven’, an exhibition of textiles and willow from Wales hosted at Canfas Gallery and curated by Suzi Park, will run from September 5 to October 5.

Craft Festival Wales 2025 takes place from Friday to Sunday, September 5 to 7.

For information and full details of exhibitors, workshops and other features, visit the Craft Festival website.